Definitions
The terms below are used in these pages.
General
Common Travel Area: a long-standing arrangement between the UK, the Crown Dependencies (Bailiwick of Jersey, Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Isle of Man) and Ireland that pre-dates both British and Irish membership of the EU and is not dependent on it. Under the CTA, British and Irish citizens can move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study and vote in certain elections, as well as to access social welfare benefits and health services.
EU Settlement Scheme
Close family member: husband/wife/civil partner, unmarried partner (having lived together for 2 years by 31 December 2020), parent/grandparent, child/grandchild under the age of 21 or dependent child over the age of 21 (ie who can't meet their basic needs without a parent's financial support or care, eg if they're in full-time education, disabled or ill).
Continuous residence: not being absent from the UK for more than 6 months in any 12 month period (can be a single period, or multiple absences), apart from in specific circumstances.
EEA: The European Economic Area, which comprises Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
EEA family permit: granted to non-EEA/Swiss close or extended family members (see definitions) of EEA/Swiss nationals. Valid for 6 months to allow them to enter the UK. If their EEA/Swiss family member is resident in the UK before 31 December 2020, they can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to extend their permission to stay. Otherwise, they'll need to apply for a visa.
EU Settlement Scheme family permit: granted to non-EEA/Swiss close family members (see definition) of EEA/Swiss nationals who already have pre-settled or settled status (see definitions). Also for non-EEA/Swiss close family members (see definition) of Irish nationals. Valid for 6 months to allow them to enter the UK, after which they can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to extend their permission to stay.
Extended family member: brother/sister, aunt/uncle, nephew/niece, cousin or child over the age of 21 who's not dependent on a parent.
Pre-settled status: aka limited leave to remain. Granted for 5 years to those who, at the point of application, have been resident in the UK for less than 5 years. At any time between reaching 5 years residence and the end date of the pre-settled status, the individual can apply for settled status (see below). Absence from the UK for more than 6 months at a time will 're-set the clock' on building up 5 years residence for settled status applications. Status can be lost altogether after 2 continuous years absence from the UK.
Settled status: aka indefinite leave to remain. Granted to those who, at the point of application, have been in the UK for 5 years or more. Status can be lost after 5 continuous years absence from the UK.
Skilled Worker Visa
Immigration Skills Charge: This fee is payable by all employers when they sponsor a migrant under the Skilled Worker Visa ("SWV") route. The cost is £364 for the first year of the visa, plus £182 for each 6 months or part thereof. There are two exemptions:
- If the person we sponsor is switching from a Tier 4/Student visa in the UK
- All employees in research and teaching roles