EU Settled Status Explained
EU Settled Status Visa Service: Securing Your Future in the UK
For EU citizens living in the UK, obtaining EU Settled Status is a crucial step to safeguard your long-term residency and rights. With this status, you can live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely, enjoy access to the National Health Service (NHS), education, and other public services, and benefit from protections similar to those of British citizens.
Our specialist team is highly experienced in guiding applicants through the EU Settled Status application process. We provide:
- Step-by-step guidance to complete your application correctly
- Advice on eligibility and necessary documentation
- Support with complex cases, including family members or applicants with gaps in residency
- Strategies to reduce errors and delays, increasing the likelihood of approval
By working with us, you can navigate the process confidently, ensuring that your application meets all Home Office requirements and your rights in the UK are fully protected.
Why Choose Our Service?
- Specialist knowledge of ancestry documentation and UK family lineage rules
- Error-free applications that meet strict UKVI standards
- Personalised support tailored to your background and goals
- Guidance from start to finish, including settlement advice
- Our Ancestry Visa Support for the UK ensures a smooth, confident application journey—helping you reconnect with your UK heritage and build a secure future in Britain.
Application Process
1. Prepare the Required Documents
- To apply for a UK Ancestry Visa, you must gather clear and complete documentation, including:
- Your full birth certificate showing parent details.
- Birth certificates of your parent and grandparent, confirming your UK lineage.
- Marriage certificates, if any family names have changed.
- Legal adoption documents, if applicable.
- Evidence of your intention to work in the UK, such as a job offer, updated CV, or a business plan if self-employed.
- Recent bank statements proving you can support yourself financially in the UK.
- TB test results, if required based on your country of residence.
Properly compiling these documents is essential to avoid delays or refusals.
2. Submit Your Application
- Complete the online application form on the UK Home Office portal.
- Pay the updated £682 visa application fee (previously £637).
- Pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) to access NHS services while in the UK.
- Book and attend your biometric appointment for fingerprints and photographs.
3. Visa Decision & Travel
- Standard processing time is approximately 3 weeks for applications made outside the UK.
- Priority or super-priority processing may be available for faster decisions, depending on the application centre.
Once approved, you will receive your visa vignette or digital status, allowing you to travel to the UK and begin your new journey.
Eligibility
Ancestry Visa Support
Eligibility for ILR After 5 Years
UK Ancestry Visa holders can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after completing five continuous years in the UK. This grants permanent settlement and the freedom to live, work, and study without restrictions.
ILR Requirements to Meet
Applicants must fulfil several mandatory criteria, including:
- Passing the English language test (minimum B1 level).
- Passing the Life in the UK Test.
- Demonstrating financial stability and the ability to support themselves without public funds.
Absence Limits and Continuous Residence
To maintain continuous residence, applicants must ensure they do not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period during the qualifying period. Excessive absences may impact eligibility and delay ILR approval.
Bringing Family Members
UK Ancestry visa holders can bring eligible family members to the UK, but each family member must apply separately for a visa. Applicants are required to provide evidence of their relationship to the ancestry visa holder, such as marriage certificates for partners or birth certificates for dependent children. This ensures that all accompanying family members meet UKVI requirements and are lawfully allowed to reside in the UK.
Partners of ancestry visa holders have additional flexibility, as they may be eligible to switch into different visa categories if needed. However, this option is not available for those who previously entered the UK as a visitor or on a short-term student visa, so it is important to check eligibility before applying.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
You must complete the online application form via UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), the Home Office division responsible for UK visas. Supporting documents and biometric information must be submitted as part of the application.
No, you cannot switch into a UK Ancestry Visa from another visa category while in the UK. You must apply from outside the UK.
The application fee is £682. You may also pay for priority processing depending on your country of application. Additionally, an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) must be paid upfront to access the UK’s NHS.
You can apply up to 3 months before travel. After submitting your application and completing your biometric enrolment, a decision usually takes around 3 weeks. Faster processing options may be available for an additional fee.
Yes. Eligible family members can apply separately and must provide proof of their relationship. They pay the visa fee and IHS and will have the same leave period as the main applicant. Partners in the UK may switch visa categories unless they entered as a visitor, short-term student, or under temporary admission/release.
If refused, you may request an Administrative Review if you believe the decision was incorrect. Applications denied due to missing eligibility criteria or documentation are unlikely to be overturned. Professional advice can help explore alternative options or appeal routes.
You may travel outside the UK, but excessive absences can affect your eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). If your visa expires, you must apply for a new visa from your home country to return.
Yes. After 5 years in the UK, ancestry visa holders can apply for ILR, provided they meet language, Life in the UK, and financial requirements. ILR allows permanent settlement without time restrictions.
There is no fixed amount required. You must show that you can support and accommodate yourself and any dependents without relying on public funds.
