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Guidance

Settlement – Gurkhas discharged prior to 1997: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on the discretionary policy in place for those discharged from the British Army, Brigade of Gurkhas prior to 1 July 1997.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
29 December 2017
Last updated:
11 November 2025
Show all updates

  1. Updated to reflect Part Suitability replacing Part 9 in the Immigration Rules.

  2. Updated guidance to incorporate Immigration Rules changes from 10 September 2024.

  3. Updated guidance document. New guidance accompanies changes to the immigration rules being implemented on 5 October 2023 to enable pre-97 Gurkhas and Hong Kong military veterans and their family members to apply for settlement under the immigration rules. Previously, only Gurkhas were able to apply for settlement using a leave outside the rules.

  4. PDF updated - guidance no longer requires applicants to provide DNA evidence.

  5. First published.

Documents

Gurkhas discharged before 1 July 1997 and their family members (accessible)

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Gurkhas discharged before 1 July 1997 and their family members

PDF, 373 KB, 23 pages

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Details

UK Visas and Immigration guidance for staff covering the following people:

  • a Gurkha who was discharged prior to 1 July 1997
  • family members of a Gurkha discharged prior to 1 July 1997
  • widows and orphans of a Gurkha discharged prior to 1 July 1997
  • adult children of former Gurkhas

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