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Guidance

Permission to stay as a stateless person: caseworker guidance

Guidance used by UK Visas and Immigration when deciding applications from stateless people.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published:
1 April 2013
Last updated:
3 August 2026
Show all updates

  1. Updated to reflect changes to Appendix Statelessness in respect of the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 259,25 June 2026.

  2. The caseworker guidance has been updated.

  3. Updated sections relating to dependants of stateless persons following Asylum Aid v SSHD [2025] EWHC 316 (Admin).

  4. Paragraph on biometric residence permit (BRP) information removed.

  5. Updated content about the types of biometric document that are provided.

  6. Updated to remove paragraph on biometric residence permits (BRPs).

  7. Updated the links in the guidance document.

  8. Links in guidance updated.

  9. Updated to correct a minor error in 'Three stage process' paragraph.

  10. Updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules, which came into effect on 31 January 2024. This guide has been renamed from 'Stateless guidance' to 'Permission to stay as a stateless person'.

  11. Updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules, which came into effect on 6 April 2019, including: A change to the duration of limited leave granted to those who qualify for stateless leave from 30 months to 5 years. Further clarification on the requirement for applicants to show that they cannot acquire a nationality or a right to permanent residence in another country to which they could reasonably expect to be entitled. Updated section on how to consider applications for further leave to remain and indefinite leave to remain on the stateless leave route. Further guidance on interviewing stateless leave applicants. A change in the process to follow when an applicant has an outstanding asylum claim.

  12. Updated guidance.

  13. First published.

Documents

Permission to stay as a stateless person: caseworker guidance (accessible)

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Permission to stay as a stateless person: caseworker guidance

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Details

UK Visas and Immigration uses this guidance when deciding applications from stateless people who are in the UK and want permission to stay.

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