Permanent Residency in UK for Indians

UK PR stands for Permanent Residency in the United Kingdom. It is an immigration program that allows a person to legally live, work, and study in the UK for as long as they want. It also entitles the PR status holders to enjoy the rights and benefits of being a permanent resident of the country.

There are certain circumstances under which a foreign national can apply for a PR in the UK. These include:

Your family lives in the UK

You work in the UK

You have studied in the UK

You are a Commonwealth citizen

You are a humanitarian protected person or a refugee

You have served in the UK army

Moreover, being a PR in the country also makes you eligible to apply for UK citizenship.

The best ways to get a permanent resident status in the United Kingdom are as follows:

Study in the UK: By far, the most non-complicated way to get a PR in the UK is through a study visa. If you are planning for higher education in the UK, then you can get a PR easily after studying and working for a period of five years. All you need to do is obtain a study visa and then a work permit after completing your studies. After you complete five continuous years of employment in the country, you become eligible for a PR.

Get a Job: If you are planning to get PR in the UK from India, you can begin by searching for a job and applying for a Tier-1 or Tier-2 visa. This visa allows you to settle and work in the UK for a duration of three years. The best part is you can extend this visa for up to six years. Once you complete your fifth year in the UK, you can apply for a PR. Another benefit of having a work visa is that you can bring your family with you.

As a Family Member of a UK Citizen: If you are married to a UK citizen or an immediate family member (spouse, partner, parent, or children) of a permanently settled citizen in the UK, you can get PR status in a hassle-free way.

So, these are some ways in which you can get PR in the UK. Now, let’s discuss the eligibility criteria and other requirements for each category.

In order to be eligible for a PR program, the applicants must submit proof of living in the UK for a specified duration. Besides, they should adhere to certain UK permanent residence rules.

The table below shows the pre-set time of stay for different categories of applicants in order to qualify for a PR program:

Eligibility Criteria for PR as a Family Member of a British Citizen

If you are applying for UK permanent residence for Indians as a family member of a UK citizen, you must hold a family visa (10,5 or 2 years) as a spouse or partner of the British citizen.

Below are some UK permanent residence rules you should meet:

Living Together: You must submit proof that you both are living together and intend to continue doing so after getting a PR. Acceptable evidence includes a joint rental agreement, joint bank account, etc.

Marriage: You are eligible for PR if you are married to a citizen of the UK or in a legal relationship if not married.

Pass the “Life in the UK” Test:** You must clear the “Life in the UK” test, which is designed to evaluate the compatibility of applicants and their knowledge of British life.

English Language Proficiency:** If English is not your first language, then it is mandatory for you to take an English language proficiency test such as IELTS. The reason behind this is simple: English is the main language of the UK, and you should be fluent in it if you want to settle in the country.

Proof of Funds: Finally, you need to show the proof of finances as per the preset limits as follows:

Minimum £18,600 per annum (~₹19 lakh) with no dependents.

Minimum £22,400 per annum (~₹23 lakh) for a dependent child.

Additional £2,400 (~₹2.5 lakh) per annum for each extra child.

Note that this limit is for the total income of both partners. Moreover, all dependent children below the age of 18 years are part of the fund calculation.

Eligibility Criteria for PR as a Family Member of a Permanent Resident in the UK

You are eligible for a PR if your partner or spouse is settled in the UK on Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-5 work visas. To be eligible, you must be married or in a legal partnership for at least two years.

Note that you must be living together at the time of the PR application and must continue doing so. Further, English Proficiency and the knowledge of UK life must also be adhered to.

• Current pay slips

• Address proof

• Bank account statements

• Proof of relationship such as rental agreement, joint bank account, etc.

• Council tax letters

• Appointment letter from the current employer. It must be on company letterhead with a clear sign and stamp.

For business owners, a business license, address proof, and relevant permits are required.

Following is the step-by-step process to apply for a permanent visa for the UK from India:

• Online PR Application

• Visit the official UK visa government website and select the category under which you are eligible to apply for a PR or ILR status.

• Select Apply Online and then Apply Now to complete your application.

• Register with your email, fill out the relevant form, and upload the supporting documents.

• Make the payment

• Submit your biometric data, such as photographs and fingerprints, by scheduling an appointment at a UK visa centre.

• Provide any other supporting documents asked by your home office.

Now, all you need to do is wait for the results.

The UK PR application and processing time, as well as cost, varies depending on various factors such as the type of PR application, the country from which you are applying, whether you are applying on priority or not, and so on.

On average, the UK permanent residence for Indians can take anywhere around 6 to 8 months to complete. Further, the cost of a PR application is £2,389 (₹25,000). For biometric data submission, you will have to pay an additional amount of £19.20 (₹2,000).

You can either apply for permanent residence in the UK from India online or in person. Although the offline application cost is slightly higher, you get the advantage of faster processing. So, if you don’t want to wait for 6-8 months and have a flexible budget, you can opt for an offline application.

For a speedy process, you can choose any one of the following services:

Priority Service: This service enables you to get a statement in just five working days. You need to pay an additional fee of £500 (₹52,000), which makes the total cost £2,899 (₹29 lakh).

Super Priority Service: For an extra charge of £800 (₹82,000), you can obtain a statement the next day after submitting your biometric data. This makes the total PR application cost £3,189 (₹32 lakh).

We have already mentioned various benefits of UK permanent residence for an Indian. Let’s now discuss those in detail:

Gateway to British Citizenship: Perhaps the biggest benefit of getting a PR in the UK is that it allows you to apply for British citizenship just after completing one year as a permanent resident in the country. It is one of the easiest ways to get British citizenship.

Live with Your Family: When you have a PR card, you can invite your family to live with you. This is another perk of having a green card in the United Kingdom.

Free Healthcare: Healthcare and medical treatment is free for all UK residents. It means when you have a PR, you are eligible to get free healthcare treatment. You can either avail NHS (National Health Service) hospital service or register with a family doctor to enjoy all the benefits of optical and dental care.

High-quality Education for Children: After completing three years in the UK, your children can attend public schools and get student support as well.

Benefit from a Growing Economy: There is no hidden fact that the Pound is one of the most reliable and powerful currencies in the world. With a PR status, you can become a part of this thriving economy and benefit from it.

No Work Restrictions: Once you get a PR, you can apply for any job without any restrictions. You even become eligible for unemployment allowances and government job searches.

Enjoy Social Security Benefits: There are multiple social security benefits that can be availed by a PR status holder. These include National Insurance, National Health Service, Non-contributory Benefits, Child Tax Credits, and Child Benefit.

Claim Public Funds: After having a permanent settlement in the UK, you become eligible to claim public funds, including child benefits, universal credit, attendance allowance, housing benefit, personal independence payment, and more.

As soon as you complete your first year as a PR, you become eligible for citizenship in the UK. Following are the easy steps you need to follow:

Step 1: Take the citizenship eligibility test to check whether or not you qualify for British citizenship.

Step 2: Apply by submitting the relevant form. You can apply by yourself or through an agent. If you choose to apply by yourself, you need to fill out Form AN and submit it online.

Step 3: Submit your biometric data, such as photographs and fingerprints.

Step 4: Wait for the result. It can take anywhere from 6 months to a year for the citizenship application to process.

Step 5: Once your citizenship application has been approved, you will be invited to a citizenship ceremony to take the Oath of Allegiance. Once everything is done, you will be issued a certificate of UK citizenship.

If you are visiting the UK for a short duration, say a vacation or a business trip, you are required to carry a set of important documents such as your passport, visa, health insurance, and so on. One such important document you should have is travel insurance.

While a travel insurance policy is not mandatory, it is highly recommended. It provides you with much-needed financial coverage in unforeseen circumstances such as abrupt flight cancellations and delays, loss of baggage and personal belongings, theft, loss of passport and other documents, and so on.

So, if you haven’t secured your UK trip with a suitable travel policy yet, Tata AIG has got your back. Visit our travel insurance page to compare travel insurance plans and select the right one for yourself.

The PR path to the United Kingdom is not as difficult as it sounds. It is a straightforward process that needs some time and research skills. Once you make sure that you meet all the UK PR requirements, you can proceed further with the PR application process.

This blog has outlined the complete PR process along with the UK PR requirements you need to meet. We hope it helps.