A British citizen who moves abroad retains the right to return to the UK and live here at any time. British citizenship does not lapse through residence outside the United Kingdom, however long the absence lasts. It can end in only two ways, a voluntary renunciation...
UK Immigration Guides and Insights
Expert insights across every UK immigration route we cover, from partner and family visas to settlement and British citizenship. Choose a topic below to see all the guides for it.
British CitizenshipNaturalisation, registration and becoming British.
Indefinite Leave to RemainSettling permanently after your qualifying period.
Spouse VisaJoining a British or settled partner in the UK.
Work VisaWorking in the UK across the main employment routes.
Visitor VisaVisiting the UK for family, tourism or business.
Student VisaStudying in the UK and the visa requirements.
News & UpdatesThe latest UK immigration rule changes and updates.
Fiancé VisaComing to the UK to marry, then switching to a spouse visa.
Unmarried Partner VisaApplying as a durable, unmarried partner of a UK sponsor.
NaturalisationBecoming a British citizen after settlement.
Spouse Visa ExtensionExtending your partner visa for the second stage.
Further Leave to RemainExtending your stay on family and other routes.
Latest UK immigration guides
When can you apply for ILR after a spouse visa?
A partner on a spouse visa can apply for settlement after five years. Indefinite Leave to Remain, known as settlement, removes the time limit on a person's stay once a qualifying period on the route is complete. An application made before the qualifying period is...
How long does it take to get a UK Fiancé Visa?
A couple planning to marry in the UK often need to know how long the Fiancé Visa will take before they can set a date. The Fiancé Visa is an entry clearance application made from outside the UK, and the Home Office decides it against a published service standard. A...
Can you work in the UK on a Student Visa?
A UK Student visa permits some employment, but the hours and the type of work allowed depend on the course and the sponsor. Working beyond the permitted hours breaches the visa conditions and may affect future immigration applications. This post provides an overview...
What are the most common mistakes in UK visa applications?
A refused UK visa application costs the applicant the fee, the waiting time and, often, months of separation from family or work. Many refusals arise from avoidable errors rather than from genuine ineligibility for the route. An application that does not meet a...
What is the higher English requirement for UK settlement from 2027?
The English level required to settle in the UK is rising, and applicants on many routes have until 2027 to reach it. The Home Office has confirmed that the settlement requirement will move up one level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages....
How do you get British citizenship back after renouncing it?
A person who gave up British citizenship can often get it back by resuming it. Resumption is a registration application under the British Nationality Act 1981. Some people have a legal right to be registered and good character must be shown in every case, and a...
Can you work in the UK on a fiancé visa?
A fiancé visa lets a person enter the UK to marry, not to take a job. The route is granted for a short period so the couple can marry or form a civil partnership, after which the applicant switches to the partner route. Employment is not permitted during the fiancé...
What are the requirements for a UK dependant visa?
A dependant visa lets the partner or child of a main visa holder live in the UK alongside them. The requirements are not the same for every route, because a dependant of a work visa holder is assessed differently from a child joining the family route. What stays...
What is the difference between the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa is not a separate route from the Skilled Worker visa but a part of it, reserved for eligible health and care roles. The two share the same foundations: an approved sponsor, a Certificate of Sponsorship, a minimum salary and an English...
Not sure which route applies?
The Whytecroft Ford immigration team can confirm the right route for your circumstances and prepare the application end to end. To talk it through, call 0208 757 5751 or use the contact form.