UK Settlement Guides
Practical guides for every stage of your journey in the UK, from your visa to citizenship and beyond.
Visas & Immigration
Coming to and staying in the UK
UK Dependant Visa: Bringing Your Partner and Children
Not every UK visa lets you bring your family. Here is who counts as a dependant, which routes can and cannot bring one, what it costs, and how a dependant reaches settlement.
UK eVisa Explained: The End of the BRP Card
Your BRP card is gone. Your UK immigration status is now digital. Here is what an eVisa is, how to set up your UKVI account, and how to get a share code to prove your status.
UK Student Visa: What You Need
The Student visa lets you study at a UK college or university. Here are the place, money and English rules, and what you can do while you study.
Settlement (ILR)
Indefinite Leave to Remain
EU Settlement Scheme: Settled and Pre-Settled Status Explained
Settled status is permanent. Pre-settled status is temporary. This guide explains the difference, how pre-settled status now converts to settled status automatically, and how settled status relates to ILR and citizenship.
The Life in the UK Test: Format, Booking and How to Prepare
The Life in the UK Test is a requirement for settlement and citizenship. Here is the format, the £50 fee, how to book, and how to prepare and pass.
The English Language Requirement for UK Settlement
To settle in the UK you usually need to prove your English. Here is the level you need for ILR, the ways to prove it, and who is exempt.
British Citizenship
Naturalisation & applying
How to Apply for Your First British Passport
Once you become British, applying for a passport is the next step. Here is how to apply for your first adult British passport, the cost and how long it takes.
Dual Nationality: Can You Keep Your Original Citizenship?
The UK allows dual nationality, so becoming British does not mean losing your first citizenship. But your other country's rules matter just as much. Here is what to check.
The UK Citizenship Ceremony: What to Expect
Once your citizenship application is approved, the final step is a ceremony. Here is what happens, what you say, and what you get at the end.
Living in the UK
Everyday life after you settle
School Admissions: How to Get a School Place for Your Child
State school in England is free, and your immigration status does not stop your child getting a place. Here is how to apply through your local council, the key deadlines, and what to do if you arrive in the middle of the school year.
Renting a Home in the UK: What to Know
Renting is how most newcomers find a home in the UK. Here are your rights on deposits and fees, the checks landlords must do, and how to protect yourself.
How to Apply for a National Insurance Number
A National Insurance number lets you work and pay tax correctly in the UK. Here is who needs one, how to apply, and why you can start work before it arrives.
Careers & Work
Qualifications & building a career
Understanding Your UK Payslip and Tax Code
Your tax code decides how much tax comes out of your pay. New arrivals are very often put on an emergency code and pay too much. Here is how to read your payslip, decode your tax code, fix a wrong one, and claim money back.
Your Rights at Work in the UK
Everyone working in the UK has legal rights, whatever their job or background. Here are the basics on pay, holiday, contracts and staying safe at work.
How to Find Your First Job in the UK
Looking for your first job in the UK? Here is where to search, how to apply the UK way, and the practical things newcomers should get right.