In this article, we would be looking at everything you need to know about applying for a UK resident permit.
If you are figuring out how to become a UK permanent resident or how to apply for a temporary residence permit, you are probably concerned about how the current political climate affects you after the UK left the EU on 31 January 2020.
Here is the breakdown of what we would be discussing in the article:
- UK Resident Permit
- UK Biometric Resident Permit
- Benefits of Applying for a UK Biometric Resident Permit
- Eligibility requirement for a UK resident permit
- Document required for a permanent residency in the UK
- Resident Permit Application form for EEA citizens
- Resident Permit Application form for Non-EEA citizens
- How to Apply
UK Resident Permit
If you are moving to the UK, Brexit will only affect you if you are from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland. If you are not from any of these places, the immigration rules will remain the same as before Brexit.
This said a transition period has been set until the end of 2020, while negotiations are finalized. Until then, the current rules apply.
Therefore, you may find it useful to apply for a UK resident permit document. This is not mandatory, but if you do, and your application is successful, you can use it to:
- Apply for British citizenship; and
- Sponsor your spouse’s visa application
So how can you then proceed to do so? The first step is applying for a UK Biometric Resident Permit.
UK Biometric Resident Permit
The UK biometric residence permit has the biographical and biometric details of residence applicants. It is valid for the duration of your stay in the UK and up to ten years.
You can apply for this permit within the UK (at post offices or visa premium service centers), or from outside the UK (at visa application centers) and it can take up to 12 weeks to be processed.
Benefits of Applying for a UK Biometric Resident Permit
Below are some of the benefits of applying for a UK biometric resident permit:
- you want to apply for permanent residency;
- you need to transfer your visa from an old to a new passport (form NTL -No Time Limit- or TOC -transfer of conditions); or
- you need to apply for a Certificate of Travel or a Convention Travel document (1951 refugee or 1954 stateless person).
- you want to extend your temporary stay to six months or over;
Eligibility requirement for a UK resident permit
Permanent resident status (or Indefinite Leave to Remain) has several benefits. It allows the recipient to live and work in the UK indefinitely without any immigration restrictions on working or business in the UK, with no time limits on their stay.
It gives you access to free NHS healthcare, a state pension, and other social welfare benefits. If you are an EU or qualifying Commonwealth country citizen, you may also be able to vote.
Obtaining a UK resident permit is a straightforward but lengthy process. This right can lapse if a permanent resident spends more than two years continuously outside the country.
In order to apply for permanent residency, you must be eligible based on certain criteria, which vary depending on your visa. These criteria can be seen below:
- Spouse or unmarried partner to UK citizen: two years
- Lawful stay on any basis: ten years
- Unlawful stay: 14 years
- Tier 1 and Tier 2 work permit: five years
- Investor, sportsperson, business owner, arts: five years
- Ancestry: five years
Document required for a permanent residency in the UK
In order to apply for a permanent residency in the UK, you must have the documents ready as listed below:
- A valid passport or ID
- Evidence that you’re eligible to apply
- Two passport-sized photographs
Resident Permit Application form for EEA citizens
To get the resident permit application form for EEA citizens, visit the government website right here.
Resident Permit Application form for Non-EEA citizens
Depending on your situation, there are two types of forms to choose from:
- If you are the partner of a UK citizen or the parent of a child with permanent residency in the UK.
- You have lived in the UK in any one of the immigration categories mentioned above: Spouse or unmarried partner to UK citizen, Lawful stay on any basis, Unlawful stay, Tier 1 and Tier 2 work permit, Investor, sportsperson, business owner, arts, or Ancestry.
You will need to provide documents, such as pay stubs, bank statements, tax letters, and employment letters as proof of your legal stay in the UK as part of the application process.
Application Fees
To check out all the fees for all types of temporary and permanent UK resident permits and family visas, visit the government website right here.
How to Apply
To begin your application process, visit this link to get started.
