How to apply for settlement in the UK

This page tells you which application form you should complete if you want to apply for permission to settle permanently (also known as 'indefinite leave to remain') in the UK.

Form SET(M)

You can use form SET(M) to apply to settle here as the husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried/same-sex partner of a British citizen or someone who is settled here.

To find out how to apply, see Completing application form SET(M).

Form SET(F)

Form SET(F) is for settlement applications by family members (except partners) of British citizens or people who are settled here. You can apply using form SET(F) if you are:

• a child aged under 18 of a parent, parents or a relative who is a permanent resident of the UK and currently living here;
• the adopted child aged under 18 of a parent or parents who are permanent resident of the UK and currently living here; or
• the parent, grandparent or other dependant relative aged 18 or over of a person who is a permanent resident of the UK and currently living here.

To find out how to apply, see Completing application form SET(F).

Form SET(DV)

Form SET(DV) is for settlement applications by the victims of domestic violence. You should use form SET(DV) if you have been given temporary permission to remain in the UK as the partner of a permanent resident, and the relationship has broken down because you have suffered domestic violence.

To find out how to apply, see Completing application form SET(DV).

Form SET(BUS)

You can use form SET(BUS) to apply for settlement as a retired person of independent means or a sole representative of an overseas firm.

To find out how to apply, see Completing application form SET(BUS).

Form SET(O)

Form SET(O) is for many other types of settlement applications. You can use form SET(O) if you are currently in one of the following immigration categories and you have been living in the UK in a relevant category for five years:

• Tier 1 or Tier 2 of the points-based system (excluding the Post-study work category of Tier 1)
• work permit holder
• businessperson
• innovator
• investor
• representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation
• private servant in a diplomatic household
• domestic worker in a private household
• overseas government employee
• minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order
• airport-based operational staff of an overseas-owned airline
• self-employed lawyer
• writer, composer or artist
• UK ancestry
• highly skilled migrant under the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) - but if you applied to the HSMP before 3 April 2006 and came to the UK on the basis of that application, you can apply after you have been in the UK for only four years.

Former members of HM Forces can apply for settlement using form SET(O) if they have been living in the UK for four years. (There are different requirements for former Gurkhas, who can apply for settlement from outside the UK if they have served for four years in the British Army.)

If you have been given temporary permission to remain in the UK as the partner of a British citizen or person settled here, and your partner has died, you can apply for settlement as a bereaved partner. You can make your application using form SET(O) immediately after your partner's death - you do not need to wait until you have been here for a certain length of time.

If you are in the UK for other purposes or reasons not covered by other application forms (excluding asylum), you may be able to apply for settlement using form SET(O). This includes applications for reasons of long residence, if you have been living continously in the UK for 10 years (or 14 years in some cases) - for more information, see Chapter 18 of the Immigration Directorate Instructions.

To find out how to apply, see Completing application form SET(O).

Form ECAA 2

You should complete form ECAA 2 to apply for settlement if you are a citizen of Turkey who is in the UK under the rules of the European Community Association Agreement with Turkey for establishing in business in the UK. You can download form ECAA 2 and find out more in the Establishing yourself in business as a Turkish citizen section.

You can include your dependants on form ECAA 2. If your dependants are applying for settlement separately from you, they should use form ECAA 3 - you can download this form and find out more in the Turkish dependants section.

Form ECAA 4

You should use form ECAA 4 to apply for settlement if you are a citizen of Bulgaria or Romania who is established in business in the UK under the terms of the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA). You should read Completing application form ECAA 4.

Form ELR

You should use form ELR to apply for settlement if:

• you were given what we call exceptional leave to enter or exceptional leave to remain - this is temporary permission to stay in the UK, given for exceptional reasons;
• this exceptional leave was given for a period of four years or more before 1 April 2003; and
• you have a continuing fear of return to your country of origin.

(If you no longer fear returning to your country of origin, you should use form SET(O) - see above.)

You should read Completing application form ELR.

Form HPDL

You should use form HPDL to apply for settlement or an extension of your stay if you were given:

• exceptional leave to remain for a period of less than four years, or for separate periods making four years in all;
• discretionary leave to remain; or
• humanitarian protection.

You should read Completing application form HPDL.