UK Visas, Settlement, and Citizenship: Home Office Application Steps
UK immigration procedures are managed by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) within the Home Office.
Moving to or settling in the UK involves points-based visa applications, biometric appointments, and strict financial eligibility thresholds. Skilled Worker visas require a formal Certificate of Sponsorship from a licensed employer and meeting minimum salary thresholds. Spousal and family visa applicants must demonstrate genuine relationship evidence and adequate maintenance. After completing eligible qualifying periods (usually five continuous years), residents can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and subsequently register for British citizenship through naturalization. Our guides detail application requirements, English language testing, the Life in the UK test, and digital eVisas.
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Apply online on gov.uk. Pay the fee. Pay the immigration health surcharge too. Book an appointment at a visa application centre (VAC) for your fingerprints and photo. Then wait for a decision. Most decisions come within 3 weeks. If you pass, you get a vignette in your passport or an eVisa.
8 steps · About 3 weeks (most routes) · From £135 (visitor) to £819+ (Skilled Worker 3-year)2026-Latest
You must live in the UK for 5 years. You must then have settled status or indefinite leave for 12 months. Next, pass the Life in the UK test. Pass an English test too. Apply on Form AN with referees. Go to a citizenship ceremony. Then you become British.
8 steps · About 6 months · £1,839 total (application £1,709 + ceremony £130, 2026)2026-Latest
The deadline for most EU citizens was 30 June 2021, but you can still apply late if you have a good reason. You apply in an app. You prove who you are. You prove where you have lived. You get settled status if you have lived here for 5+ years. Or you get pre-settled status if you have lived here for less time.
6 steps · Usually days; complex cases can take longer · Free2025-Latest
The Skilled Worker visa is the main UK work route. You need a job offer from a licensed sponsor. The pay must be at or above the salary threshold. This is £41,700 as the general threshold, or the going rate for the job if that is higher. Lower rates apply for new entrants and for health and care roles. Then you apply online with your Certificate of Sponsorship. You pay the fee and the immigration health surcharge. You also give your biometrics. From spring 2027 the salary rules change: going rates drop from the median wage to the 25th percentile, the general threshold is uprated on 2026 wage data, and the PhD discount goes. Those changes are announced, not yet in force.
8 steps · 3–8 weeks end to end · £819 visa (3-year) + £1,035/year health surcharge2026-Latest
Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR, is how you settle in the UK for good. It lets you live, work and study here as long as you like, claim benefits if you are eligible, and apply for British citizenship after 12 months. Today you can usually apply after 5 years on a work or family visa. That is about to change. On 2 November 2026 the government announced earned settlement: the standard wait rises from 5 years to 10 years. That plan is announced, not law yet. This guide sets out what applies today, what has been announced, and what is still unknown.
8 steps · About 6 months for a decision (standard service) · £3,226 per person (from 8 April 2026)2026-Latest
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions and essential rules for immigration in United Kingdom.
What is a UK eVisa and how does it replace physical BRP cards?
An eVisaUK eVisa — The digital record of UK immigration status, accessed through a UKVI account. Replaces BRPs.Click for official info ↗ is an online record of your immigration status. The Home OfficeUK Home Office — The government department responsible for visas, immigration, and citizenship in the UK.Click for official info ↗ has transitioned away from physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs). You create a UKVI account to view your status and generate digital share codes for employers and landlords.
How long must I live in the UK before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
Most applicants on Skilled Worker or Family visas can apply for ILR after 5 continuous years of lawful residence. Under the long residence route, you may apply after 10 continuous years.
What tests are required to naturalise as a British citizen?
Adult applicants must pass the Life in the UK testLife in the UK Test — The 24-question computer test on British history, traditions, and government required for most citizenship and settlement applications.Click for official info ↗ (covering British customs, history, and laws). They must also prove knowledge of English at B1 level or higher through an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) or eligible degree.
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