Citizenship Areas
Immigration advice for service leavers, eligible veterans and their families, from entry and further permission to settlement and nationality.
Advice on immigration permission and settlement when leaving HM Armed Forces.
Assessment of eligible family applications to join, remain with or settle alongside a serving member or service leaver.
We review the type of service, discharge position and existing immigration history before identifying the appropriate application.
Regular service and Reserve service are treated differently. The HM Armed Forces immigration route does not apply to Reserve service in the same way.
We assess the service-related and family circumstances together, including any relevant discharge or visa deadline.
Assess service history, current status and the position of each family member.
Advise on the appropriate route and any timing or transitional matters.
Prepare the application and support you through relevant identity and procedural steps.
Explain the outcome and advise on proof of status, further permission or an available review.
Eligible non-British regular service personnel may be exempt from immigration control while serving. That position is distinct from settlement and from the permission required by family members.
We review discharge timing, the service record and whether settlement or limited permission is appropriate. Medical discharge cases require a separate assessment.
Early advice can help align the immigration application with discharge and identify any issues affecting the family’s existing permission.
We assess the relationship, sponsor’s service or discharge position and the appropriate family route.
We review each child’s circumstances, care arrangements and the position of their parents.
We assist with appropriate overseas and UK applications. A service member’s exemption or settlement does not automatically give relatives the same status.
Family members’ extensions and settlement need their own assessment, including earlier grants and any relevant changes in circumstances.
Gurkhas and Hong Kong military unit veterans discharged before 1 July 1997 have a separate settlement route. We review the relevant service and discharge history before advising.
The provisions can include eligible partners, children and dependent adult children, as well as certain relatives of a deceased veteran. Each case requires an individual assessment.
We distinguish these provisions from the HM Armed Forces route for later discharges and help identify the appropriate application.
Eligible service leavers and family members may qualify for settlement when the applicable conditions are met. We assess qualifying service, residence and the particular basis of the application.
If an application is refused, we assess the reasons, available administrative review or other remedy and the relevant deadline.
Military service or settlement does not itself confer British citizenship. We can assess a separate naturalisation or registration application, including relevant service-related provisions.