Summary
A collection of the current Immigration Rules.
The Immigration Rules are some of the most important pieces of legislation that make up the UK’s immigration law. They are updated on a regular basis and all changes can be found in the Immigration Rules: statement of changes.
The rules are divided into different documents. The index page will help you find the part you need.
You can view the archived copies of the consolidated Immigration Rules as they were on the date before each statement of changes came into effect.
Contents
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The rules are divided into different documents. The index page will help you find the part you need.
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This contains an explanation of who’s covered by the Immigration Rules, dates of effect and definitions/interpretations of the terms used.
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General provisions regarding entry clearance, leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom (paragraphs 7 to 39E).
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Transitional provisions Part 2 and Appendix V: Immigration Rules for Visitors.
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Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for studies.
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Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in an "au pair" placement, as a working holidaymaker or for training or work experience (paragraphs 122 to 127).
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Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for employment (paragraphs 128A to 199B).
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Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a businessman, self-employed person, investor, writer or composer or artist (paragraphs 200A to 237).
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Points-based system (paragraphs 245AAA to 245ZZE).
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Other Categories (paragraphs A246 to 276BVI).
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Family members (paragraphs A277 to 319Y).
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Grounds for the refusal
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Asylum (paragraphs 326A to 352H).
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Temporary protection
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Asylum
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Procedure and rights of appeal
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Deportation.
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Stateless persons
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Points needed for attributes for applicants in Tiers 1, 2, and 5 of the points-based system.
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Administrative Review
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Administrative Review for the EU Settlement Scheme
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Immigration Rules Appendix HM Armed Forces
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This route is for members of International Armed Forces and for International Civilian Employees of either a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) force or the Australian Department of Defence.
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English Language
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Maintenance (funds)
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Appendix E applies only to applications as a dependent partner or dependent child of a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Migrant
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Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay
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Appendix ECAA Settlement: ECAA nationals and settlement
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EU, other EEA and Swiss citizens and family members
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Appendix EU (Family Permit)
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Family members
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Family members - specified evidence
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List of English language tests that have been approved by the Home Office for English language requirements for limited leave to enter or remain under the Immigration Rules.
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Knowledge of language and life.
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Service of notices
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Settlement for people on a protection route
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Immigration Rules for Visitors
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Permitted Activities for Visitors
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List of nationalities requiring entry clearance prior to travel to the UK as a Visitor, or for any other purpose for less than six months
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List of Permit Free Festivals
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Immigration rules for Visa Nationals transiting the UK landside without a visa.
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This route is for a person accompanying a Head of State or Government Minister on an official visit to the UK for a temporary period (less than 1 month).
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Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation
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List of nationalities requiring an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travel to the UK pursuant to Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation.
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Immigration Rules for S2 Healthcare Visitors
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Student route
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Immigration Rules for Short-term Students
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Immigration Rules for Child Students
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Parent of a Child Student
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This route is for a Student in the UK who wants to work, or look for work, following the successful completion of an eligible course of study at UK bachelor’s degree-level or above. The study must have been with a higher education provider with a track record of compliance.
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The Skilled Worker route is for employers to recruit people to work in the UK, including in UK waters, in a specific job. A Skilled Worker must have a job offer in an eligible skilled occupation from a Home Office-approved sponsor.
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Eligible SOC 2020 occupation codes and going rates for Skilled Worker, Global Business Mobility and Scale-up routes
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Occupations where a reduced salary threshold applies in the Skilled Worker route.
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The Global Business Mobility routes are for workers based outside the UK who are undertaking a temporary work assignment in the UK as a Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier or Secondment Worker.
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This route is for a person who has a key leading role within their faith-based organisation or a religious order in the UK.
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Immigration Rules for Representative of an Overseas Business
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Immigration Rules for UK Ancestry
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The Global Talent route is for people aged 18 or over in the field of science, engineering, humanities, social science, medicine, digital technology or arts and culture who can show they have exceptional talent or exceptional promise.
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Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes
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High Potential Individual
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Appendix Scale-up
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The Start-up route is for a person seeking to establish a business in the UK for the first time. From 13 April 2023 this route is only available to those who hold a valid Start-up endorsement issued before the 13 April 2023. From 13 July 2023 the Start-up route will be closed to all new applications.
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Appendix Innovator Founder
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The International Sportsperson route is for an elite sportsperson or qualified sports coach who is internationally established and can make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at its highest level in the UK.
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Home Office approved Sports Governing Bodies for International Sportsperson applications.
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Overseas Domestic Worker
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Immigration Rules Appendix Domestic Workers in a Private Household
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Appendix Domestic Worker who is a Victim of Modern Slavery
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Appendix Domestic Worker Statement
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The Seasonal Worker route is for a person who wants to come to the UK to do seasonal horticulture work or poultry production work.
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The Youth Mobility Scheme provides a cultural exchange programme that allows a person aged between 18 and 30 (or 18-35 for some nationalities), from participating countries and territories, to experience life in the UK for up to 2 years (or 3 years for some nationalities).
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Countries and territories participating in the Youth Mobility Scheme and annual allocation of places for 2024.
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The Temporary Work - Creative Worker route is for a person who wants to work within the creative sector.
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The Religious Worker route is for a person who wants to support the activities of religious institutions in the UK by conducting religious work such as working in a religious order or undertaking non-pastoral work for a religious organisation.
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The Charity Worker route is for a person who wants to come to the UK to do voluntary work for no more than 12 months.
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The International Agreement route is for a person who wants to come to the UK to provide a service covered under international law, such as private servants in diplomatic households, or employees of overseas governments and international organisations.
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The Temporary Work - Government Authorised Exchange route is for a person who wants to come to the UK on an approved scheme for a period of 12 or 24 months (depending on the scheme).
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The Temporary Worker – Government Authorised Exchange route is for a person who wishes to come to the UK on one of the approved schemes listed below.
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Where a person is applying under Appendix Temporary Work – Creative Worker, as a creative worker, operating in dance, theatre, film and television, or as a model in the fashion industry, their sponsor must follow the relevant code of practice specified below and comply with the other requirements.
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The Service Providers from Switzerland route allows eligible employers, companies or self- employed individuals to execute contracts with a party based in the UK for a period not exceeding 90 days per calendar year.
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There are two Hong Kong British National (Overseas) routes– the BN(O) Status Holder route and the BN(O) Household Member route.
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Ukraine Scheme
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This route is for Afghan citizens and their dependent family members to relocate to, or settle in, the UK where the Ministry of Defence has decided they meet the requirements for relocation to the UK as an eligible Afghan citizen under the ARAP (“the ARAP eligibility decision”).
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This route is to provide for temporary permission to stay for victims of human trafficking or slavery and their children.
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Appendix Family Reunion (Protection)
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Appendix Child staying with or joining a Non-Parent Relative (Protection)
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The Adult Dependent Relative route is for a person aged 18 or over who is sponsored by a relative in the UK (who must be a British Citizen, settled in the UK, have protection status or be a specified EEA national who has permission under Appendix EU) and where the sponsor is able to maintain, accommodate and care for the applicant without reliance on public funds.
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The Long Residence route is for a person who has lived in the UK lawfully and continuously for 10 years or more. The person can count time with permission on most routes towards the 10 year qualifying period.
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Immigration Rules Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse
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Appendix Bereaved Partner
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The adoption routes are for a child under the age of 18 to apply to come to the UK either to be adopted or having been adopted overseas.
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The Private Life route is for a person seeking permission to stay in the UK on the basis they have developed a Private Life in the UK.
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This route is for a person who has permission to stay as a partner or parent (or has had a combination of the two) under Appendix FM, and who is eligible to settle in the UK after a qualifying period of 10 years.
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This route is for Gurkhas or Hong Kong military unit veterans who were discharged before 1 July 1997 to settle in the UK.
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ATAS seeks to prevent the transfer of information, knowledge or technology which could develop, advance or support an Advanced Conventional Military Technology (ACMT) and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) programme or their means of delivery.
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This Appendix sets out how the English language requirement is met.
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This Appendix sets out how the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement is met by a person applying for settlement.
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This Appendix sets out how the financial requirement must be met.
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This route is for a ‘Returning Resident’, which means a person who previously had indefinite permission to enter or stay (settlement) in the UK which has now lapsed and who now wants to return to and settle in the UK.
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This route is for a person in the UK who has no nationality and so is stateless, and is unable to become, or obtain a status leading to becoming, a permanent resident of another country.
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This Appendix sets out how the continuous residence requirement is met.
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Relationship with Partner
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This Appendix sets out the requirements for applications made by children.
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This appendix sets out when a person is required to provide a valid TB certificate with their application for entry clearance and the requirements for a TB certificate to be valid.