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Tier 1 (General)

A highly skilled migrant reviewing their application

When to apply

This page explains when you should apply for permission to remain in the UK under Tier 1 (General).

We encourage you to make your application at least 1 month before your current permission to stay expires. However, if you apply significantly more than 1 month before your permission to stay expires, and you want to apply for settlement later, you may not have accumulated enough total permission to stay. This is because your new permission to stay will begin on the date when we make the decision, not the date when your current permission expires.

More information

  • If your existing permission to stay has expired If you are already in the UK and your permission to stay expires more than 1 month before the start date of your proposed course of study, you must return overseas and apply from outside the UK. If you apply from inside the UK, we will refuse to extend your permission to stay.
  • What is the date of your application? (Applying by post or courier from inside the UK)

    If you send your application form and application fee by post, the date of application is the date of posting. This is decided by the postmark. If the postmark is illegible or missing, the date of postage is taken as being at least 1 day before it is received by us.

    If you send your application form and application fee by courier, the date of application is the date when it is delivered to our payment handling service.
  • What is the date of your application? (Applying in person inside the UK)

    If you are applying in person at one of our public enquiry offices, your application date will be the date when you attend the public enquiry office to make your application and pay your application fee.

Application forms

Tier 1 (General) - for applications made inside the UK

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Policy & Law

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