Immigration

British Citizenship and Naturalisation
 
Eligibility for British citizenship may be within reach if you've resided in the UK for five years and possess Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This status grants you permanent residence in the UK with rights equivalent to those of UK citizens. We offer guidance to help you and your family determine if you meet the citizenship criteria.
 
The path to citizenship often represents the culmination of a lengthy journey. We will support you throughout the entire process, maximising your application's chances of success. If you're still some years away from applying, we can provide valuable advice on preparing for your future application.
 
In cases where applicants don't meet all the stringent requirements, such as excessive time spent outside the UK, the Home Office may exercise discretion. We can advise you on your options in these situations.
 
British citizenship, as outlined in the British Nationality Act 1981, confers several rights, including:
Protection while overseas
Participation in UK referendums and general elections
Eligibility to stand for UK Parliament
Unrestricted living and working rights in the UK
 
Non-UK citizens can apply for British citizenship through naturalisation. This significant commitment benefits from legal advice to ensure the strongest possible application.
 
We’ll assess your situation, identify potential issues with the Home Office, and help you address them efficiently, strengthening your application.
 
Eligibility Criteria for British Citizenship
To qualify for British citizenship, you generally need to:
Have lived continuously in the UK for at least five years, including holding Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for the last 12 months of that period
Have spent no more than 450 days outside the UK in the five years preceding your application
Have spent no more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12 months before applying
Be at least 18 years old
Intend to continue residing in the UK after obtaining citizenship
Demonstrate a certain level of knowledge in English
Be of good character, with no criminal record or bankruptcy
Pass the Life in the UK test
 
To prove English language knowledge, you can typically use an approved English language test (such as IELTS or Trinity College London), a degree taught in English, or citizenship of an English-speaking country. The specific requirements can vary depending on your personal circumstances.
 
Your application must be accompanied by various documents proving you meet these requirements. We can advise you on which documents the Home Office will accept and how to obtain them.
 
Application Process Timeline
The application process typically takes four to six months, though processing times can vary based on the Home Office's current workload and policies. It's advisable to check the most recent processing times on the official UK government website before applying. During this time, you may remain in the UK, and your Indefinite Leave to Remain status will be unaffected.
 
Upon a successful application, you'll be invited to a Citizenship Ceremony where you'll officially become a British citizen. Subsequently, you can apply for a British passport. We will support you throughout the process, ensuring you're well-informed at every stage.
 
EU Settlement Scheme
 
Brexit has changed residency and work rights for EU and EEA nationals in the UK. The deadline for most applications to the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021. However, late applications may still be accepted if you have reasonable grounds for missing the deadline.
 
You'll receive settled status if you've lived in the UK continuously for five years. If you've lived in the UK for less than five years, you'll get pre-settled status, valid for five years. Once you've lived in the UK continuously for five years, you can apply for settled status.
 
Both statuses allow you and your family to live and work in the UK and travel freely. After 12 months with settled status (six continuous years in the UK), you can apply for naturalisation to become a British citizen.
 
Family Members
Under UK Immigration Rules, family members of an EU or EEA national can include:
Spouse or civil partner
Child or grandchild under 21 or financially dependent
Financially dependent parent or grandparent
 
If your family is with you in the UK, they can apply to the Settlement Scheme at the same time. If they're abroad, they can join you in the UK if you can prove your relationship is genuine.
 
Unmarried partners must prove their relationship is genuine. Once in the UK, they need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme.
 
Application Timeline for the EU Settlement Scheme
It can currently take the Home Office 1–2 months to process an application. However, some applications can take longer, especially if additional information or documentation is required. We can assist you and your family members with applying for Settled and Pre-Settled Status. While your application is processed, you can remain in the UK under EU freedom of movement law.
 
Indefinite Leave to Remain
 
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) grants you the right to live and work permanently in the UK without restrictions, as well as access to benefits, education, and healthcare. We can assist you in applying for ILR and advise businesses on supporting their migrant employees.
 
Eligibility for ILR
Your eligibility depends on your visa category and the duration of your legal residence in the UK. Visa categories that can lead to ILR include:
Global Talent
Skilled Worker
Innovator
UK Ancestry
Representative of an Overseas Business
Family member of a settled partner
 
Some visa categories, such as Investor and Entrepreneur, are no longer available for new applicants. However, those already on these visas may still be eligible for ILR after meeting the required residence period. The time required to qualify for ILR varies by visa category.
 
You can apply online, paying a fee and providing your fingerprints and photograph. You will need to pass a Life in the UK test and demonstrate adequate English language knowledge unless you’re exempt due to age or medical conditions. We can guide you through each step to ensure your documents and evidence are accurate and complete.
 
Application Timeline
The process can take up to six months, varying by visa category. Applying before your current visa expires allows you to stay and work legally until a decision is made.
 
Spouse Visa
 
If you are a UK resident and your spouse or partner wishes to join you, they may need a spouse visa. A successful Spouse Visa application initially grants a 33-month visa. Before this period ends, you must apply for an extension. After a total of five continuous years in the UK on this visa route, your partner can apply for ILR. We can assist couples both in and outside the UK in applying for spouse visas, ensuring all necessary documents are provided to prove the genuineness of the relationship.
 
Eligibility for a Spouse Visa
To qualify, you must prove:
Your permanent UK residency status
Annual earnings meeting a specified threshold
Your partner's English language knowledge
Your marriage or civil partnership, or proof of cohabitation for at least two years
The genuineness of your relationship
Adequate living arrangements
Unmarried partners may apply for a fiancé visa. We can advise on the best visa for your situation.
 
Application Process
We will guide you in gathering the required documents. If applying for the first time from abroad, the process involves an online application, which takes up to 12 weeks, with a fast-track option available in some countries.
 
After five continuous years in the UK, your partner can apply for ILR and, if you are a British citizen, for British citizenship.
 
Sponsorship License
 
Under the UK's points-based immigration system, a Skilled Worker visa is the most common, allowing migrant workers to be sponsored for specific skilled jobs in the UK. This route also permits dependents to join the worker.
 
A Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence only permits sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa category. After five years of continuous employment in the UK under a Skilled Worker visa with a licensed sponsor, workers can apply for ILR. The normal processing times for a standard sponsor licence application is around 8 weeks.  The Pre-licence Priority Service is available for a fee of £500.00 per request and a decision should normally be made within 10 working days. 
 
Main Conditions for Visa Approval
 
The role must match the Standard Occupation Code (SOC) in the Immigration Rules, with the candidate receiving the minimum salary for that code. The worker needs a Certificate of Sponsorship from the employer and must meet the required English language knowledge.
 
We can advise on the most suitable visa for you or your workers, ensuring all documents are in order for a successful application.
 
Sole Representative Visa for Overseas Businesses
 
The Sole Representative Visa for Overseas Businesses has been replaced by the UK Expansion Worker visa and the Overseas Business Representative Visa for certain media workers. We are available to advise on the current UK visa options for representatives of overseas companies.
 
Please note that the UK’s Sole Representative visa is no longer open for new applications.
 
For those seeking to establish operations for an overseas company in the UK, the UK Expansion Worker visa is the appropriate option. Employees of an overseas newspaper, news agency, or broadcasting organization posted on a long-term assignment to the UK should consider the Representative of an Overseas Business Visa.
 
Existing Sole Representative visa holders can apply to extend their visa or apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) if eligible.
 
Is it possible to extend a Sole Representative Visa?
Sole Representative visas are initially granted for a period of 3 years and can be extended by a further 2 years upon application.
 
Looking ahead, the sole representative may qualify to settle in the UK permanently after 5 continuous years in the UK.
 
To be eligible for an extension, the company must demonstrate that it satisfies certain criteria, including maintaining its headquarters and principal place of business outside the UK. The sole representative must demonstrate that they:
Are employed full-time as a representative of the overseas entity and continue to be required for the role
Have established and are managing the overseas entity’s UK branch or wholly-owned subsidiary
Have generated business primarily with UK-based companies
Can maintain and accommodate themselves and any dependents adequately without recourse to public funds
 
What happens once the UK operation has been established?
Within one month of opening your UK operation, you must register the entity with Companies House.
 
Once the branch or subsidiary is set up, or if additional representatives are required in the UK, employees must apply under the UK points-based system. This necessitates the UK operation obtaining a sponsorship license.
 
A sole representative can be admitted after a branch is established in the UK, provided the branch exists solely as a legal entity, has set up a bank account, identified and secured premises, and no staff are employed nor business transactions conducted.
 
Regardless of your objectives in the UK—whether establishing a new business, investing in an existing enterprise, or hiring skilled talent from overseas—we can provide guidance on the most suitable entry routes and assist with the application process.
 
Standard Visitor Visa for the UK
 
The Standard Visitor Visa offers a versatile option for individuals wishing to visit the UK for up to six months. This visa can be used for leisure, business purposes, undergoing private medical treatment, or visiting family and friends.
 
The Standard Visitor Visa has replaced several previous visa categories, including the Family Visitor visa, General Visitor visa, Child Visitor visa, Business Visitor visa, Sports Visitor visa, Entertainer Visitor visa, Prospective Entrepreneur visa, Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa, and Approved Destination Status (ADS) visa.
 
We can review and advise you on your Standard Visitor Visa application. Given the Home Office’s frequent refusals of visitor visa applications, it is prudent to seek legal guidance.
 
Why is a Standard Visitor Visa Necessary?
Citizens from certain countries must obtain a visa to visit the UK. Besides holidaymakers, the Standard Visitor Visa is commonly used by various individuals, including:
Business professionals attending conferences, meetings, or training courses
Athletes and sportspeople
Musicians, actors, entertainers, and performers
Academics, researchers, and students
Doctors and dentists participating in clinical attachments
Entrepreneurs seeking investment opportunities for business ventures in the UK
 
While in the UK on a Standard Visitor Visa, you are not permitted to work, get married, or register a civil partnership (although you can convert a civil partnership into marriage).
 
Eligibility Requirements for a Standard Visitor Visa
Home Office Entry-Clearance Officers are adept at identifying applicants who might intend to use a Standard Visitor Visa to stay in the UK long-term. Therefore, you must provide evidence to demonstrate that:
You will leave the UK at the end of your visit (typically shown by a return plane or Eurostar ticket)
You can financially support yourself and any dependents (spouse/partner and children under 18 years old) during your stay
If you do not have a return ticket, you have the financial resources to purchase one
Additional eligibility requirements may apply depending on the purpose of your visit to the UK.
 
Duration of Stay on a Standard Visitor Visa
Under most circumstances, you can stay in the UK for up to six months. However, those seeking private medical treatment may be allowed to stay for up to eleven months, and academics on sabbatical may receive permission to stay for up to 12 months.
 
Applications for a UK visit visa can be submitted up to 3 months before the intended date of travel. Visitor visa applications submitted from outside the UK are currently taking an average of 3 weeks to process. This is in line with the 3-week service standard.
 
There is also an option to apply for a long-term Standard Visitor Visa if you anticipate making frequent visits to the UK. Long-term visas can be valid for durations ranging from two to ten years, depending on your needs.
 
UK Ancestry Visa
 
Are your grandparents born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man? Are you a Commonwealth citizen planning to work in the UK? If so, you may be eligible to apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, enabling you to live, work, or study in the UK.
This visa category offers a clear pathway to Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after five years of continuous residence in the UK.
 
Eligibility Criteria for a UK Ancestry Visa
To qualify for a UK Ancestry Visa, you must meet the following requirements:
You can prove that one of your grandparents was born in the UK, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man
You are a Commonwealth citizen
You are able and intend to seek and undertake employment in the UK
You are aged 17 or older
You have sufficient funds to support and accommodate yourself and any dependents
 
Upon approval of your UK Ancestry Visa application, you will be granted permission to stay in the UK for five years. During this period, you can work and study, although you will not have access to public funds.
 
After completing five years of continuous residence, you will be eligible to apply for Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK.
 
If you are applying for a UK Ancestry visa you should receive a decision within 3 weeks once you attend your appointment at the visa application centre. If you apply to extend an Ancestry visa from within the UK then you should usually receive a decision within 8 weeks.
 
Family Members Joining You in the UK
Your family members (partner and children) can apply to join you in the UK as your dependents, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. You will need to provide evidence of your relationship with them to support their application.
 
We can assist you in reviewing your UK Ancestry Visa application, ensuring that all eligibility requirements are met and that your application is thoroughly reviewed.