Apply for permission to stay in the UK - certain categories only

Use this form to apply for permission to stay in the UK under the categories below. You must be in the UK to apply.

This form includes visitor extensions and some work/worker extensions including UK ancestry, domestic workers, overseas business representatives and civilian military contractors.

Click on each category for more information relating to eligibility, dependants (for example applying with your partner and children, on the same application) and how long you can stay.

Eligibility

To apply you must currently be in the UK as a visitor.

Visitors for Permitted Paid Engagements, Approved Destination Status and transit visitors cannot apply for an extension of stay as a visitor. If you believe your circumstances are exceptional, you may be able to extend your stay under a different category. Guidance is available here.

You can only add dependants to your application under this category if you are applying for permission to stay in the UK as an academic visitor. For all other visitor categories, dependants must submit their own application.

How long can you stay

For most visitors, the total amount of time you can be in the UK is 6 months. This includes both the original permission to enter and any extension of stay. For some categories, you may be able to stay for longer. More information is given during the application but you should also check the guidance.

Eligibility

S2 Healthcare Visitors cannot use this online form to apply for an extension of stay. Guidance on obtaining the relevant form is available here.

Eligibility

To apply you must already have permission to be in the UK, under the UK Ancestry category. You can also apply to settle in the UK permanently if you have lived in the UK for 5 years on this category.

You can add dependants to your application under this category.

How long can you stay

You can extend your stay for a further 5 years.

Eligibility

To apply you must already have permission to be in the UK, under the Domestic worker in a private household category and continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

If you entered the UK holding a visa in the Overseas Domestic Worker category, issued to you after 6 April 2012, you cannot apply under this category.

If you entered the UK using a visa issued before 6 April 2012, you may be able to extend your stay for up to 12 months and you can include dependants as part of your application.

How long can you stay

You can only stay 6 months under the Domestic worker in a private household category. You can apply for an extension so that the total is 6 months if your original permission to enter was for less than 6 months.

Eligibility

You must apply within 28 days of getting confirmation that you are a victim of slavery or human trafficking. This is also known as a positive conclusive grounds decision by a competent authority under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM).

If you apply under a different category within 28 days of getting confirmation that you are a victim of slavery or human trafficking, but are refused, you can still apply under this category. You must do this within 28 days of getting the refusal decision.

You do not need to have a job offer before you apply.

This category is free of charge.

How long can you stay

You may be able to extend your stay for up to 2 years.

Eligibility

To apply you and your child must continue to meet the eligibility requirements.

You must apply before your current permission expires.

You cannot add dependants to your application under this category.

How long can you stay

You can stay in the UK until your child's visa expires or they turn 12, whichever happens first.

Eligibility

You can apply to extend your stay in the UK as the dependant of someone who has permission to be in the UK under certain categories. Find more information on these categories and the eligibility requirements for this type of application, including the documents you will need to submit and how much money you will need to show for living costs, if required.

You should use this service if you are applying after the person you are dependent upon has already submitted their application or has already been granted permission to be in the UK.

You can apply as a dependant partner and/or a child under 18. You can also add dependant children to your application under this category. For example, if you are applying as a partner with two children, you can all apply on the same application.

How long can you stay

You may be able to extend your stay for the same length of time as the person you are dependent upon.

Eligibility

To apply you must be a civilian employed to work in the UK by:

  • a NATO force based in the UK
  • a company under contract to a NATO force
  • the Australian Department of Defence
  • the American National Red Cross to work with US Forces

You can also apply as a dependant of the 'relevant civilian employee'.

You can add dependants to your application under this category if you are the 'relevant civilian employee'. If you are applying as the dependant of the 'relevant civilian employee' you cannot add any dependants to your application.

How long can you stay

Civilian employees directly employed by a NATO force or the Australian Department of Defence, and their dependants, can be granted permission for the length of the posting, up to a maximum of 5 years.

Employees of firms under contract to a NATO force, and their dependants, can be granted permission for the length of the posting, up to a maximum of 4 years.

Eligibility

To apply you must be a serving member of a non-UK armed force, who has been invited by either:

  • HM Forces, to undergo training, provided by HM Forces, which is to take place in the UK
  • UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to study, or to become familiar with military equipment being supplied by a firm based in the UK

You can also apply as a dependant of a 'serving member of a non-UK armed force'.

You can add dependants to your application under this category if you are the 'serving member of a non-UK armed force'. If you are applying as the dependant of the 'serving member of a non-UK armed force' you cannot add any dependants to your application.

How long can you stay

You will be given permission to stay for whichever is the shortest period of:

  • the length of your, or your dependant's training, study or familiarisation
  • up to 4 years depending on your circumstances

Eligibility

To apply you must be the dependant of a member of a non-UK armed force who is exempt from UK immigration control.

You cannot add dependants to your application under this category.

How long can you stay

You will be given permission to stay depending on the duration of your, or your dependant's period of posting, employment, training study or familiarisation in the UK.

If this period does not exceed 6 months, you will be granted permission of stay up to 6 months.

If this period exceeds 6 months, you will be granted permission of stay up to 5 years.

Eligibility

You can apply as a representative of an overseas business if you are either:

  • extending as the sole representative of an overseas company that has set up a UK branch or a wholly owned subsidiary for an overseas parent company
  • a media representative working for an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK

Read the guidance on eligibility, how long you can stay and the evidence you need to provide.

Initial applications for permission are only open to employees of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation posted on a long-term assignment to the UK.

To apply to extend your permission you must already have permission to be in the UK, under the Representative of an overseas business category as either:

  • a representative of an overseas business
  • an employee of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation

You must also meet the following conditions:
  • you are still working for the same employer as when you were issued your previous permission to enter
  • if your original permission to enter was granted to establish the company's first presence in the UK, you have established that presence and you are in charge of it
  • your employer's principal place of business is still outside the UK

You can add dependants to your application under this category.

How long can you stay

Initial permission is issued for up to 3 years.

You may be able to extend your stay for up to 2 years.

You can apply to settle once you have been in the UK for 5 years and you have an ongoing job with the same company.

Do not use this form if another more appropriate category exists for you. For example:

You cannot use this application if you are applying with a fee waiver.

Before you apply

Before you start your application, read the FLR(IR) guidance on:

  • eligibility
  • how to apply and required documents
  • fees

How long it takes you to complete the application will depend on your particular circumstances. You will be able to save your application and come back to it at another time if you need to.

If you are inactive for 25 minutes, you will be automatically logged out.

You must submit your documents within 10 working days of submitting your online application. If you do not do this, your application may be rejected.

eVisa

As part of the application process, you are also applying for an eVisa.

How we use your data

The Home Office will use the personal information you provide to consider your application. We may also share your information with other public and private sector organisations in the UK and overseas. For more detail please see the Privacy Notice for the Border, Immigration and Citizenship system. This also sets out your rights under the Data Protection Act 2018 and explains how you can access your personal information and complain if you have concerns about how we are using it.

Apply now