Immigration Rules


This is a consolidated version of the current Immigration Rules.

See the link at the top of this page for all Parliamentary 'Statements of Changes in Immigration Rules' issued since May 2003.

The Immigration Rules were last updated in August 2013.

Introduction

Paragraph number

Implementation and transitional provisions

4

Application

5

Interpretation

6

Public funds clarification

6A-6C

Part 1: General provisions regarding leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom

Leave to enter the United Kingdom

7-9

Exercise of the power to refuse leave to enter the United Kingdom

10

Suspension of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom

10A

Cancellation of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom

10B

Requirement for persons arriving in the United Kingdom or seeking entry through the Channel Tunnel to produce evidence of identity and nationality

11

Requirement for a person not requiring leave to enter the United Kingdom to prove that he has the right of abode

12-14

Common Travel Area

15

Admission for certain British passport holders

16-17

Persons outside the United Kingdom

17A-17B

Returning residents

18-20

Non-lapsing leave

20A

Holders of restricted travel documents and passports

21-23

Leave to enter granted on arrival in the United Kingdom

23A-23B

Entry clearance

24-30C

Variation of leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom

31-33A

Knowledge of language and life in the United Kingdom

33B-33F

Specified forms and procedures for applications or claims in connection with immigration

34-34D

Variation of applications or claims for leave to remain

34E-34F

Determination of the date of an application or claim (or variation of an application or claim) in connection with immigration

34G-34I

Withdrawn applications or claims for leave to remain in the United Kingdom

34K-34J

Undertakings

35

Medical

36-39

Students

39A

Part 2: Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for visits

Visitors

40-46X

Visitors in transit

47-50

Visitors seeking to enter or remain for private medical treatment

51-56

Parent of a child at school

56A-56C

Visitors seeking to enter for the purposes of marriage or to enter into a civil partnership

56D-56F

Visitors seeking leave to enter under the Approved Destinations Status (ADS) agreement with China

56G-56J

Student visitors

56K-56M

Prospective entrepreneurs

56N-56Q

Olympic or Paralympic Games Family Member Visitor

56R-56T

Olympic or Paralympic Games Family Member Child Visitor

56U-56X

Part 3: Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for studies

Students

57-62

Student nurses

63-69

Resits of examinations

69A-69F

Writing up a thesis

69G-69L

Overseas qualified nurses and midwives

69M-69R

Postgraduate doctors and dentists

70-75M

Spouses or civil partners of students or prospective students granted leave under this part of the Rules

76-78

Children of students or prospective students granted leave under this part of the Rules

79-81

Prospective students

82-87

Student union sabbatical officers

87A-87F

Part 4: Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom in an "au pair" placement, as a working holidaymaker or for training or work experience

Teachers and language assistants coming to the United Kingdom under approved exchange schemes

110-115

Home Office approved training or work experience

116-121

Spouses of persons with limited leave to enter or remain under paragraphs 110-121

122-124

Children of persons with limited leave to enter or remain under paragraphs 110-121

125-127

Part 5: Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom for employment

Work permit employment

128-135

Highly skilled migrants

135A-135HA

Sectors-Based Scheme

135I-135N

International Graduates Scheme

135O-135T

Representatives of overseas newspapers, news agencies and broadcasting organisations

136-143

Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland scheme

143A-143F

Representatives of Overseas Business

144-151

Private servants in diplomatic households

152-159

Domestic workers in private households

159A-159H

Overseas government employees

160-169

Ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders

170-177A

Visiting religious workers and religious workers in non-pastoral roles

177B-177G

Airport based operational ground staff of overseas-owned airlines

178-185

Persons with United Kingdom ancestry

186-193

Spouses or civil partners of persons who have or have had leave to enter or remain under paragraphs 128-193 (but not paragraphs 135I-135K)

194-196F

Children of persons with limited leave to enter or remain under paragraphs 128-193 (but not paragraphs 135I-135K)

197-199

Multiple entry work permit employment

199A-199C

Part 6: Persons seeking to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a businessman, self-employed person, investor, writer, composer or artist

Persons intending to establish themselves in business

200-210

Innovators

210A-210H

Persons intending to establish themselves in business under the provisions of EC Association Agreements

222-223A

Investors

224-231

Writers, composers and artists

232-239

Spouses or civil partners of persons who have or have had limited leave to enter or remain under paragraphs 200-239

240-242F

Children of persons with limited leave to enter or remain under paragraphs 200-239

243-245

Part 6A: Points-Based System
Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) Migrants

245A-245BF

Tier 1 (General) Migrants

245C-245CE

Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Migrants

245D-245DF

Tier 1 (Investor) Migrants

245E-245EF

Tier 1 (Post-Study Work) Migrants

245F-245FE

Tier 2 (Intra Company Transfer) Migrants

245G-Z45GF

Tier 2 (General) Migrants, Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) Migrants and Tier 2 (Sportsperson) Migrants

245H-245HF

Tier 5 (Youth Mobility Scheme) Temporary Migrants

245ZI-245ZL

Tier 5 (Temporary Worker) Migrants

245ZM-245ZS

Tier 4 (General) Student

245ZT-245ZY

Tier 4 (Child) Student

245ZZ-245ZZE

Part 7: Other Categories

Persons exercising rights of access to a child resident in the United Kingdom

A246-248F

EEA nationals and their families

255-262

Retired persons of independent means

263-270

Spouses or civil partners of persons who have or have had limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as retired persons of independent means

271-273F

Children of persons with limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as retired persons of independent means

274-276

Long residence

276A-276DH

HM Forces

276E-276Q

Spouses, civil partners, unmarried or same-sex partners of persons settled or seeking settlement in the United Kingdom in accordance with paragraphs 276E to 276Q (HM Forces rules) or of members of HM Forces who are exempt from immigration control under section 8(4)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 and have at least 5 years' continuous service

276R-276W

Children of a parent, parents or a relative settled or seeking settlement in the United Kingdom under paragraphs 276E to 276Q (HM Forces rules) or of members of HM Forces who are exempt from immigration control under section 8(4)(a) of the Immigration Act 1971 and have at least 5 years' continuous service

276X-267AC

Spouses, civil partners, unmarried or same-sex partners of armed forces members who are exempt from immigration control under section 8(4) of the Immigration Act 1971

276AD-276AF

Children of armed forces members who are exempt from immigration control under Section 8(4) of the Immigration Act 1971

276AG-276AI

Part 8: Family members

Transitional provisions and interaction between Part 8 and Appendix FM

A277-A280E

Spouses and civil partners

277-289

Victims of domestic violence

289A-289C

Fiance(e)s and proposed civil partners

289AA-295

Unmarried and same-sex partners

295AA-295O

Children

296-316F

Parents, grandparents and other dependent relatives

317-319

Family members of relevant points-based system migrants

319A-319K

Other family members of persons with limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a refugee or beneficiary of humanitarian protection

319L-319U

Parents, grandparents and other dependent relatives of persons with limited leave to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as a refugee or beneficiary of humanitarian protection

319V-319Y

Part 9 - General grounds for the refusal of entry clearance, leave to enter, leave to remain, variation of leave to enter or remain and curtailment of leave in the United Kingdom

Refusal of entry clearance or leave to enter the United Kingdom

A320

Refusal of leave to enter in relation to a person in possession of an entry clearance

321

Refusal of variation of leave to enter or remain or curtailment of leave

322-323C

Crew members

324

Part 10: Registration with the police

325-326

Part 11: Asylum

326A-352G

Part 11A: Temporary Protection

354-356B

Part 11B: Asylum

357-361

Part 12: Procedure and Rights of appeal

353-352A

Part 13: Deportation

A362-400

Part 14: Stateless persons

401 - 416

Appendix 1: Visa requirements for the United Kingdom

Appendix 2: Countries or territories whose nationals or citizens are relevant foreign nationals for the purposes of Part 10 of these Rules
Appendix 3: DELETED
Appendix 4: DELETED

Appendix 5: DELETED

Appendix 6: Disciplines for which an Academic Technology Approval Scheme certificate from the Counter-Proliferation Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is required for the purposes of Tier 4 of the Points Based System

Appendix 7 - Statement of Written Terms and Conditions of employment required in paragraphs 159A (v), 159D(iv) and 159EA(iii)
Appendix A: Attributes
Appendix B: English language - English language
Appendix C: Maintenance (funds)
Appendix D: Immigration rules for leave to remain as a Highly Skilled Migrant as at 28 February 2008
Appendix E: Maintenance (funds) for the family of Relevant Points Based Systems Migrants
Appendix F: Immigration rules relating to Highly Skilled Migrants, the International Graduates Scheme, the Fresh Talent: Working in Scotland Scheme, Businesspersons, Innovators, Investors and Writers, Composers and Artists as at 29 June 2008
Appendix FM: Family members
Appendix FM-SE: Family members - specified evidence
Appendix G: Countries and territories participating in the Tier 5 Youth mobility scheme and annual allocations of places for 2013
Appendix H: Applicants who are subject to different documentary requirements under Tier 4 of the Points Based System
Appendix I: Pay requirements which the Secretary of State intends to apply to applications for indefinite leave to remain from Tier 2 (General) and Tier 2 (Sportspersons) migrants made on or after 6 April 2016
Appendix J: Codes of practice for Tier 2 sponsors, Tier 5 sponsors and employers of work permit holders
Appendix K: Shortage occupation list
Appendix L: Designated competent body criteria for Tier 1 (Exceptional talent) applications
Appendix M: Sports governing bodies for Tier 2 (Sportsperson) and Tier 5 (Temporary worker - creative and sporting) applications
Appendix N: Approved Tier 5 Government authorised exchange schemes
Appendix O: List of English Language tests that have been assessed as meeting the UK Border Agency's requirements
Appendix P: Lists of financial institutions that do not satisfactorily verify financial statements, or whose financial statements are accepted
Appendix Q: Statement of written terms and conditions of employment required in paragraph 245ZO(f)(ii) and paragraph 245 ZQ (e)(ii)
Appendix R: List of recognised festivals for which entry by amateur and professional entertainer visitors is permitted
Appendix S: Highly Skilled Migrants Programme (HSMP) - qualifying for indefinite leave to remain after four years' continuous residence
Appendix T - Tuberculosis screening