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Application types

This page tells you which form you will need to complete if you wish to apply for permanent residence in the United Kingdom (we call this 'indefinite leave to remain' or 'settlement').

Form SET(BUS)

You can use form SET(BUS) to apply for settlement as a retired person of independent means or a sole representative. You should read Completing application form SET(BUS).

Form SET(M)

You can use form SET(M) to apply for settlement as a husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried/same-sex partner. You should read Completing application form SET(M).

Form SET(O)

Form SET(O) is for many other types of settlement applications. You can use form SET(O) if you are:

  • a work permit holder;
  • in employment not requiring a work permit;
  • a business person;
  • an innovator;
  • an investor;
  • a highly skilled migrant;
  • a bereaved partner;
  • a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation;
  • a private servant in a diplomatic household;
  • an overseas government employee;
  • a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order;
  • an airport-based operational staff of an overseas-owned airline;
  • a person with United Kingdom ancestry;
  • a writer, composer or artist;
  • a person with long residence in the United Kingdom;
  • a former member of HM Forces; or
  • a person who is in the United Kingdom for other purposes or reasons not covered by other application forms (this does not include asylum).

You should read Completing application form SET(O).

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 living in the United Kingdom with temporary permission to stay as the husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried/same-sex partner of a permanent resident and the relationship has broken down because you have suffered domestic violence. You should read Completing application form SET(DV).

Form SET(F)

Form SET(F) is for settlement applications by family members. You can use form SET(F) if you are:

  • a child aged under 18 of a parent, parents or relative who is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom and currently living here;
  • the adopted child aged under 18 of a parent or parents who are permanent resident of the United Kingdom 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 United Kingdom and currently living here.

(If you are the husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried/same-sex partner of the permanent resident, you should use form SET(M) - see above.)

You should read Completing application form SET(F).

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 United Kingdom, 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 ECAA 2

You should complete form ECAA 2 to apply for settlement if you are a citizen of Turkey who is in the United Kingdom under the rules of the European Community Association Agreement with Turkey for establishing in business in the United Kingdom. You can download the form 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 SET(M) or SET(F) - see above.

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 United Kingdom under the terms of the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA). You should read Completing application form ECAA 4.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is my immigration status while my application is being decided?

    If you make an application before your authorised stay ends, your existing immigration status will continue until your application is decided, even if the decision is not made until after the end of your permitted stay. If your existing visa or other permission to stay here allows you to work, you can continue to do so until your case is decided.

See also

Terms explained

  • Exceptional leave to enter or remain

    Permission to stay in the United Kingdom for reasons that are exceptional. This type of permission is no longer given, but was sometimes given in the past to someone who does not qualify for asylum but whom we believe should be allowed to stay for other reasons.

  • Indefinite leave to remain

    Indefinite leave to remain (often known as ILR) is permission to stay permanently (settle) in the United Kingdom, free from immigration control.

All glossary terms