Secure Permanent Residence (‘indefinite leave to remain’) in UK

Permanent settlement in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) gives you the right to live, work and study for as long as you like, and apply for benefits.

You can become a permanent resident in 2 years, 3 years, 5 years or 10 years depending on your visa type.
 
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Two (2) Years 

You may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK after 2 years if: 
  • you invest £10 million
  • spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months (‘continuous residence’)
and meet the other eligibility requirements.
🔘 Investor visa (Tier 1)

Overview: You can apply if you want to invest £2,000,000 or more in the UK. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: You can come to the UK with a Tier 1 (Investor) visa for a maximum of 3 years and 4 months. You can apply to extend this visa for another 2 years. You can apply to settle after 2 years if you invest £10 million, after 3 years if you invest £5 million, or after 5 years if you invest £2 million.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have access to at least £2,000,000 in investment funds which must be held in one or more regulated financial institutions free to spend (‘disposable’) in the UK
  • be 18 or over to apply for this visa
  • be able to prove that the money belongs to either you or your husband, wife, unmarried or same-sex partner
  • have opened an account at a UK regulated bank to use for your funds
Three (3) Years 

You may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK if: 
  • you’ve lived in the UK for 3 years under an eligible visa
  • spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months (‘continuous residence’)
and meet the other eligibility requirements.
🔘 Innovator visa

Overview: You can apply if you want to set up and run an innovative business in the UK and your business or business idea has been endorsed by an endorsing body. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: You can stay for 3 years.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have your business or business idea assessed by an endorsing body
  • have an endorsement letter from the endorsing body
  • show that your business idea is new, innovative and viable (if you’re setting up a new business)
  • have at least £50,000 in investment funds to apply for an Innovator visa if you want to set up a new business (if you’re setting up a new business)
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
  • be at least 18 years old
  • prove your knowledge of the English language
🔘 Global Talent Visa

Overview: You can apply to work in the UK if you’re a leader or potential leader in academia or research, arts and culture, or digital technology. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: You can live and work in the UK for up to 5 years at a time. You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on the endorsement path you are applying for.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have been endorsed by an organisation approved by the Home Office to prove that you are a leader or potential leader
  • be at least 18 years old
  • prove your knowledge of the English language
Five (5) Years 

You may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK if: 
and meet the other eligibility requirements.
🔘 Skilled Worker Visa

Overview: A Skilled Worker visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with an approved employer. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have a confirmed job offer from an approved UK employer 
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer 
  • do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
  • be paid at least £25,600 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing - whichever is higher. (unless the exceptions apply)
  • prove your knowledge of the English language
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt
This does not apply where 
  • your job is on the shortage occupation list,
  • you’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate or in professional training, 
  • your job is eligible for a PhD salary discount, or 
  • if you’ll be working in a postdoctoral position in certain science or higher education roles
🔘 Health and Care Worker Visa

Overview: A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.

Eligibility: You must
  • be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
  • work in an eligible health or social care job
  • have a confirmed job offer from a UK health and care sector employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer 
  • be paid at least £20,480 per year or the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing - whichever is higher. If you’re a biochemist, or a biological or physical scientist, you’ll need to be paid at least £25,600 per year unless the ‘going rate’ for your job is higher than this. (unless the exceptions apply)
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
  • prove your knowledge of the English language 
🔘 Minister of Religion Visa (T2)

Overview: You can apply if you’ve been offered a job within a faith community (for example as a minister of religion, missionary, or member of a religious order) in the UK. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: You can come to the UK for a maximum of up to 3 years and 1 month, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.

Eligibility: You need to
  • be employed by a licensed sponsor to apply to live in the UK
  • have a certificate of sponsorship for your job
  • prove your knowledge of the English language 
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
  • show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years
  • have tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country
🔘 Sportsperson Visa (T2)

Overview: You can apply if you’re an elite sportsperson or qualified coach, who’s recognised by your sport’s governing body as being at the highest level of your profession internationally, your sport’s governing body is endorsing your application and your employment will develop your sport in the UK at the highest level. 
You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: You can come to the UK for up to 3 years. You can apply to extend this visa for up to another 3 years to a maximum stay of 6 years.

Eligibility: You need to
  • have a valid certificate of sponsorship for your job
  • prove your knowledge of English
  • have personal savings so you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK
  • show you can travel and your travel history over the last 5 years
  • have tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
🔘 Representative of an Overseas Business Visa

Overview: You can apply if you’re either the sole representative of an overseas business planning to set up either a UK branch or wholly owned subsidiary, or an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: The visa lets you stay in the UK for an initial period of 3 years. You may be able to extend your visa for another 2 years.

Eligibility: You must
  • be recruited and employed outside the UK by an active and trading business, to apply as a sole representative
  • have the skills, experience and knowledge to do the role
  • hold a senior position within the business (but do not own or control the majority of it) and have full authority to make decisions on its behalf
  • intend to establish the overseas business’s first commercial presence in the UK, either as a registered branch or a wholly owned subsidiary
  • have evidence that you can support yourself and any dependants during your trip
  • prove your knowledge of English
Ten (10) Years 

You may not be eligible to settle permanently in the UK if you’re in the UK under the following visas: 
unless:
  • you’ve been in the UK legally for 10 continuous years (known as ‘long residence’).
  • there are exceptional compassionate circumstances which you must explain in detail if you choose to apply
and meet the other eligibility requirements.
🔘 Start-up Visa

Overview: You can apply for a Start-up visa if you want to set up an innovative business in the UK. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Duration: You can stay for 2 years. You cannot apply to extend this visa. You may be able to switch to an Innovator visa if eligible. You cannot settle in the UK on this visa.

Eligibility: You must
  • be endorsed by an authorised body
  • be able to show that your business idea is a new idea, innovative and viable - it has potential for growth
  • be at least 18 years old
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
  • prove your knowledge of English
🔘 Student Visa
 
Overview: You can apply to study in the UK if you’re 16 or over and you have been offered a place on a course by a licensed student sponsor. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
 
Duration: How long you can stay depends on the length of your course and what study you’ve already completed. If you’re 18 or over and your course is at degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 5 years. If it’s below degree level, you can usually stay in the UK for up to 2 years.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have Â£1,334 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses in London or Â£1,023 per month (for up to 9 months) for courses outside London to support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
  • can speak, read, write and understand English
  • have consent from your parents if you’re 16 or 17
  • have a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from your education provider 
🔘 Intra-Company Visas
 
Overview: An Intra-company visa allows you to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job at your employer’s UK branch. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
 
Duration: You can stay in the UK with an Intra-company Transfer visa for whichever is shorter of the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, 5 years, or the length of time that takes you to the maximum total stay allowed. 
You can stay in the UK with an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa for whichever is shorter of the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, 12 months or the length of time that takes you to the maximum total stay allowed.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • be an existing employee of an organisation that’s been approved by the Home Office as a sponsor
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer 
  • do a job that’s on the list of eligible occupations
  • be paid at least £41,500 for an Intra-company Transfer visa or at least £23,000 for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa or the ‘going rate’ for your job - whichever is higher
  • have worked for your employer overseas for more than 12 months for an Intra-company Transfer visa, or for at least 3 months immediately before the date you apply for an Intra-company Graduate Trainee visa
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
You cannot apply to settle permanently in the UK using a Tier 2 (Intra-Company Transfer) visa.
 
🔘 Temporary Worker - Charity Worker visa (T5)
 
Overview: You can apply if you want to do unpaid voluntary work for a charity. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
 
Duration: You can stay for up to 12 months or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from a licensed employer 
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
🔘 Temporary Worker - Creative and Sporting visa (T5)
 
Overview: You can apply if you’ve been offered work in the UK as a sports person or creative worker. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
 
Duration: You can come to the UK for a maximum of up to 12 months, or the time given in your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from a licensed employer 
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
  • make a significant contribution to your sport at the highest level in the UK to be eligible for this visa, for sports person
  • make a unique contribution to the UK labour market and be paid the minimum salary as set by Equity, PACT or BECTU (except for models, musicians or circuses), for creative person
🔘 Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa (T5)
 
Overview: You can apply if you want to come to the UK for a short time for work experience or to do training, an Overseas Government Language Programme, research or a fellowship through an approved government authorised exchange scheme. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
 
Duration: You can stay in the UK for up to 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme you’re applying for) or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus 14 days, whichever is shorter.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from a licensed employer 
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
You can apply to change (‘switch’) to a Global Talent visa if you’re in the government authorised exchange scheme for sponsored researchers.
 
🔘 Temporary Worker – International Agreement Worker visa (T5)
 
Overview: You can apply if you’ll be contracted to do work covered by international law or treaty while in the UK. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
 
Duration: If you’re working for a foreign government or as a private servant in a diplomatic household you can stay for 2 years, or the time given on your certificate of sponsorship plus up to 28 days, whichever is shorter.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from a licensed employer 
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
  • Your work in the UK must be covered by the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), covered by similar agreements between the UK and other countries, for an overseas government or international organisation, or as a private servant in a diplomatic household or in the household of an employee of an international organisation.
🔘 Temporary Worker - Religious Worker visa (T5)
 
Overview: You can apply if you want to do religious work in a non-pastoral role or religious order. You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.
 
Duration: You’ll be given a visa to live and work in the UK for up to 24 months, or up to 28 days more than the time on your certificate of sponsorship. You may be sponsored for a shorter period.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from a licensed employer 
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
🔘 Temporary Worker - Seasonal Worker visa (T5)
 
Overview: You can apply if you want to come to the UK for up to 6 months to do farm work. 
 
Duration: You can stay in the UK for up to 6 months.
 
Eligibility: You must
  • have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from a licensed employer 
  • have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself when you arrive in the UK (unless you’re exempt)
You cannot work in a second job or a job that isn’t described in your certificate of sponsorship or bring family members with you.
 


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