Summary of UK Immigration Rules

The immigration rules were last updated in December 2007 by the British Home Office. Click the link for detailed information on the underlined section. All links open in a new window.

Introduction

• Implementation and transitional provisions
• Application
• Interpretation

Part 1: General Provisions for Entering or Remaining in the UK

• Permission to enter the United Kingdom
• Exercise of the power to refuse permission to enter the United Kingdom
• Requirement for persons arriving in the United Kingdom or seeking entry through the Channel Tunnel to produce evidence of identity and nationality
• Requirement for a person not requiring permission to enter the United Kingdom to prove that he has the right of abode
• Common Travel Area
• Admission for certain British passport holders
• Returning residents
• Holders of restricted travel documents and passports
• Entry clearance
• Variation of permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom
• Withdrawn applications for variation of permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom
• Undertakings
  Medical

Part 2: Visiting the United Kingdom

• Visitors
• Visitors in transit
• Visitors seeking to enter or remain for private medical treatment
• Parent of a child at school
• Visitors seeking to enter for the purposes of marriage
• Visitors seeking permission to enter under the Approved Destinations Status (ADS) agreement with China
• Student visitors

Part 3: Studying in the United Kingdom

• Students
• Student nurses
• Resitting of examinations
• Writing up a thesis
• Postgraduate doctors and dentists
• Spouses of students
• Children of students
• Prospective students
• Student union sabbatical officers

Part 4: Working as a Nanny ("au pair"), Working Holiday, Seasonal Workers, Teaching, Training Experience

• Au pair (nanny) placements
• Working holidaymakers
• Children of working holidaymakers
• Seasonal workers at agricultural camps
• Teachers and language assistants coming to the United Kingdom under approved exchange schemes
• Home Office approved training or work experience
• Spouses of persons with limited permission to enter or remain
• Children of persons with limited permission to enter or remain

Part 5: Full or Part-Time Employment

• Work permit employment
• Highly skilled migrants
• Sectors-Based Scheme
• International graduates scheme
• Representatives of overseas newspapers, news agencies and broadcasting organisations
• Sole representatives
• Private servants in diplomatic households
• Domestic workers in private households
• Overseas government employees
• Ministers of religion, missionaries and members of religious orders
• Visiting religious workers and religious workers in non-pastoral roles
• Airport based operational ground staff of overseas owned airlines
• Persons with United Kingdom ancestry
• Spouses or civil partners of persons who have or have had permission to enter or remain under paragraphs 128-193 (but not paragraphs 135I-135K)
• Children of persons with limited permission to enter or remain under paragraphs 128-193 (but not paragraphs 135I-135K)
• Multiple entry work permit employment

Part 6: Businessman, Self-Employed Person, Investor, Writer, Composer, or Artist

• Persons intending to establish themselves in business
• Innovators
• Persons intending to establish themselves in business under the provisions of European Community Association Agreements
• Investors
• Writers, composers, and artists
• Spouses or civil partners of persons who have or have had limited permission to enter or remain under paragraphs 200-239
• Children of persons with limited permission to enter or remain under paragraphs 200-239

Part 7: Other Categories

• Persons exercising rights of access to a child resident in the United Kingdom
• EEA nationals and their families
• Retired persons of independent means
• Spouses or civil partners of persons who have or have had limited permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as retired persons of independent means
• Children of persons with limited permission to enter or remain in the United Kingdom as retired persons of independent means
• Long residence
• Her Majesty's Forces

Part 8: Family Members

• Spouses
• Victims of domestic violence
• Fiance(e)s and proposed civil partners
• Unmarried and same-sex partners
• Children
• Parents, grandparents and other dependent relatives

Part 9: Grounds for Refusal

• Refusal of entry clearance or permission to enter the United Kingdom
• Refusal of permission to enter in relation to a person in possession of an entry clearance
• Refusal of variation of permission to enter or remain or curtailment of permission
• Crew members

Part 10: Registration with the Police

Part 11: Asylum for Refugees and Persecuted Persons

• Temporary Protection
• Asylum

Part 12: Procedure & Rights of Appeal

Part 13: Deportation

Appendix 1: Countries Whose Nationals Require a Visa

Appendix 2: Countries Whose Nationals Require Police Registration

Appendix 3: Countries Participating in the Working Holiday Scheme

Appendix 4: Points Awarded for Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

Appendix 5: Documents Required for Highly Skilled Migrant Programme

Appendix 6: Disciplines for which an Academic Technology Approval Scheme Certificate Is Required

source: Home Office, February 2008

How To Arrive And Thrive In The UK

Last updated 2008-02-16