Extending or settlement

This page explains how you can extend your visa as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order or apply to settle permanently in the United Kingdom after you have lived here for five years.

You may apply for an extension of stay as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order for up to three years provided:

• you had permission to enter the United Kingdom as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order;
• you are still doing the work we gave you permission to come here to do;
• your congregation still needs you;
• you can still maintain yourself and any dependants without help from public funds and you will not need to do so; and
• you meet the relevant English language requirements

To extend your visa as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order, you should complete application form FLR(O). This application form can be downloaded from the right side of this page. Also see Completing application form FLR(O) for more information.

You can apply to live permanently in the United Kingdom if you:

• entered the United Kingdom with a valid visa as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order;
• have worked in the United Kingdom as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order continuously for five years;
• you have not asked for help from public funds;
• your congregation still needs you to work as a minister of religion; and
• you meet the relevant requirements for knowledge of life and language in the United Kingdom.

To apply to live here permanently, you will need to complete application form SET(O). This form can be downloaded from the right side of this page. Also see Completing application form SET(O) for more information.

Public funds are income-related benefits paid by the state. They include income support, income-based job seekers allowance, housing and homelessness assistance, housing and council tax benefit, working families' tax credit, a social fund payment, child benefit and any disability allowance. Benefits paid as a result of contributions, such as the state pension, are not considered to be public funds. Social housing is not considered to be a public fund either. Claiming public funds when you are not eligible is known as benefit fraud and it is a criminal offence.