Find the route that fits your circumstances.
Moving to the UK, staying longer, bringing your family, studying, working or building a business can involve very different immigration routes.
The right starting point is understanding which route fits your circumstances, your immigration history and what you are trying to achieve in the UK.
What are you planning to do in the UK?
You do not need to know the name of the visa before seeking advice. Start with your objective — the route comes after the circumstances.
Live with my family
Family and partner routes, extensions and family-related immigration matters.
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Work in the UK
Skilled Worker and other applicable work routes depending on your professional circumstances.
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Build a business
Innovator Founder and immigration options connected with sponsoring overseas workers.
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The same goal does not always mean the same route.
Two people may both want to live in the UK and still have completely different options.
Immigration history, family circumstances, employment, nationality, documentation and long-term plans can all affect the route available.
Family Visas
Family immigration is not limited to one type of application. Depending on your circumstances, a route may be available if you are joining or remaining with a spouse or partner, fiancé or proposed civil partner, child, parent or qualifying dependent relative.
The requirements vary according to the relationship, the status of the family member in the UK and the route being used.
Discuss a family immigration matterSkilled Worker & Work Visas
The Skilled Worker route generally requires an eligible job, sponsorship from a Home Office-approved employer, a Certificate of Sponsorship and compliance with the applicable salary and English-language requirements.
Your occupation, qualifications, employer, nationality and long-term plans can affect which work route should be considered.
- Skilled Worker applications
- Extensions and permitted changes of status
- Dependant applications
- Long-term planning towards settlement where applicable
Student Visas
Different routes apply depending on your age, course and education provider.
Student Visa: generally for applicants aged 16 or over studying an eligible course with a licensed sponsor.
Child Student Visa: for children aged 4 to 17 studying at an independent school.
Short-term Study Visa: for eligible English-language courses lasting more than six months and up to 11 months.
Discuss a study visaVisiting the UK
Depending on your nationality and the purpose of travel, you may need a Standard Visitor visa, an ETA or another form of permission.
Visitor routes can cover tourism, visiting family, certain business activities and short periods of study, subject to the relevant conditions.
If your circumstances involve previous refusals, a complex travel history or uncertainty about permitted activities, advice before travelling can help clarify your position.
Discuss my visit to the UKUK Ancestry Visa
The UK Ancestry route may be available to certain eligible applicants who can demonstrate qualifying British ancestry.
The route can apply to qualifying Commonwealth citizens and certain other British nationality categories who can show that a grandparent was born in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man or another qualifying circumstance under the rules.
Discuss UK AncestryFounders & Sponsor Licences
Innovator Founder Visa
For applicants seeking to establish and run an innovative business in the UK. The business must meet the relevant innovation, viability and scalability requirements and receive endorsement from an authorised endorsing body.
Sponsor Licence
UK organisations that want to sponsor eligible overseas workers or students generally need the appropriate Home Office sponsor licence.
Discuss business immigrationSettlement & ILR
Indefinite Leave to Remain — ILR — is settlement in the UK. Different routes can lead to settlement depending on your immigration history.
Eligibility is not determined by time in the UK alone. The route you have held, qualifying residence periods and the requirements attached to your immigration category all matter.
Discuss settlement in the UKBritish Citizenship
There are different routes to becoming a British citizen, including naturalisation and registration, depending on the applicant's circumstances.
Being born in the UK does not automatically mean that a person is British. Citizenship can depend on the date of birth and the status of the parents at that time.
Citizenship applications can involve residence history, immigration status, absences, language requirements, the Life in the UK Test and good-character requirements.
Discuss British CitizenshipA visa category is not an immigration strategy.
Before submitting an application, it is important to understand where you are now, what you want to achieve, which route applies, what evidence is required and what the next stage may look like.
Your next immigration decision may be about staying, changing or settling.
You may not be looking for your first visa. Your current permission and what has changed in your life can affect what comes next.
- Can I extend my current permission?
- Can I move to another immigration route?
- How does a change in employment affect my status?
- How do family circumstances affect my position?
- When might I become eligible for settlement?
- What do my dependants need to do?
You do not need to arrive with the name of a visa.
Tell us where you are now, your current immigration position and what you want to achieve in the UK. We can then identify the issues that need to be considered and advise on the appropriate next step for your circumstances.
Speak to our immigration team