UK visas and immigration: practical guide to routes, status and the EU Settlement Scheme
Anyone who is not a British or Irish citizen may need a UK visa or electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit, work, study or live in the UK. The rules differ by nationality, purpose of travel, and length of stay. This guide covers the main visa categories, digital immigration status, the EU Settlement Scheme, and what to do when things change mid-application.
Key Takeaways
The UK uses a points-based immigration system for non-UK citizens. To find out whether you need a visa, check the official GOV.UK "Check if you need a UK visa" tool before booking any travel.
UK visas are organized by purpose: visiting, studying, working, joining family, or settling permanently. Requirements vary between visitor, family and work visas in the UK, so confirm the rules for your specific route.
Most new visa grants and immigration decisions are now linked to a digital eVisa. Create or sign in to your UKVI account before you travel so you can prove your immigration status to airlines, employers, and landlords.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens who were living in the UK before 31 December 2020 may hold settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme instead of a standard UK visa.
UK visas and immigration rules change frequently. Always check official UK government guidance and confirm current fees, salary thresholds, and application requirements shortly before you apply.
Understanding UK visas and your immigration status
UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), a division of the Home Office, runs the system that controls who can enter and remain in the country. Your immigration status is the legal record of your permission to be in the UK: what type of leave you hold, the start and end dates of that leave, and any conditions attached. Losing track of your status, or letting it lapse, creates problems that can take years to fix.
Most UK immigration applications are submitted online via the GOV.UK website. The online application for UK visas includes personal information and travel history, and UKVI uses these details to assess eligibility. Visa requirements differ based on the category of visa being applied for, so the first step is always confirming which route applies to you.
Who needs a visa and who does not:
British and Irish citizens do not need a visa or ETA to enter the UK.
Non-visa nationals (citizens of countries on the UK's approved list) can visit for up to 6 months without a visa, but they typically need an ETA.
Visa-national passport holders must obtain a visa before travel, regardless of trip length.
Electronic travel authorisation (ETA):
An ETA is a digital permission for short visits of up to 6 months. It replaced the old "visa-free entry" process for many nationalities. Travellers should apply at least 3 working days in advance through the official UK ETA app or website. The fee is £20. If you pass through UK border control (even when transiting), you will usually need one.
eVisas and digital immigration status:
UKVI is phasing out physical vignettes (passport stickers) and biometric residence permits (BRPs). From 1 July 2026, physical vignettes are no longer issued for overseas applications. Instead, applicants receive an eVisa: a digital record of their immigration status. To access it, create a UKVI account using the same email address that appears on your visa application. You can then prove your status online by generating a share code for employers, landlords, or airlines.
Conditions attached to most UK visas:
No access to public funds (welfare benefits)
Restrictions on the type and hours of work permitted
A time limit (the date your leave expires)
In some cases, a requirement to register with the police
Financial self-sufficiency is a requirement for obtaining a UK visa; applicants must provide proof of financial means to support themselves during their stay. Always read your specific grant of leave letter for the exact conditions that apply to you.
Consequences of overstaying or breaching conditions:
Curtailment (early cancellation) of your visa
Re-entry bans of up to 10 years
Automatic refusal of future visa applications
Negative assessment under the "good character" requirement for settlement or citizenship
Main UK visa routes: visit, work, study, family and settlement
There is no single "UK visa." The UK immigration system has several major routes for living or working in the UK, each with its own eligibility criteria, fees, and time limits. The Immigration Health Surcharge is required for many visas lasting more than six months, adding to the total cost of an application. Below is a route-by-route breakdown.
Visit the UK
Standard Visitor visas allow stays up to 6 months for tourism and family visits. Visitors cannot work, study for longer than 30 days on a short course, or access public funds. Some nationalities enter visa-free but still need an ETA; others must apply for a visitor visa in advance.
Transit through the UK is a separate question. If your route requires you to pass through UK border control (landside transit), you may need a transit visa or ETA depending on your nationality. If you remain airside, different rules apply. Confirm which transit permission you need before booking flights.
Work in the UK
The Skilled Worker visa is the main route for employment. It requires a job offer from a Home Office-approved sponsor holding a valid sponsorship licence. A Certificate of Sponsorship is often required for work visa applications; the employer issues this document before the worker can apply.
For a Certificate of Sponsorship issued on or after 22 July 2025, the standard salary threshold is £41,700 per year or the going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher. Discounted thresholds exist: a PhD holder in a STEM subject may qualify at around £33,400 per year. Applicants must meet an English language requirement. After 5 years on the Skilled Worker route, workers may apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
Other work-related routes include:
Graduate visa: 2 years of unrestricted work permission after completing an eligible UK degree (3 years for PhD graduates). No sponsor needed.
Temporary work and seasonal worker visas for short-term roles in agriculture, charity, creative sectors, and other categories.
Health and Care Worker visa, which carries a lower salary threshold and waived health surcharge for eligible NHS and social care roles.
Certain Commonwealth citizens can qualify for a UK Ancestry visa based on grandparentage, granting 5 years of leave to work in the UK.
Every worker must hold a valid right to work before starting any employment. Employers face penalties of up to £60,000 per illegal worker if they fail to check.
Study in the UK
The Student visa route requires a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) from a licensed institution. Applicants must show maintenance funds: £1,529 per month for courses in London and £1,171 per month outside London, held continuously for 28 days before applying, for up to 9 months. Course fees must also be covered or accounted for. An English language test is required unless exempt. The visa lasts for the course duration plus a short wrap-up period. Student visa decisions can be tracked using a specific tool on the GOV.UK website, which shows estimated decision timelines by country and route.
Family visas
Partner, spouse, fiancé(e), and child routes each carry their own eligibility criteria. Applicants typically must prove the genuineness of the relationship, meet a minimum income requirement, and pass an English language test. Accompanying family members may have different rules compared to main visa applicants; for example, a dependent child's application follows a separate set of requirements from the main partner visa holder.
Some family routes can lead to settlement after a qualifying period. For partner visas, that qualifying period is usually 60 months (5 years) of continuous residence in the UK under the same category.
Settlement / Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
ILR is the long-term immigration status that removes time limits on living and working in the UK. Most long-term work and family routes provide a pathway to permanent residency in the UK. The standard qualifying period is 5 years on an eligible route, subject to:
Continuous residence requirements (limited absences)
A "good character" assessment
The Life in the UK Test
English language at B1 level (rising to B2 from 26 March 2027)
Not all visas lead to ILR. Visitor visas, most temporary work categories, and the graduate visa do not count toward settlement. Individuals with indefinite leave to remain can apply for British citizenship after meeting additional conditions, including a 12-month residency requirement and passing a good character check.
Checking visa processing times
Visa processing times vary based on application type. You can check expected processing times online using the official UKVI "Visa processing times" page on GOV.UK. Standard overseas applications typically take several weeks, but timelines shift with application volumes and country of submission. Where available, applicants can pay for priority or super-priority processing to receive a faster decision.
The EU Settlement Scheme and digital proof of status
The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is separate from the standard UK visa routes. It was created after Brexit to protect the residence rights of EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and their eligible family members who were living in the UK by 31 December 2020. Applications under EUSS are free; no visa fee applies.
Settled status vs pre-settled status
The two outcomes of a successful EUSS application protect a person's immigration status in different ways:
Status | Qualifying residence | Duration | Path to citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
Settled status | 5 years' continuous residence | Permanent (no expiry) | Yes, if other conditions met |
Pre-settled status | Less than 5 years | 5 years from grant date | Must first upgrade to settled |
Both statuses allow holders to work, study, rent property, and access healthcare in the UK. Settled status is functionally equivalent to ILR. Swiss citizens have a specific rule allowing absences of up to 4 consecutive years without losing settled status; EU and EEA citizens lose it after 2 continuous years abroad.
Late applications
The main EUSS deadline passed on 30 June 2021. New or late applications are accepted only where the applicant can show reasonable grounds for missing the deadline. The Home Office publishes detailed guidance on acceptable late grounds, and applicants should follow the latest version before submitting.
Proving EUSS status
EUSS status is entirely digital. There is no physical card by default. The status is linked to the holder's passport or national ID card and stored in a UKVI account. To prove their right to work or rent, holders log in to the "View and Prove your immigration status" service and generate a time-limited share code. Employers and landlords use that code to verify status online.
If you renew your passport or switch to a new national ID, you must update those details in your UKVI account. Failing to do so can cause problems at airline check-in, UK border control, or employer right-to-work checks. The error is avoidable but common.
EUSS compared to other visa routes
The EU Settlement Scheme is not open to most new arrivals. Anyone moving to the UK after 31 December 2020 who does not meet the late-application criteria must use a standard UK visa, such as a Skilled Worker, Student, or Family visa. Unlike those routes, EUSS does not require employer sponsorship, a CAS from a university, or a minimum salary. It exists solely to preserve pre-Brexit residence rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers address practical issues that applicants often encounter when dealing with UK visas and immigration.
How can I check the status of my UK visa application?
Log in to your UKVI account on GOV.UK using the email address and application reference number from your submission. The account page shows the current decision status. For a general estimate of how long your application type takes, visit the "Visa processing times" page, which breaks down typical timelines by route and country of application. You can also contact UKVI by phone if you are unable to find the information you need online, though wait times for the service can be long.
Can I switch from a visit visa to a work visa while I am in the UK?
In most cases, no. Visitors cannot switch into a Skilled Worker, Student, or Family route from inside the UK. You would need to leave the country, submit a new visa application from abroad, and wait for a decision before re-entering. A small number of routes allow in-country switching (for example, from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa), but each has specific eligibility criteria. Check the immigration rules for your intended route on GOV.UK to confirm whether an in-country switch is permitted.
What should I do if my passport details change after I receive my eVisa or EU Settlement Scheme status?
Sign in to your UKVI account or the EUSS online service and update your new passport or ID card details. Your digital immigration status must match the travel document you present at airline check-in and UK border control. If the details do not match, you risk being denied boarding or delayed at the border. The update process is free and can be completed online without submitting a new application.
Do I still need a physical BRP card if I have an eVisa?
UKVI is phasing out biometric residence permits. Many new grants of leave are issued without a physical card. If your BRP has expired or you received an eVisa, your digital status replaces the card. Follow the instructions in your decision email about how to prove your immigration status. If you are asked by an employer or landlord to show a physical document and your BRP has expired, direct them to the online "View and Prove" service and provide a share code instead.