Establishing yourself in business as a Turkish citizen
This section explains how Turkish citizens may benefit from the European Community Association Agreement (ECAA) with Turkey if they want to establish themselves in business in the United Kingdom.
New visa route for Turkish businesspersons
The UK Border Agency has introduced a visa route for Turkish nationals applying to establish in business under the European Community Association Agreement.
This section offers a brief guide to the rules. For more information, you should read Chapter 6, Section 6 of the immigration directorate instructions.
Eligibility
If you are a Turkish citizen and you want to establish yourself in business in the United Kingdom, you can apply to come to or remain here in the Turkish ECAA business category. We will consider your application under the business provisions that were in force in 1973 (see below).
However, you cannot benefit from the ECAA if you have breached United Kingdom immigration law in order to be able to apply to establish yourself in business here. If this is the case, you will need to meet the requirements of the current immigration rules - which means that you will need to apply as an entrepreneur under Tier 1 of the points-based system.
How to apply
If you want to come to the United Kingdom in the Turkish ECAA business category, go to the Coming to the United Kingdom page.
If you are already in the United Kingdom in a different immigration category and you want to switch into the Turkish ECAA business category, go to the Switching page.
If you already have permission to stay in the United Kingdom as a Turkish ECAA businessperson and you want us to extend that permission, go to the Extending your stay page.
If you have been living in the United Kingdom as a Turkish ECAA businessperson for four years and you want to settle here permanently, go to the Settling page.
If you are in the Turkish ECAA business category, you can also apply for permission for your dependants to remain in the United Kingdom with you.
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.