Easiest Ways To Get Permanent Residency In UK (2023)

The United Kingdom is such an interesting country, and it is understandable why many are keen on becoming permanent residents of this beautiful European country. Actually, there are many UK visa types that can bring you legally into the country – as well as different ways to become a lawful permanent resident of the United Kingdom.

These things usually have different requirements and processes, and there are different things for different classes of people – particularly as touching one’s country of origin. It’s however realistic to become a legal resident of the United Kingdom who immigrated from somewhere else in the world and stay in the European country permanently.

Let’s explore realistic ways to legally become a permanent resident of the United Kingdom.

Easiest Ways To Get Permanent Residency In UK

1. Work Permits and Employment-based Visas

One will need a work permit and employment visa to live and work in the country. The type an individual will opt for will be determined by the type of work they do or the length of their stay in the UK. Basically, it should take around two to three months for a work permit to be approved. Kindly note that while you may have to sort out your visa in your original country before you will be allowed access to the United Kingdom, your employer in the UK is the one who has to file the work permit for you.

And just if the individual wants to switch jobs, then a new employer will have to apply for a new work permit for them. These last four years, after which the individual is eligible for permanent residence.

Popular Types of  Work Visas in the UK and Requirements

A. Tier 2 (General) visa

This type of visa is for those who already own skilled jobs and are being paid at least 25,000 GBP. It is valid for up to six years.

B. Tier 2 (Intra-company Transfer) visa

This is is for those working for an employer from the UK based overseas and are offered work in the United Kingdom. This visa is valid for six months to nine years.

C. Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

This visa is valid for up to three years and can also be extended. It is for people who work for a sponsor faith community.

D. Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

This visa is specially for elite athletes endorsed by their respective sport’s national governing commission. This is valid for up to three years. It can also be extended to another three years.

E. Tier 5 (Temporary Worker)

This one is valid for 1- 2 years and is for sponsored temporary workers either as part of an international agreement or official exchange. Those in this category includes religious workers, charity volunteer, artists, and athletes.

Popular Types of Business Visas in the UK and Requirements

A. Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa

This is for experts and professionals in the field of medicine, science, engineering, digital technology, humanities, and the arts. Reserved for a particular number of people annually, this visa is valid for up to five years with a possibility of extension for another five years.

B. Tier 1 (Investor) visa

This is for the big chaps with a lot of money in their purse and can invest at least 2 million GBP in the United Kingdom. It is valid for three years and can also be extended for an additional two years.

C. Start-up visa

Valid for two years, this is for nationals of nations outside of the EEA/Switzerland that wants to start a business in the UK and have enough means to support themselves.

D. Innovator visa

This is for folks who have an “endorsement letter” to a business, which is approved by a qualified endorsing body.

Here are the basic documents that are required for UK Work Visas:

– Your Valid passport or travel ID.

– Proof of financial means is enough to support the individual during their stay in the country. This can include their sponsor confirmation or bank statements.

– Proof of English language fluency

– Proof of payment of the healthcare surcharge.

2. Self-Employment Visas

Here is another popular way to become a permanent resident of the United Kingdom. Folks who want to work independently in the country can get a self-employment or business visa.

Note that there are also different types of this sort, and it depends on the tier category. You can apply for a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa if you are an expert in a prominent field such as science, humanities, engineering, medicine, digital technology, and the arts, and stay undisturbed for five years with a possibility of extension for another five years. You can get a Tier 1 (Investor) visa if you are willing to invest up to 2 million GBP, or get a Start-up visa.

Here are the basic documents that are required for UK Self-employment Visas:

– Your Valid passport or travel ID.
– Proof of financial means is enough to support the individual during their stay in the country. This can include their sponsor confirmation or bank statements.
– Proof of English language fluency
– Proof of payment of the healthcare surcharge.

3. Through Marriage

You can apply for UK citizenship if you get married to a British citizen. This is an easy route for folks with the desire to stay permanently in the United Kingdom. However, your marriage has to be genuine, and not simply because you want to obtain UK citizenship.

To successfully get this done, the individual has to be at least 18 years of age, and they must be married to someone who is a British citizen. They are also expected to have lived in the United Kingdom for at least three years before their date of application.

Of course, the applicant must prove they were in the United Kingdom for three years before the time they submitted their application to the appropriate authorities for processing. Such must be of good character and show they have passed the life in the UK test. They must also prove their knowledge of English, Scottish Gaelic, or Welsh. This is important to ensure only worthy people will be given the chance to become a citizen of the UK.

4. Through Study

The United Kingdom can boast of a vibrant educational system, and the door is usually opened for plenty of international students. Annually, thousands of students move to the country to study in different fields, and they are properly trained by superb educators with a certificate that is globally recognized. You can actually utilize this route to become a permanent resident in the country. It can be pretty simple too.

First, you have to secure admission to a University in the UK and then get a student visa to enter the country. Utilizing the internet in particular, you can easily get these things done in your home country. When applying for the visa, you are expected to have and submit necessary documents, including the University admits, proof that you were really given an admission.

Remember that while studying In the UK, you can easily engage in part-time work or internship. This is not just about earning money while studying, but it is helpful for your aim to get your permanent resident status in the UK.

After you are done with your study in your school, you can get a Post Study Visa that allows you as an international student to stay in the country to find work for some time. After this, you can transit into a general work visa. Then after staying in the country for up to five years, you can apply for the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). With this, you achieve your aim of residing permanently in the United Kingdom legally.

Obtaining a Biometric Residence Permit.

Citizens of countries outside the EU/EFTA that wants to stay in the United Kingdom for more than six months will need to become permanent resident and thus are expected to get a biometric residence permit. This has the biographical and biometric details of residence applicants in the country and is valid for the duration of the stay of the individual in the United Kingdom – and up to ten years.

It’s easy to apply for this at visa premium service centers and even post offices in the UK. It should however be noted that it can take up to 12 weeks to be processed. It is important to get this done if you are an individual that desires to extend your temporary stay to six months or more, and you need to become a permanent resident of the country.

Related:

• Easiest Ways To Get Permanent Residency In USA
• Visa Lottery Application Form
• Canada Visa Lottery Application Form

Conclusion

In conclusion, the United Kingdom is a dynamic country where a lot of things are happening. You can aim at becoming a permanent resident if you know society has what it takes to ensure you achieve your life goals. There are different ways to enter the United Kingdom and also become a permanent resident. You can utilize any of the mediums talked about up there.