Category: Settling and Naturalisation UK Visa’s

Weighing up whether you should move to the UK? And whether the pros and cons of England worth it? There are good and bad things about every country, and it’s always best to be really prepared before making any big moving decisions. All big changes come with challenges, but the rewards are often worth it.

There are plenty of good reasons to move to England, but often film and media paint a rose-tinted version of English life. Whilst we do have the rolling hills and breathtaking countryside, there are some downsides.

Here are the pros and cons of living in England, along with my own personal experiences in this wonderful country. 

Pro: Excellent Public Transport System

England is known for its excellent public transport system that spans the country.

In London alone, the London underground system is a fantastic example of how impactful a good public transport system can be. The history of the underground began in the 19th century, with the first deep-level tube line opening in 1890. Over the past one hundred and thirty years the system has gone from strength to strength, and evolved into the efficient transport system it is today.

Outside of London the country as a whole benefit from an excellent system of train stations (even in rural areas). The stations come with easy access for all and are generally reliable.

The bus and coach routes that cover the country play an equally important role in the well functioning public transport system. Bus stops and stations cover the UK, from the most rural villages to busy cities.

Bus times can vary, but in highly populated areas bus stops will usually offer services every 10 minutes or so. In more rural areas the bus may only come once an hour or in extreme cases only a few times per day. The takeaway here is that no matter where you are, it’s likely you’ll be able to access public transport in some form or another. This is great for people who don’t drive or can’t afford to own a car.

Con: Public Transport

While public transport is great in England it also has its negatives. You’ll often hear Brits complain when there are delays and seems like they can be brought on by anything, leaves on the track, tracks are too hot from the sun, ice on the track and whatever else weather-related.

Transport is also expensive! As an example, if you are commuting into London from a commuter area you can easily spend £5,000 a year on a train ticket.

Psst… if you are looking at saving money on train fares consider getting a railcard. There are various types you can get, check out their website to see if one fits your needs. This can save you 1/3 on rail fares around Great Britain (although not on season tickets).

Pro: National Health Service

One of the biggest pros of living in England is having access to healthcare. Due to paying taxes in our wages the services are mostly free or have capping in place.

The National Health Service, or ‘NHS’, is a vital service that promises a better quality of life for all. The NHS is a high contributor to England’s good standard of living, eliminating health care worries and financial stress for the masses.

Being able to call for an ambulance without the worry of fees is a world-class luxury. If an elderly relative has a fall, or you or your partner have a cancer diagnosis, the additional stress caused by finances is simply not an issue here.

It is worth noticing that dental care is not completely free here, and often requires a flat fee based on the service provided. However free dental care is available to qualifying low-income and elderly residents.

Optical care is also not a free service and requires a fee. Many employers offer excellent employee benefits that will cover optical care. Some are able to access free optical care if they are vulnerable enough to qualify.

It’s also important to be aware of the NHS surcharge as part of visa applications. It does depend on Visa type, so be sure to research this thoroughly if you are considering moving to England. For a 5-year Ancestry visa this can cost you upwards of £3,000 on top of your visa cost.

Con: Waiting Times For Services

The impact of 2020/2021 has had on the NHS means that there is now a long wait time for services and it’s understandable why there is an impact. I am thankful for the NHS efforts during this time and only thank them for their services.

There is a KPI that 92% of patients should be treated within 18 weeks as part of the referral-to-treatment scheme. Since 2016 these have not been met and has hit a new high after 14 years.

You may want to consider private healthcare if this is a concern for you.

Pro: Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

If you enjoy the sublime views of nature, and a slower pace of life, then the English countryside will be very attractive to you.

England has beautiful countryside that is hard to match. The rolling hills of Shropshire and the stunning views of the Lake District are just a couple of examples of how breathtaking the countryside here really is.

Enjoy the quaint small-town life in chocolate box towns with tiny cottages. Or if you enjoy both nature and city life then come and experience the beautiful city parks this country has to offer.

See for yourself the stretching moorlands that inspired English literature classics like Brontë’s Wuthering Heights or the rambling hills that inspired Tolkien’s Shire.

England also has stunning beaches and seaside towns to enjoy. Cornwall in particular is a popular tourist destination with a highly sought after property market. In the summer months, the English seaside towns are super fun for a day trip out or a weekend away. Enjoy a classic portion of British fish and chips by the sea, or an ice cream looking out at the views.

If hiking is more your thing than the call of the Peak District may be for you. Explore the adorable town of Bakewell and sample the world-famous Bakewell tart, or enjoy long hikes through the Yorkshire Dales. The possibilities are endless!

Con: Over Tourism of Certain Areas

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty like Cotswolds, Lake District or Peak District are known throughout the world for their stunning beauty and has many visitors every single year. This is great for England, as its economy thrives on tourism and it brings great support for the small businesses in rural areas. 

However, we need to support responsible tourism and minimise our negative impacts on the environment and local communities. This is something that we learn over time while travelling and being conscious about it builds the habits over time.

Taking care of the landscape mostly comes down to common sense, such as leaving sites how you found them, taking litter away and not dropping waste that conflicts with the natural ecosystem. 

Or designing your trip carefully so that you’re leaving a positive footprint in England. For example, instead of driving there consider catching the train. Travelling in non-peak times so that your business is evenly spread.

Instead of booking accommodation with Airbnb, see if you can book with the accommodation directly so they are getting money to support their small business.

Pro: England’s Rich History

England has a long and rich history that can be explored in person amongst mystical ruins and well-kept heritage buildings alike. Visit sites like Stonehenge, or the hillforts in Shropshire to learn about ancient civilisations. 

England’s history is one of the most attractive pros in this list for those with a sense of adventure and a curious mind.

This also bodes well for educational opportunities for kids too! Explore England’s castles and heritage sites and enjoy the rich historical settings.

Stand on the grounds of ancient battles (think the battlefield and Abbey of the 1066 battle of Hastings) or view Buckingham Palace and its guards. There are plenty of things to do and see for history buffs! Ramble over the hills and view the remains of Roman forts or tour renovated stately manors.

Whether you’re interested in ancient history or the Victorians (check out the Blists Hill Victorian town experience with operating Victorian shops and mills), there is something for all tastes. Throughout England, each town or city will have its own historical landmarks to explore.

There is plenty to see for those who enjoy the industrial revolution period too, or for World War history fans. Tour hangers filled with old war planes or visit museums dedicated to England’s industrial revolution and see the magnificent machinery.

Pro: Free Art Galleries and Museums

Across the UK you will discover that museums are free! If you are interested in education, culture and arts then England has plenty of wonderful museums, art galleries and beautiful parks to peruse.

This was mainly instated in 2001 and it is such a great privilege we have. Whilst they are free do consider when you’re visiting a museum making a donation or becoming a member to help support the maintenance.

You will find that exhibitions are paid for and most places will have at least 1 runnings. My favourite is the wildlife photographer of the year award which is held at different venues in England.

If art is more your thing then, England has a lot to offer in this space too. With art galleries spanning the country, there is always something to see and do.

British Museum

The British Museum is particularly attractive as it’s a world-famous museum with plenty to offer that is always changing and updating. No two visits are the same – come to see the attractions again and again.

It’s a wonderful space dedicated to human history, art and culture full of wonders to browse. Established in 1753 the museum itself is a piece of British history.

Tate Modern

Check out the amazing Tate Modern in London – this art gallery resides in the former Bankside Power Station (wow!) and forms an iconic part of London. Not only does it house amazing work from artists all over the world but it actually has live art performances and installations to enjoy. The exhibitions it hosts throughout the year are another reason to visit this gallery over and over again.

Pro: West End and Theatre

If you enjoy theatre then England has some amazing spaces and performances to offer. See the breathtaking interiors of old theatres and enjoy modern performances of classic plays. What else could you expect from the home of Shakespeare?

Across England there are great theatres, here are some of my favourites to go and see:

• Book of Mormon
• Hamilton
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
• Lion King
• Any Shakespeare

Pro: Bank Holidays

One of the top pros of living in England is the bank holidays. Enjoy days off from work with bank holidays that pop up throughout the year.

Here is a list of the bank holidays in 2022, for reference, so you can see how many extra paid days off you can get (in addition to your allotted annual leave from work!):

3 January	Monday	New Year’s Day (substitute day)
15 April	Friday	Good Friday
18 April	Monday	Easter Monday
2 May	Monday	Early May bank holiday
2 June	Thursday	Spring bank holiday
3 June	Friday	Platinum Jubilee bank holiday
29 August	Monday	Summer bank holiday
26 December	Monday	Boxing Day
27 December	Tuesday	Christmas Day (substitute day)

Bank holidays are fantastic paid time off days that can be enjoyed with family and friends. There is a pleasant English culture surrounding bank holidays, where the whole country feels joyful. 

And best of all, these days come in addition to your paid annual leave allowance from work – you heard that right! It should be noted however that some jobs do require employees to work over bank holidays, but most do not.

Celebrate the sunny bank holidays with friends at barbeque garden parties, or cosy up in the winter by the fire in an English pub. Bank holiday culture is great for all!

Pro: Fabulous Cities

Another fantastic pro of living in England is the fabulous cities it has to explore. Aside from London, the amazing capital city, England has many other big cities with their own attractions to enjoy.

Visit Manchester’s Northern Quarter and sample dishes from world-famous restaurants (with all of the insta worthy glitz and glam) or head over to Bristol to enjoy the artsy scene (the home of Banksy!).

If a fun English night out is your idea of a good time try the beautiful pubs of York and feel as though you have stepped back in time. There are plenty of pubs and swanky bars hidden in the nooks and crannies of York’s medieval streets.

With plenty to do and see in cities across England, you’ll never run out of staycation ideas when living here.

Here’s some inspiration to add to your list!

• 12 Great Places To Visit Alone In England
• 10 Places to Visit in England by Train to Inspire Your Wanderlust
• 22 Best Seaside Towns in England to Get Your Vitamin Sea
• 15 Best Places To Visit In England Without A Car

Pro: British Culture

British culture is another fun pro for moving to England. There’s a different accent in every city and a culture to match. England is a hub of cultural activity, and English people are fun to be around.

The English music scene in particular is a great part of English culture that people travel from around the world to experience. 

From gigs in your local pubs to full blown music festivals, the English music scene is an attractive pro for audiophiles! From Glastonbury and Reading to Download rock festival, there are festivals for all music tastes.

Pro: Great Labour Laws and Employee Benefits

England’s labour laws and employee benefits are an attractive reason to move to the country for many.

Benefits for employees like sick pay, a company pension, maternity leave, annual leave, the right to unionise, and often optical and medical benefits too are amongst some of the employee benefits that are offered in job packages.

Some companies go a step further and also offer great paternity leave, cancer insurance cover, physiotherapy, medical cover for the families of workers, an option to join employee shares schemes, fun evenings out on the company, bereavement leave, counselling and more.

A national minimum wage too must be upheld, along with the right for employees to unionise and rules around working hours that can’t exceed 48 hours a week (in most cases).

These laws are designed to protect employees and serve as an excellent incentive to move to the UK.

Pro: Access to Free Education

Access to free education is an excellent pro for moving to England. Education is vital for developing minds, and so it is offered for free for children between the ages of five to eighteen years old.

Education is mandatory between the ages of five and sixteen. After the age of eighteen children are able to attend higher education at university, which is not free.

Free education is a great benefit that England has to offer for younger people.

Con: Unpredicatable Weather

English weather is often the punchline for many British jokes, because of its unpredictability. It can be raining one minute and then beaming sunshine the next – you never quite know what you’re going to get.

Whilst England and the rest of the UK does have defined seasons, sometimes snow can carry over into spring and April showers can carry into the summer months.

The gloomy weather is often a grizzling complaint from locals, however, we do experience lovely summers, so it all balances out!

Pro: People Make the Most of the Summer

You know when the sun comes out in England! People make the most of it, from heading to the beach, hosting a last-minute BBQ or enjoying a beer garden. The summer months are the best months to be living here as everyone gets their social calendar in.

Con: House Prices

The housing market in England is a point of contention for many, due to its difficult entry requirements.

House prices are steep for buyers, and for many first time buyers it can be hard to get on the property ladder because of this.

I highly recommend checking the house prices of the general area you would like to move to in the UK to get a decent idea of what you are in for, should you like to buy in future.

The extra bits you need to buy a house can be tricky for some to obtain. Getting a mortgage requires a number of documents, and is easier if you have the following:

• Have a permanent job in the UK and can produce three payslips from the last three months
• Have been a resident of the UK for the last two years
• Have a UK bank account

The above can be hard for some to obtain and will require planning in advance.

Con: Requirements to Move Here

Visa requirements for the UK can pose as a con for some, as they can be quite hard to meet. Countries like Australia have easier requirements as we can access the Youth Mobility visa and in 2021 they agreed to extend this to 3 years. Other commonwealth countries are offered 2 years Youth Mobility visas.

For US citizens this can be more difficult and a harder process to go through.

Here is a quick rundown of what requirements you can expect when applying for a UK visa, for you to read on gov.uk here.

Making sure you apply for the correct visa and have the supporting documents is a vital step to take when moving to the UK.

Pro: Close to Europe

One of the main reasons I moved to England was the proximity to Europe and the ability to travel there for a weekend. It’s such a luxury to have the option to be able to do this and if travel is on your list then England is a perfect location to be able to do it from.

Con: Competitive Job Market

The English job market can be quite competitive, and higher positions may have difficult education and experience requirements to meet.

Whilst there are many resources to help you source a job in England, it is worth noting that the process can prove difficult for some.

If you aren’t headhunted and recruited from abroad, you’ll need to get something lined up for yourself when you move.

Here’s how I moved to the UK without a job and experiences getting one since living here.

Con: Lower Average Wage (Outside of London)

Another con is the average wage outside of London drops quite drastically. Before moving to the UK it’s best to have a good understanding of the average wage in the area you have your eye on, instead of looking at England’s average wage as a whole.

Here are the average wages across big cities in England, to help you get the full picture:

• London’s average wage is £39k
• Manchester’s average wage is £30k
• Bristol’s average wage is £31k
• Liverpool’s average wage is £26k
• Leeds’ average wage is £29k
• Leicester’s average wage is £26k

Con: Narrow Country Roads

If you aren’t used to driving down small winding roads then you are in for a shock when you move to England!

Even the largest and widest roads in the UK pale in comparison to the size of American roads for example.

Small narrow country lanes are quite tricky to navigate, with there often only being enough space for one car to fit at a time. If you meet with another vehicle head on, one of you may have to reverse quite a long way until an indent or layby presents itself.

Country roads on foggy days or late at night are not for the faint of heart. And what’s more – the locals who know the area well can often take these roads at quite the speed. Watch out!

Con: Very Hard to Rent If You Have Pets

In England and the UK as a whole it can be very difficult to rent if you have pets. Some landlords may allow fish or a small hamster, but cats and dogs are usually completely off the table.

If you have pets you will need to plan in advance when moving to the UK. Make sure you find accommodation that allows for your furry friends, or you’ll be in a spot of trouble when you arrive.

Some landlords may be lenient about pets when asked directly, so it’s always worth dropping an email or giving a call to the landlord when looking at a prospective place to see if they will wave their rule.

Buildings that are owned by large companies or blocks of flats will almost never allow for pets, so keep this in mind. You’re better off looking for somewhere that’s owned by a landlord with one or two properties on their portfolio, who you can develop a direct relationship with. In these cases, the landlords may be more lenient.

Con: Small Houses

If you are from America or anywhere else in the world that enjoys large houses, then the size of English houses may come as a bit of a shock to you.

Whilst the UK and England have their fair share of mansions and big houses, the average English house is far smaller than the average American house for example.

The average square footage of an English house is 729 square feet, whereas the average American square footage of a house is 2687 square feet.

It’s best to check the average square footage of houses in your area, then compare them to the average in the area of the UK you would like to move to, so you can get a good idea of the difference.

For some this may result in an improvement in square feet, but for most American readers this may come as a shock!

Con: Scams (Phone, Text & e-mail)

There are quite of scams! For spoof HMRC to text saying you need to pay import tax to receive your parcels. Some seem so real as well so it can be hard to tell. There are also lots of calls asking whether you’ve been in an accident!

Also watch out for renting scams. If they ask you for money without seeing the property this should send red flags straight away. I’ve written an article on renting which describes the fees that you may pay as a part of renting, even though it says London it does apply to England.

It’s something to watch out for when you move here. Unsure if you’re being scammed then Google, ask a friend or check with the company that sent you the text. If it seems odd then you’re probably right!

Overall

Living in England does have its upsides and downsides, but overall the beauty of the country, the NHS and overall quality of life certainly makes it a great contender for a big move.

It’s always best to really know what you are in for by carefully considering the cons also. I hope my list will help you get a broader understanding of England.

There have been a lot of changes over the past year with the visa process and you may have been wondering – UKVCAS how does it work? I will run through:

• How to book the biometrics appointment online
• The biometric appointment locations
• How to check UKVCAS appointment availability
• UKVCAS upload documents and categories
• What to expect when you attend the biometrics appointment.

Disclaimer: This is based on my experience of going through the process (I’m not a lawyer or immigration advisor). If you have any issues make sure you contact UKVI or UKVCAS.

As things are changing (due 2020 events) with UKVCAS service please keep up to date with UKVI latest information and UKVAS.

Difference between UKVI and UKVCAS

Before we get started on the process, let’s cover the difference between UKVI and UKVCAS.

UKVI – UK Visa and Immigration

Here’s a quick summary:

• UKVI are the ones making a decision on your application
• If you have any questions about the application they are the department to call
• Most importantly if you want a quick decision (i.e. super-priority) on your visa and you are eligible for it, this is where you want to spend the money!

Read more about the service here: UKVI Services and UKVI Information About UKVCAS.

UKVCAS – UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services

Here’s a quick summary:

• It’s a third-party service run by Sopra Steria
• Their website is where you book to have your biometric information taken
• Upload your supporting documents for your application
• Attend your biometric appointment at one of the centres which fingerprints, photo, signature and submitting your application.

UKVCAS website.

Choosing Standard or Super Priority Service?

When you get to the payment screen you will be potentially presented with two options. This is the most critical part of the application, especially if you wish for a faster decision. They are:

• Standard service – get a decision within 6 months
• Super priority – get a decision in 24 hours
• Read more about processing times here.

If your visa is eligible for super-priority, then you will have the ability to choose this during the payment screen. This will give you a decision within 24 hours. Just to note this doesn’t give you a faster biometric appointment.

In this example, you can see there is only one option and unfortunately, UK citizenship is not eligible for super-priority.

The type of visa’s service is offered to are:

• Tier 2 or 4 visa
• Tier 2 or 4 dependant
• Tier 1 or 5 dependant
• Remain in the UK with family – applying in the partner, family life as a partner or private life in the UK routes
• Indefinite Leave to Remain
• And a few more.

The price of super-priority is currently £800. Here is the price list from UKVI.

Step by Step Guide to Biometrics Appointment for UK Visa (UKVCAS)

To complete your application, you must attend a UKVCAS service point to have:

• your identity confirmed
• any required biometric information enrolled
• any required supporting documentation digitised and checked
• confirm you are happy to send your application sent to UKVI

I will show you the steps I completed to create my account, booking an appointment, uploading documents and what to expect during the appointment.

UKVCAS has no bearing on the decision process, all it does if you choose to pick a premium appointment is to provide you with an appointment quicker, after hours etc. There are a few options. If you want a quick decision, then you need to choose this during the application process as stated above.

If you prefer watching the step by step process here is a video version.

UKVCAS Account Setup

Once I reached the further actions page on the application I was presented with mandatory actions, one of these will be ‘book appointment’, I clicked this button to commence the set-up for the UKVCAS site.

Please note: if you have any issues with setting up your account you will need to call UKVCAS.

Next, I was presented with a screen to ‘get your access code’. This will be sent to the email address you registered with UKVI.

In my inbox I received an email like this with 6 digits, you have 30 minutes to use the code.

Finish the sign-up process I added the code and created my own password for the UKVCAS website.

That’s it, my account was all set-up with the email I registered my UKVI application with.

Book Your Biometric Appointment

You can book an appointment in two ways:

• On the UKVCAS website
• by phone by calling the UKVCAS Premium Support Line on 0900 165 6600 (Calls cost £2.50 per minute)

Personally I did all of this myself via the website.

Once I set-up my account and then logged on, I was taken to a home page which explained the booking of the appointments, the extra services and stuff they offered. I kept scrolling through until I got the book appointment button at the bottom of the page.

Next was choosing a service point location. The tool gave me the closest centres near me or I could search by using a postcode.

If you wish to get a free appointment there are 6 core service centres offering free appointments – Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Croydon.

Once I was happy with the location, I clicked on select this service point which gave me the available appointments.

Next was the choose your appointment screen which showed me the appointments for the first week and you can keep pressing next for further dates. When I clicked on the dates it told me if there are appointments available and the price if it was a paid appointment.

As you can see below there is a range of free and paid appointment between £50 to £100. Read more about the fees here.

I was happy to wait for an appointment but it is dependent on what you want to do and how quickly you want to get your application done.

I selected a time I was able to make and then went to the checkout screen which gave an order summary. As I had a free appointment it states 0 but if you have a paid appointment this is where you would enter the payment flow. You can also add additional services here like document checking.

Once I finished booking the appointment and I received two emails. One was the tax invoice and one was the booking confirmation.

The booking confirmation is a must to take to your appointment and this will be the thing that will track you through your biometric appointments. It’s really important. You can either print it or you can take it on your phone but you do need to have a copy available.

It has a QR code and information about me and my appointment and that’s basically it, so nothing too exciting.

UKVCAS Upload Documents

Remember that checklist from the application? Well, that’s your guide on what you need to upload document wise! You do have the option of paying UKCVAS to do this for you but I just did it online at home for free.

You can upload documents in stages right up until you attend your appointment. When uploading your documents, there are a few guidelines.

1. Document type:  The documents are marked as either mandatory or other documents. A description of the mandatory documents required for each category is provided in the tabs.
2. Category: Your supporting documents need to be submitted under the categories. Some are easier to determine than others – see categories below.
3. File Format: PDF is the preferred format, JPG and PNG format. If you don’t have a scanner just search for an app in the Google Play or Apple Store, there will be quite a few available.
4. File Name: needs to be as simple as possible e.g. bank-statement-Apr-2018.pdf. Do not use filenames having special characters, #,ë, or bank.statement.apr.2018.pdf
5. File Size: maximum file limit is 6MB. You can separate your documents into parts if your file is too big and there is no limit on the number of documents/files you can upload.
6. Scan in Greyscale or Black and white: This helps with controlling the size, although I didn’t end up reading this part before I scanned all my documents and they were fine in size. In fairness, there wasn’t as many as my ILR application.
7. Password: Make sure there are no passwords on the files and they are fully accessible. I know it can be worrying by not protecting your information but it can delay a decision if they are unable to access any of this.

How to Upload Your Documents on UKVCAS

Depending on where you are ready to upload documents, you can either do this straight after booking the appointment or whenever you’re ready.

I did this before my appointment so when I logged in you will be presented with a welcome page that had an upload your documents button.

Once I clicked the button I was presented with visa applicants, as it just me, it’s only my details. I clicked the blue action link which took me to the next page.

There is some information about the files and formats which I have summarised above and you will reach the upload section. This example just covers the mandatory document.

All I did was upload the named file I had and added a description which basically Katherine’s Front Page of Passport. Just to note I also uploaded a copy that had every page that was stamped in my passport in another section.

Once uploaded my document there was a status to say how many files were added.

That’s it! I kept repeating until all my files were uploaded.

UKVCAS Document Upload Categories

One of the biggest things that I found a bit annoying is there is no guidance from the UKVCAS or UKVI on where you’re supposed to put them. I made a few assumptions and added information where I thought it suited best.

This is all based on UK Citizenship to give you an example, if you are applying for other visas like Spousal Visa then chances are you will have documents such as life events. Just make sure you include all the documents that your checklist states in the visa application.

Mandatory Documents

Statement from UKVCAS website in the document upload section: Below is a list of mandatory document categories for your application. Each category tab contains a description of the documents required. Please ensure that you provide a document in each of these categories.

Proof of Application – I only added my passport here because that’s what it stated I need to put here.

Optional Documents

Statement from UKVCAS website in the document upload section: Below is a list of optional document categories. Please ensure you check your Access UK document checklist before including documents in the categories below. For some application routes, ‘Optional’ documents offer you the ability to provide evidence in a number of categories at your discretion to satisfy immigration rules.

• Other – I included my referees in this section.
• Residence in the UK – I included my approval letter for my indefinite leave to remain and then I put my BRP card with my indefinite leave to remain there.
• Finances – I included six P60’s from 2014 to 2019.
• Proof of Business – I didn’t include any proof of business.
• Life Events – I didn’t include any Life Event documents.
• Medical Information – I didn’t include any medical information.
• Sponsors / Employment – I included two employment letters and also one HMRC letter from 2018 from my indefinite leave to remain application.
• Proof of Identity / Travel History – I included my Excel Spreadsheet that covers all of the dates I’ve been outside the UK, my current passport and my old passport, which includes all of the pages from the passport. The front page and then all the pages with stamps on them.
• Educational – I included my life in the UK pass notification.

What Happens at the Biometrics Appointment?

When I arrived at the biometric centre, I was greeted by a security guard and he requested that I give my booking confirmation and my passport. The next step was speaking to the receptionist who my booking barcode to confirm what floor I needed to go to.

Once I arrived at the appropriate floor I was greeted by another staff member who gave me a ticket number which was to be used during the process. They advised me that there will be two parts phase of the appointment.

Part One: The Biometrics.

Basically, they have these booths that record your biometrics with a computer system. The only way that I can describe it is like the passport e-gates at an airport. When you go through the e-gate and you scan your passport and takes a photo and then lets you through, that’s basically how these biometric systems were, except they just take your signature as well.

You will be explained the process before you register your biometrics. The photo process is probably the lengthiest process of all of it. It’s very picky and can take a while to get a photo it likes.

Once I did that, I walked back out to the waiting room until my number is called again.

Part Two: Checking of Documents and Submitting Your Application

Another representative came and collected me. This is the stage that they went through my application, documents and biometrics. The first thing again they ask for is that confirmation sheet with a QR code and your passport. They will scan that in, it’ll bring up all the details of that and your application.

My biometrics was reviewed which just double-checks your photo, signature and fingerprints are ok. I had to explain any scars or markings on my fingerprints which was recorded against my biometrics.

The next thing he did was scan my current passport again, I did previously have both my latest and older passport uploaded to my application.

Next he just quickly scrolled through what I had put in there, for example, you’ve put life in the UK test on here and a few other documents, but he didn’t check a single one of my documents.

After that, he asked, “Are you happy with the application and the documents you’ve put in your biometrics?” You must state yes and then they will submit the application for you. That will trigger the decision process for your application.

Next Steps

The waiting game! There is no ability to track your application through UKVCAS or UKVI, you just have to wait for a decision to arrive. You can call UKVI to discussion your application if you want further confirmation.

Hopefully, my experience has given you an understanding of what you could potentially expect. Make sure you keep up with the UKVCAS and UKVI websites to see if there are any changes.

Moving to the UK

By Kat · Applied August 2019, ceremony October 2019

You’ve got indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and next is finalising British citizenship and getting the passport. “You alright?” will officially be your new greeting once this is done. What you want to know is the day you can apply, what it costs now, who these two referees have to be and what they want in the envelope.

I applied in August 2019, a year after my ILR came through on the Ancestry visa. Sixteen days after my biometrics appointment the approval letter was in my hand. Two months after that I was in the council chamber in Bromley making the affirmation and by November I had a British passport.

Mine was the Ancestry route. If you’ve come through a work visa, a partner visa or settled status, the shape is the same: five years here, a year on ILR, the test, two referees, the fee. The detail for your route is different and I’ve linked the official guide wherever I’ve used it.

Here’s what I’ll take you through, in order:

• the day you can apply and the absence limits that decide it
• what it costs all in and the one way to pay for a faster answer
• the two referees, who they have to be and who mine were
• every document, in one list, with what I sent next to what they ask for
• the ceremony, the certificate and the passport afterwards, with what my day looked like

Covers	Naturalising after a year on ILR, which is what I did from the Ancestry visa. The core steps hold on the other routes; the detail differs.
Have up front	£1,839 for the application, which includes the ceremony. £500 more if you want the faster decision. £102 for the passport afterwards.
Do first	Count your days outside the UK against the limits. Then ask your two referees.
Works for	You, if you’ve had ILR for a year or nearly and want to know exactly what to gather and what the day at the end looks like.

The day you can apply

Twelve months after you got ILR, as long as you’ve lived in the UK for five years and you were physically here on the day five years before your application lands. If you’re married to a British citizen you don’t wait the twelve months and it’s three years, not five. Both are on the gov.uk page for citizenship after ILR and the one for the spouse route.

Then the absences. This is the bit that decides it for most people, because the limits are tighter than the ones you met for ILR.

Your route	Years in the UK	Days outside the UK, in total	Days outside in the last 12 months
On ILR, not married to a British citizen	5, plus 12 months holding ILR	450	90
Married to a British citizen	3, no wait on ILR	270	90

Only whole days count. The day you leave and the day you come back don’t, so a Friday-to-Sunday weekend away is one day, not three. That’s in the naturalisation guide and it’s the thing to know before you panic about your total.

Mine. ILR on 14 August 2018. Application submitted 19 August 2019 at five past one, so a year and five days. The five years count back from the day your application lands, so for me that meant being in the UK on 19 August 2014. I’d landed in October 2013, so that was covered.

The absences list was the spreadsheet I’d built for ILR with a year added on and my fingers did get a little sore entering every holiday. Start yours now, not the week before. If you’re Australian you can request your travel records from Home Affairs instead of rebuilding five years from memory. I didn’t know it existed at the time.

What it costs, all in

What	Cost	Source
The application, per person	£1,709	Home Office fees from 8 April 2026
The ceremony, paid up front with the application	£130	same fee table
Biometrics	no fee	citizenship after ILR
Priority service, decision usually within 30 working days	£500 on top	faster decisions
Standard service	no extra charge, usually a decision within 6 months	citizenship after ILR
Life in the UK test, if you haven’t passed it already	£50	Life in the UK test
Your first British passport, afterwards	£102 online, £115.50 on paper	first adult passport

That’s £1,839 to apply, £2,339 if you pay for the faster answer and about £1,940 by the time the passport lands without it.

There’s no super priority for citizenship. Priority is the only faster option and it’s thirty working days, not five, so don’t budget on the ILR timings.

What I paid. £1,349.20 in August 2019: £1,330 for the application and £19.20 for biometrics. There was no faster service for citizenship then, so standard was the only service. The total has gone up by about five hundred pounds since my run and the ceremony fee is now folded into it.

How long mine took. Sixteen days. Biometrics on Monday 2 September 2019, letter in my hand on 18 September. Everyone’s timeline is different and gov.uk still says usually within six months with some taking longer, so I count mine as luck, not the rule.

What you need before you start

Three things have to be done before the form is worth opening.

• The Life in the UK test. £50, booked at least three days ahead, the name on the booking matching your ID exactly. If you passed it for ILR you don’t sit it again. I’d sat mine for ILR the year before and just entered the pass, which I was thankful for, because that test was the most stressful part of ILR. Don’t leave it late: the pass is valid for a long time and a fail can cost you your application window.
• English. As an Australian you’re exempt: your passport is the proof. Same for New Zealanders, Canadians and the rest of the majority English-speaking list. Anyone else needs an approved qualification or a degree taught in English.
• Two referees. Next section, because it’s the bit people ask me about most.

And good character, which you can’t prepare for. The naturalisation guide sums it up as observing the law and respecting the rights and freedoms of its citizens. Convictions, money trouble, deception and immigration breaches are what they look at. If any of that is in your history, that’s the point to talk to an adviser, not a blog.

The two referees

Two people who’ve each known you for at least three years and will sign a form saying you’re who you say you are.

• One can be any nationality but has to be a professional person, an accountant or a solicitor for example.
• The other must hold a British passport and be either a professional person or over 25.
• Neither can be related to you or to each other, be your solicitor or agent, work for the Home Office or have an imprisonable conviction in the last ten years.

All of that is in the naturalisation guide. If you’re not sure your person counts as a professional, ask UK Visas and Immigration before you rely on them.

Mine, in 2019, were a lawyer and an accountant, both friends, both easily on the professional list. Finding them wasn’t the struggle. Finding the form was. I looked for the referee declaration for ages before I worked out that, in 2019 at least, it was only handed to you in the step after the documents page. Look there before you start hunting the internet for it.

What the online form wants from each referee, so you can ask them for it in one message:

• full name and date of birth
• every address they’ve had in the last three years
• profession
• phone number and email
• British passport number, for the one who has one
• how they know you

They each fill in the declaration themselves, sign it and give you a passport photo. The form told me to write my name and date of birth on the back of the photo. I was uploading everything, so I uploaded the signed form with the photo and that was accepted.

Every document, in one list

Two columns. What the checklist asked for and what I sent in 2019. The online form builds the exact list for your case at the end and it’s different if you’re applying through marriage.

What they want	What I sent in 2019
Your current passport	My Australian passport
Proof of English	The same passport. Australians are exempt
Proof you’re free of immigration time restrictions	My passport, the ILR approval letter and my biometric residence permit (BRP) card. The cards have all expired now and your ILR lives in your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account as an eVisa
Life in the UK pass	The pass from my ILR run, entered into the form
Proof you’ve lived here for the five years	Both my passports with the stamps, plus the same working evidence I’d used for ILR: my P60s, the HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) employment history letter and two employer letters. The checklist said bank statements and household bills don’t count and I still get asked about that, so check the guide for your route before you print your bills
Two referee declarations	Both signed forms, each with a passport photo
Evidence of identity	My old passport, the one I’d used as ID for the Life in the UK test, plus my current one

Where my experience stops. I’ve never had an eVisa. I became a citizen before they existed, so I can point you at the UKVI account page and I can’t tell you what that step looks like from the inside.

The working evidence is the same method as ILR, a year on. Either ring HMRC again and ask for five years of employment history in a letter, or take what you sent for ILR and add the newer evidence on top, the P60 and the employer letter for the year since.

The HMRC letter is the same one they send if you’ve lost a P60, so if you’ve got gaps, do it early. Mine took about a week to arrive.

Originals or copies. In 2019 copies were fine for everything except passports, which had to be originals. You either uploaded to the appointment service, UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS), yourself or paid to have them scanned at the appointment. The naturalisation guide now says you don’t have to resend anything you uploaded for a previous application, because they already have it. If you did ILR online, that’s most of your pile.

Before you open the form, have these to hand, because the form asks for all of it and digging through the drawer every time a long question pops up is what turns it into a whole evening:

• your addresses for the last five years, with dates
• National Insurance number and the tax reference off a recent payslip
• your parents’ names, dates and places of birth
• ten years of UK work history, with start and end dates and employer addresses
• your ILR application: the date, the reference number, the date of your fingerprints
• every trip outside the UK in the five years, with country, reason and dates
• degree details if you have one
• the referee details above

The form, the payment and the appointment

The application is online and it’s received the day you submit it. The form itself is simple once the pile above is next to you. In 2019 the payment page warned me in bold that once I paid there was no going back. After paying you book a biometrics appointment for your fingerprints and photo, which costs nothing now.

Mine. Submitted Monday 19 August 2019 at five past one. Biometrics on Monday 2 September. Letter on 18 September. I did the whole thing myself, uploaded the documents to the UKVCAS portal and it was, honestly, straightforward.

You can still travel while you wait. My sister did, in 2022. Her approval email landed while we were flying to Gdańsk and she didn’t see it for two months. Check your inbox from the airport.

The letter

The approval comes as a letter and it’s also your ceremony invitation. It tells you your application’s approved, how to get your certificate and how to book. Read the whole thing, because it also says you have to bring it with you on the day or the ceremony’s postponed and they may ask for ID as well, which they did for mine.

You have three months from the invitation to attend. You book through your local council and the ceremony’s already paid for in your application fee. Getting the council slot was the longest wait in my whole run, longer than the decision itself, so ring them the day the letter lands.

Booking mine, on the phone to Bromley, they asked four things:

• Group or individual. The group ceremony is free. An individual one costs and I was quoted either £160 or £180 in 2019, so I waited for the next group slot, which at Bromley was every Tuesday at ten. The price and the slots are your council’s, so it depends where you live. gov.uk still says a private ceremony can cost more.
• How many guests. Two is the usual limit. I asked for two.
• Oath or affirmation. The oath is sworn by God, the affirmation isn’t. I’m not very religious, so I took the affirmation. Either is fine and the pledge that follows is the same for everyone. In Wales they also ask English or Welsh.
• Whether I was happy to shake hands with the Mayor. Say now if you’re not.

A week before, the council emailed the details again with a map and the photographer’s price list.

The ceremony

Thirty to forty-five minutes. Smart dress. Two guests. Then tea, coffee and a queue for the photos that took longer than the ceremony did.

Mine was Tuesday 22 October 2019 at Bromley Civic Centre, six years and four days after I’d landed. My sister came and so did my boyfriend at the time. The letter said smart, national costume welcome. It’s not a casual-attire day. I went with a white dress.

What happened, in order:

1. Signs around the building. Checked in at the door: letter, ID, ticked off the list, given a number and a seat.
2. Housekeeping from the host, then a councillor came in to welcome us on behalf of the Queen and the government. It was the Queen in 2019. It’s the King now.
3. The room was split in two: one side took the oath, the other the affirmation. Then everyone in the room, guests included, said the pledge.
4. One by one to the front for the certificate and a handshake. Mine came with “Congratulations Katherine, you are a British citizen. Look, we share the same name.” The councillor was a Kathy.
5. One verse of the national anthem.
6. Tea and coffee in the room next door while you look at the photographer’s shots and decide. Cash or cheque only in 2019: £15 for a mounted print, £20 with the digital file, passport photos on the day for £5 alongside the ceremony photos or £10 on their own. gov.uk says you also get a welcome pack.

Then it’s done. I spent longer in the photo queue than in the chamber.

Your BRP. In 2019 the letter told me to cut mine up and send it back to the Home Office. Every BRP has expired now, so if you’ve still got one in a drawer, cut it through the chip and the details and bin it. The naturalisation guide says the same.

Dual citizenship, if you’re Australian

You keep it. The UK allows dual citizenship and there’s nothing to apply for. Australia allows it too. I’ve held both passports since 2019.

The one rule: use your Australian passport to enter and leave Australia and the British one once you’ve left. Home Affairs says an Australian citizen without an Australian passport can be stopped from boarding a flight home, so keep it renewed even if it never sees another stamp.

In 2019 I chose the 34-page British passport rather than the 50, because I could split trips across two. With stamps on the way out and everything going electronic, I wouldn’t sweat the page count now.

The passport afterwards

Once you’ve got the certificate, apply online for a first adult passport. £102 online, £115.50 on the paper form, usually within three weeks and longer if they want to interview you. The fast-track and premium services aren’t open to first adult passports, so there’s no paying your way out of the wait.

You can’t apply before the ceremony, because the certificate is one of the documents. Copies aren’t accepted: the certificate and the passport you entered the UK on go in the post as originals.

Someone has to confirm your identity: eighteen or over, living in the UK with a current UK or Irish passport, in or retired from a recognised profession and known you for two years. Not a relative, not a partner, not anyone at your address. You give their name and email, the passport office sends them a link with your photo and a few questions and that part is done.

Mine, in November 2019. Applied online on a Sunday morning, £75.50 plus £5 for secure return post, £80.50 all in. I paid the fiver because the certificate cost a hundred pounds to replace then. It’s £456 now. Pay the fiver.

The form stalled on me once: my mum holds a British passport and the form wanted her passport details, so I stopped, messaged her and waited. Have your parents’ passport details in the pile if either of them is British. My sister took the photo. You’re not allowed to smile.

Then it went like this. Posted the documents by registered post on the Monday. Wednesday, a text: received. Friday: approved. The next Tuesday: on its way, delivery Wednesday. The courier tried on the Tuesday, I rebooked for the Wednesday and it came Wednesday, while the passport office was still texting me it’d be Thursday. Believe the courier.

Ten days from applying to holding it, 10 November to 20 November. The certificate came back in its own envelope alongside it.

The best thing about it, after two visas and a citizenship application where you hear nothing until a letter drops: the passport office texts you at every step. You know exactly where it is.

Doing it yourself or paying someone

I did it myself, because for a straightforward application it is straightforward: the form tells you what it wants, you gather it, you book the appointment. I felt comfortable, so for me that was worth it. If you don’t feel comfortable, that’s exactly what the services exist for, to make it smooth and easy. If your application has a complication, a conviction, a gap, a messy immigration history, get advice from a lawyer or an adviser before you pay, because the form warns you there’s no going back once you have. Neither way is wrong.

What I’d do differently

Ring the council the day the letter landed, because the ceremony slot was the longest wait of the lot. And have my mum’s passport details ready before the passport form asked for them, instead of stopping halfway through on a Sunday morning to message her.

Where this sits

If you’re a year out from this, the two pages that feed it are indefinite leave to remain and the Life in the UK test. ILR is where the absences spreadsheet and the test pass come from. The test is the one you only want to sit once.

If you’re further back than that, start at moving to the UK from Australia: the visas, the money before you’ve earned a pound here and the Australian admin. Six years is a long road and it’s one of the choices I’m most glad I made.

FAQ

Moving to the UK

By Kat · Applied August 2018, my sister December 2020

Five years on the Ancestry visa and the clock’s nearly up. You know you can apply to settle. What you’re after is an example of what someone else sent before you put yours together.

I applied on 13 August 2018, the first day I could, paid for the fastest service going and had a decision the next day. My sister did hers in December 2020 on the standard service with about half the paperwork I sent. Both approved.

Based on our two applications, this is what they looked at. It’s two people’s experience, written down so you can see what another human did. It isn’t a rulebook. The official guide for your route is the rulebook and I’ve linked it wherever I’ve used it.

Here’s what I’ll take you through, in order:

• the day you can apply, which is not your visa’s expiry date
• what it costs, all in, with the faster services priced
• the employer letter, what it has to say and what mine said
• every document, in one list, with what I sent next to what you need

Covers	Settling after five years on the UK Ancestry visa, which is what I did. The core steps hold for the other five-year routes; the detail differs.
Have up front	£3,226 for the application, £50 for the Life in the UK test and £500 or £1,000 more if you want a fast decision.
Do first	Book the Life in the UK test. Then start your absences list today, not the week before.
Works for	You, if your visa runs out in the next year or so and you want to know exactly what to gather and when.

The day you can apply

You can apply up to 28 days before you reach five years in the UK on the visa. The five years counts from when you entered the UK. The gap between your visa being issued and you landing can count too. Both rules are in the Home Office’s continuous residence guidance.

Don’t count back from your visa’s expiry date. Mine expired on 10 September 2018 and my five-year point was the same day, because the gap between my visa starting and me landing counted. That put my window at 13 August and that’s the day I applied. Your expiry date and your five-year point may not be the same day. Work off the five-year point.

Four more things have to be true. All four are on the Ancestry settlement page:

• You can work and plan to. The Ancestry route is for people who came to work and settling on it asks you to show that. The employer letter below is how I showed it.
• You can support yourself and anyone applying with you. Bank statements do this job, see the document list.
• You’re still a Commonwealth citizen. Your Australian passport covers it.
• You haven’t been out of the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period. For visas granted on or after 11 January 2018 that’s counted on a rolling basis, so any 12 months you pick. For older visas it was fixed 12-month blocks. Mine was 2013, so I was on the old counting. Yours almost certainly isn’t. Same guidance as above.

The two tests you’ll be asked about are further down: the Life in the UK test, which you have to sit and the English test, which as an Australian you don’t.

What it costs, all in

What	Cost	Source
The application, per person	£3,226	Home Office fees from 8 April 2026
Life in the UK test	£50	Life in the UK test
Priority service, decision usually within 5 working days	£500 on top	Faster decisions
Super priority service, decision by the end of the next working day	£1,000 on top	Faster decisions
Standard service	no extra charge, usually a decision within 6 months	Ancestry settlement page

The faster services were paused for a while. They’re back and both are open to settlement applications made in the UK. There’s no separate biometrics fee on the route page now. The fee last changed on 8 April 2026, so check the fee table’s date before you pay.

What I paid. £2,389 in 2018, plus the super priority service, which took it to £3,189. I paid on my credit card, half for the air miles and half because it kept the savings in my account visible for the application.

My sister paid £2,389 in December 2020, plus £19.20 for biometrics and £75 for an express appointment, on the standard service. None of those figures is the current one. The application alone has gone up by more than eight hundred pounds since her run.

Was the fast service worth it? For me, yes. I’d read about people stuck in limbo with employers while they waited and I didn’t want that, so I paid the extra for the peace of mind. The decision came the same day. My sister waited on the standard service and was fine. How long hers took, I honestly can’t remember.

The employer letter and what it has to say

Here’s the letter, properly. It’s your employer confirming you’re employed here, on headed paper, addressed to UK Visas and Immigration. Mine was drafted by my employer: I told them what I needed at a high level and HR wrote it and signed it.

What mine confirmed, line by line:

• start date
• job title
• employment status
• date of birth
• nationality
• passport number, date of issue and expiry date

Then two lines of company boilerplate: that it’s their policy only to provide factual information and that the reference is given in good faith without legal liability. Mine was addressed to the Croydon premium service centre, because that’s where my appointment was. Those centres are gone. Yours is addressed to UK Visas and Immigration and your appointment is at a UKVCAS service point, which is further down.

That’s it. It doesn’t need to be long and it doesn’t need to say anything nice about you. It needs the facts the form asks for, on headed paper, signed.

My sister’s was the same shape from a different company, two years later. It was accepted alongside her current contract and six months of payslips. Mine went in with every employment contract I’d had and five years of payslips, which I now think was two hundred documents’ worth of anxiety.

The cover letter. I sent one. It was a one-page summary of every document in the bundle so the caseworker could find things. I don’t have it any more, so I can’t show you, but that’s all it was: a contents page, not an essay.

Every document, in one list

Two columns. What the application asks for and what I sent in 2018, with what my sister sent in 2020 where it differed. The online form gives you the exact list for your case. This is what the list looked like for two Australians on Ancestry.

What they want	What I sent
Your current passport	My Australian passport
Proof of your UK ancestry	My birth certificate, my mum’s and my granddad’s UK one, the chain from him to her to me. The same three I used for the Ancestry visa
Proof of your immigration status	In 2018, my biometric residence permit. Today your status is digital, see the timeline section below
Consent for the Home Office to run verification checks	The signed declaration in the form, plus the joint-account consent form because I had one
Proof you’re employed	The employer letter above, every employment contract I’d had, five years of payslips and an employment history letter from HMRC, which they post to you if you ring and ask. My sister: her current contract, her employer letter and six months of payslips. Hers was enough
Proof of your finances	Bank statements. HSBC gave me mine with a cover letter, no fuss. Lloyds would only print three months, stamped at the branch, which is the minimum they ask for. I forgot one small savings account statement entirely and it didn’t matter
Every passport you’ve used to enter or stay in the UK	My old passport and my new one, because the stamps were the proof of my absences
Life in the UK test pass	The pass notification, which is emailed to you now. Keep it. You need it again for citizenship
Your absences from the UK	A full list of every trip with dates and a tally of days, plus a spreadsheet because I had more than thirty lines. See the next section
Proof of English	My Australian passport. Australians are exempt

Originals or scans. You upload your documents to the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) online service before your appointment, or have them scanned at the appointment. In 2018 I carried the whole stack to Croydon. Now most of it happens at home before you go.

The absences tracker: start it today

The application wants every trip out of the UK in the five years, with dates and the total days. If you’re reading this with a year to go, start the list now, because reconstructing five years of weekends away from memory is slow and I wouldn’t trust mine to catch a 180-day problem.

Mine had more than thirty lines. I built it from both passports, stamp by stamp.

Passport stamps don’t exist any more, which makes this harder than it was for me. Two things fix it:

• Request your Australian travel records. The Department of Home Affairs will send you your movement records, every entry and exit. I didn’t know this existed. It would have saved me hours.
• Keep a rolling tally as you go. One row per trip: where, out, back, days, why. Remember it’s a rolling twelve months for anyone on a visa granted since 2018, so the total that matters moves with you.

If you want a head start, here’s a blank copy of my spreadsheet. One row per trip and the rolling-year totals add themselves up.

The Life in the UK test

Book it early. It costs £50, you have to book at least three days ahead and the name on your booking has to match the name on your ID exactly. All of that is on the test page. I’ve known people turned away on the day because their ID cut off a middle name or had their country of birth wrong.

Please, please, please don’t leave it to the last minute. If I’d failed, I’d have missed my ILR window. I sat mine for ILR and reused the same pass for citizenship a year later, which is allowed, so it’s one test, not two. The form asks for your test details, so you can’t submit until you’ve passed. I sat mine on 3 July, six weeks before my window opened.

You’re exempt if you’re 65 or over. Otherwise it’s part of the deal.

The timeline, from submit to status

1. Apply online through the settlement form for your route (form SET(O) for Ancestry).
2. Pay and choose standard, priority or super priority.
3. Book and attend a UKVCAS appointment for your fingerprints and photo. Take your passport, a printed copy of the appointment confirmation with its QR code and any documents you haven’t uploaded. Nobody hands you a decision in the room.
4. Wait. Next working day on super priority, about five working days on priority, usually within six months on standard.
5. Your status arrives as an eVisa. There’s no card any more. Every biometric residence permit (BRP) has expired and been replaced by a digital record you reach through a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. You prove your status to an employer or a landlord with a share code.

Mine, in 2018: applied online on 13 August, super priority, appointment at the Croydon premium service centre on 14 August, decision the same day. I only found out it had been approved when the BRP card arrived in the post. I had no idea the card had an expiry date until it did. The photo was better than my passport one. Neither of those things can happen to you now, because there’s no card.

Where my experience stops. I’ve never had an eVisa. I became a citizen before they existed, so I can point you at the UKVI account page and I can’t tell you what it’s like. If you still have an expired BRP, cut it up before you bin it. It can still be used for a few limited things until 31 December 2026 at the latest.

What catches people out

• Counting from the wrong date. Your five-year point, not your visa expiry. See the top of the page.
• The name on the test booking. Exact match with your ID or you’re sent home and out fifty pounds.
• Absences with nothing to count them from. Request the Australian travel records. Start the tally now.
• Three-month bank statements. Lloyds only gave me three months, stamped at the branch. Ask your bank early what it will give you and in what form.
• Leaving the UK for a long stretch after you get ILR. Two continuous years outside the UK and it’s gone. You’d need a Returning Resident visa at £726 to come back.
• The fee date. It last changed on 8 April 2026. Applying either side of a change can be a different price.

What’s changing

Two things are moving. One is still a proposal, one is a rule with a start date. Neither changes what you’d do this year.

• Five years could become ten. The Home Office ran an earned settlement consultation from November 2025 to February 2026 on a ten-year qualifying period for most routes. It’s still marked as analysing the responses and no outcome has been published. The rule today is five years.
• The English standard goes up on 26 March 2027. A rules change made in March 2026 raises it from B1 to B2 for settlement, Ancestry included, for applications made from that date. Australians are on the exemption list today and that list hasn’t changed, so it shouldn’t touch you. Check it on the day you apply anyway.

Doing it yourself or paying someone

I did it myself. For an Ancestry settlement application it was straightforward: the form tells you what it wants, you gather it, you book the appointment. I knew what I was doing, so I felt comfortable. For me that was worth it. There were plenty of companies at the Home Office the day I went, so people do pay. If you don’t feel comfortable, that’s exactly why those services exist, to make it smooth and easy for you. Neither is wrong.

What I’d do differently

Request the travel records instead of reconstructing five years from stamps. Send my sister’s bundle, not mine: a current contract, the letter and six months of payslips did the same job as five years of everything. Book the test the month I became eligible, not the month before the deadline. And I’d still pay for the fast decision, because the waiting is the worst part and I’d already done enough of that.

FAQ

As of the 5^th of November, the whole service has changed and it’s no longer the same Premium Service offering by UK Visa and Immigration (UKVI). There is a new service called UK Visa and Citizenship Application Service (UKVCAS) which is run by Sopra Steria in partnership with UK Visas and Immigration. I have searched the internet, so you didn’t have to! Here is everything you need to know about the changes.

Psstt.. You can read more about the application process and documents I provided for the Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa (Settlement) here.

Super Priority service is currently suspended. As things are changing (due 2020 events) with UKVCAS service please keep up to date with UKVI latest information and UKVAS.

Disclaimer: This is based on my research and you should seek professional advice if you are unsure. Go to GOV UK to check if there have been any changes to the visa rule & fees.

5th November 2018 Changes to Appointments

With the rollout of the UK Visa and Immigration new streamlined services there have been several changes introduced which include:

• a streamlined online journey for most application types, with an intuitive form making it easier to apply and the option to purchase additional services;
• a modernised, digital and more secure process to submit key evidence and personal information, with most applicants able to retain their passports and other valuable evidence rather than sending them separately to UKVI;
• fast and convenient self-service with the ability to make applications and upload evidence directly;
• more flexible on-demand, mobile application services accessible at third party premises;
• enhanced support for vulnerable customers through a range of financial support for travel costs and mobile services.

You can read more of the details UKVI issued on this here.

Timeline of the Changes

• From 5th November: the new UK VCAS centres will open and slowly rolled out until the 29^th of Nov. They are opening 57 locations across the country to make the process easier.
• During the period of 5th November – 29th November, the old and new service will run which means there will be access to the new biometrics/document upload centres and Premium Services.  
• 29th November: Premium Service Centres will close
• January 2019: Service and Support Centres will open, for use by a small number of customers who require more support with their application. These customers will continue to use the current process until January and the UKIV will issue more information on this process shortly so look out for it.

Premium Service Appointment Booking

In order to book the premium service appointment, you need to complete the online application (for my ILR I used the new visa immigration website), it will be the last stage of the online application process providing you with two options to submit your application. The two options are Standard and Super Priority service and the type of visa’s this service is offered to are:

• Tier 2 or 4 visa
• Tier 2 or 4 dependant – applying on your own
• Tier 1 or 5 dependant – applying on your own
• Remain in the UK with family – applying in the partner, family life as a partner or private life in the UK routes
• Indefinite Leave to Remain
• And a few more.

What does this mean for you?

This changes the way the visa appointments used to work so instead of the appointments opening 45 business days in advance they now open within 5 working days of making your application. They encouraged to go to an appointment as soon as possible and will receive a reminder after 15 working days if you have not attended an appointment.

If you want to visit one of these service points you can book an appointment:

• up to 28 days in advance
• the same day
• the next day
• outside of standard office hours

If your application included family members or dependents you will need to attend the appointment at the same time.

What are the Decision Timelines for the New Premium Service?

The changes have introduced a new timeline for when a decision is made on your application, the choices are:

• Standard service – get a decision within 6 months
• Super priority – get a decision in 24 hours
• Read more about processing times here.

Example of the new application

Visit Gov.uk to commence your application, depending on the visa type you will be directed to the appropriate form you need to fill out. Once you commence the application you will be presented with an information page about your visa which will detail information about; biometric information, healthcare Surcharge, before you start applying, what you need to know, how to apply and application fees.

Once you’ve completed the application and declaration you will get to the payments section.

The first step of this process is providing your evidence and biometrics information. Between 5th November and 29th November you will be offered the choice between the existing service or the new UK VCAS. This is still displaying on some applications. You will need to choose the new service as the existing service no longer exists.

The next step is choosing the service, to recap the decision timeline is:

• Standard service – get a decision within 6 months
• Super priority – get a decision in 24 hours

The moment of spending your money is now here! Put in those card details.

The last page is further actions will cover booking appointment, downloading the checklist and application.

Booking Your Appointment

Once you complete your online form and pay the fees you will be emailed an access code. This is used to book an appointment through the online portal on the UKVCAS website.

This is also the portal you will self upload your support evidence.

What Locations Can You Get a Premium Service Appointment?

Before the changes there only used to be 7 Premium Service Centres now there is now 57 UKVCAS centres across the UK:

• 6 core service centres offering free appointments – Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Cardiff, Belfast and Croydon.
• 50 enhanced service centres offering charged appointments so it will be £60 for appointments between 10 am – 4 pm, £100 for weekday appointments outside of these hours, or £125 for weekend appointments.
• 1 premium lounge for a fee of £200 (or £260 outside of10 am –4 pm hours). Choosing this service won’t improve your application processing time.

To find your closest centre use the location tool here. When you are booking the appointments the location tool will also appear providing you with the 4 closest centres. If you wish to find another location then enter the postcode of that area and it will show you the centres to that area.

For example, my closest centres in London are:

• Croydon Core Service Point – Bedford Point, 35 Dingwall Road Croydon
• Wimbledon Service Point – Wimbledon Library, 35 Wimbledon Hill Road London
• Victoria Service Point – Regus, 52 Grosvenor Gardens London
• Premium Lounge Service Point – 20 Mark Lane London

Indefinite Leave to Remain Premium Service Fees

The fee structure for the Premium Service was £800 which has now been transferred to Super Priority service (new arrangements).

You can see the latest fee list here.

Additionally, you can purchase the following services:

Enhanced service points

Basically, this is scanning and evidence checking services and cost £60 per person. I suggest doing this yourself instead of paying for the third party to do this on your behalf.

Out of hours appointments

This service was previously offered and is just appointments out of the core hours. Prices start from £100 per person on top of any other appointment-based fees.

Next day appointments

As the title states, they now offer next day appointments for £100 per person on top of any other appointment-based fees.

Same day appointments

For urgent applications you can now get a same day appointment. Prices start from £100 per person on top of any other appointment-based fees.

How Long Does a Premium Visa Appointment Take?

I would allow 30 to 60 minute for the appointment. The appointment will just the enrolment of your biometrics and a check supporting evidence has scanned correctly. If you have uploaded/scanned the documents, then it will be simply getting you biometrics done and you will be out the door.

Once that is complete the decision process will be kicked off and should take 24 hours. I would allow up to three days and if you’ve not heard back by then you can call UKVI.

Preparation for the Appointment

The preparation before the appointment is just ensuring that you have your application completed, booking confirmation, checklist and all the documentation prepared. Make sure have certified translations of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

With the new service you will be told what you need to bring to your appointment when you submit your application, this will include:

• appointment confirmation
• passport or travel document
• supporting evidence (bring the originals to the appointment)

When I submitted mine there was no electronic way of uploading the information, so I brought mine all neatly separated into different files and categories to make it easier for the caseworker. It was all just placed in one folder, so it wasn’t necessary to prepare this. I would still put the documents in order as per the checklist to make it easier when someone is reviewing your case if you are bringing physical documentation.

I’ve read horror stories with the new appointment service that their paper scanners didn’t work. Upload all the docs *before* the appointment and take the original documents to the appointment. No need to take photocopies of docs or passport photos.

What to Expect During a Premium Service Appointment at the Visas and Immigration

Since my appointment, the process has changed (I have included that below), the new process will be:

• show your appointment confirmation (you will get this as an email containing a QR code) and ID documents to confirm your appointment – even if you pre-upload the documents you still need to bring the originals to the appointment.
• enrol your biometric information (fingerprints, photograph) and digital signature
• submit your supporting evidence (unless you choose to self-upload this)
• show your passport or travel document and have your identity checked
• speak to a member of staff who will check that your biometric information has been successfully enrolled and your passport and supporting evidence has scanned correctly

Afterwards you are supposed to get an email confirming you’re biometric was enrolled but I’ve never received any confirmation stating this.

Later, depending on the service you choose you should get a letter from the Home Office on that your application was approved or denied. If approved then you will receive by post your BRP and approval letter.

Useful Links

• UKVCAS
• Immigration forums on people’s experience – Post 1 and Post 2

Video Update on UK Visa Premium Service Appointments

Video on the UKVCAS Biometric Appointment

More UK Visa Articles

• A Helpful Guide to Applying for UK Citizenship by Naturalisation
• A Guide to Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (Via UK Ancestry)
• Everything You Need to Know About the Life in the UK Test

Let me know of your experience in the comments below!

Moving to the UK

By Kat · Sat July 2018, my sister 2020

Somewhere on your settlement or citizenship document list it says Life in the UK test. Twenty-four questions, 45 minutes, 18 right to pass, £50 a go. You sit it once. The same pass covers indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and citizenship, so it’s one test, not two.

The irony is that British people fail it. Two thirds of the 270 people the University of Essex put through a version of it in 2021 failed, most of them UK citizens who’d done the history at school. The questions are that nuanced. Which cricketer did what in 1950 isn’t in most people’s heads.

I sat mine in Croydon on 3 July 2018, a couple of weeks before my ILR application went in. I gave myself a month to study and did it in three days on practice tests. I still remember three of the questions. My sister sat hers in 2020 and had her result by email before she’d left the building. Both of us passed first time.

Here’s what I’ll take you through, in order:

• booking it and the name rule that gets people turned away at the door
• what the questions are like, with the three I still remember
• how I studied in three days, what I’d buy and what I wouldn’t
• the day itself, from the security guard to the result
• what a pass looks like now and how you use it twice

Covers	Booking, studying for and sitting the test once, then using the pass for both ILR and citizenship.
Have up front	£50 a sitting, the official handbook and the online practice tests, which were £6 for a year when I paid.
Do first	Book it, at whichever centre is least faff to get to. The pass doesn’t run out, so there’s no reason to wait.
Works for	You, if the test is on your list and you want to know what it’s actually like in the room before you walk in.

Booking the test

You book on the gov.uk test page. It’s £50, you have to book at least three days ahead and there are over 30 centres, so pick the one that’s least faff to get to. I chose Croydon because it was closest to where I lived.

The ID you can use, per the gov.uk list:

• a valid passport, which is what I used
• a valid national ID card from the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
• a photo travel document, not an emergency one
• a biometric residence permit (BRP) or card, as long as your test is within 24 months of the expiry printed on it and before 31 December 2026
• your eVisa, shown with a share code

Bring the original. A photo of it on your phone doesn’t count and they take your photo on the day too. The ID you booked with is the whole list now. No proof of address. I used my passport both times I needed ID for this and I’ve never had an eVisa, so I can’t tell you what the share-code check looks like at the desk.

Cancelling. You get the £50 back if you cancel at least 72 hours before. Inside three days you get nothing, whether you cancel or rearrange.

Who doesn’t sit it. Under 18, 65 or over, anyone with a long-term physical or mental condition that stops them (there’s an exemption form or a doctor’s letter) and anyone who’s passed it before. Australians don’t skip it. The English test you’re exempt from. This one you’re not.

What the questions are like

Twenty-four questions in 45 minutes. Some are true or false, the rest are multiple choice with four options. Every one of them comes out of the official handbook, the Guide for New Residents. You need 18 right to pass.

The three I still remember, years later:

• What year was the Great Fire of London? 1666. I’d walked past the Monument to it so many times on the way to work that this one was free.
• What was the name of the cloned sheep? Dolly.
• What was moved from Hyde Park after the Great Exhibition and where did it go? The Crystal Palace, to Sydenham. I was living in Crystal Palace at the time and had been to the little museum there, so I knew it. The palace reopened on Sydenham Hill in 1854 and burnt down in 1936.

The rest I don’t remember, which tells you something. I got very good at guessing which of four answers looked most like a handbook sentence.

You don’t get told your score. You either pass or you don’t. Mine was a receptionist calling my name. My sister’s, in 2020, was an email.

How I studied in three days

My study tactics are terrible. I’m notorious for last-minute cramming, it’s how I got through school and my teachers always said I’d have done better with more time. Probably. But by how much?

What I did in those three days was the online practice tests, over and over, until I’d memorised the answers. I read the handbook at points, but the tests are what got me through. My sister, who is not one for pub quizzes or general knowledge, did the same method for a couple of weeks and passed first go.

What to buy. One book and the online tests. That’s it.

• The handbook. Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents is the only thing the test is drawn from. It’s also on.
• The online practice tests. I used lifeintheuk.net, which was £6 for a year when I paid. The official shop now sells its own practice app and an e-learning subscription too. I never used those, so I can’t tell you which is better. The £6 one did the job for both of us.

I bought three books: the handbook, the official practice questions and a study guide. Two of them sat on the shelf. Buy the handbook and pay for the tests.

The day itself

Mine was 10am on a Tuesday, 3 July 2018, at the learndirect centre in Croydon. I got there 15 minutes early.

• The door. A security guard took my name and asked if I wanted the bathroom first. I was confused until he explained: once you’ve checked in at the desk you can’t go, presumably so no one’s hiding in there with the answers. Go before you check in.
• The sheet. I was handed a laminated sheet telling me to allow an hour and a half to two hours. It was nothing like that. About 45 minutes door to door, unless you need help, say if English isn’t your first language. They let me in at my slot and not before. Someone walked me through the rules first.
• Check-in. After about five minutes the receptionist called me up and checked my first and last name, birthplace and nationality against my passport. This is the moment the name rule bites.
• The locker. Everything went in a locker except my passport.
• The room. The supervisor checked my ID again and logged me onto a computer. There was a headset if you wanted the questions read to you.
• The test. Four practice questions first, which don’t count, then the 24 and the 45-minute clock. My screen froze a few times and I had to hit F5 each time, convinced I was about to lose my answers. I didn’t. Without the freezing I’d have been done in ten minutes.
• The wait. Back to the waiting room, bag out of the locker, sit. Tapping my foot, waiting for my name, the way you wait for an exam result or at the doctor’s. The most stressful ten minutes of the whole application.
• The result. The receptionist called my name and handed me a pass letter to sign. The woman next to me didn’t pass. She was bawling her eyes out in the lift and I’ve never forgotten it.

What’s different now, from my sister’s sitting in 2020: they take your photo on the day and the result comes by email, within about ten to twenty minutes of finishing. No receptionist, no waiting room theatre. You can rip the Band-Aid off sooner, which is kinder. I’d still have been tapping my foot, though.

What the pass is and how you use it twice

Pass today and you get a reference number, not a certificate to lose. It goes into your ILR form and later your citizenship one. The Home Office checks it against the test provider’s records.

Mine was a paper letter, signed on the day, because I sat it before the switch to reference numbers in December 2019. Here’s mine.

I put that letter in with my ILR application a couple of weeks later and attached it again for citizenship in August 2019. No one has asked to see it since. It lives with my ILR evidence and I’d keep yours the same way, number or paper.

If you don’t pass. You can rebook as many times as you need and you pay £50 each time. There’s no waiting period between goes any more, but you’re still looking at the three-day booking lead and whatever slot the centre has.

Learning it by going out

Honestly, most of what I knew walking into that room came from weekends, not the three days.

The Monument, by the Tube station of the same name, is the Great Fire, 1666. The daffodil is Wales and the thistle is Scotland, which you pick up on a walking tour without trying. In Cambridge I learnt how Henry VIII came to found Trinity College. The Crystal Palace museum is a small place in south London and it answered one of my 24 questions.

I’d been everywhere from Northern Ireland to Scotland to Wales by the time I sat it. The castles and the museums are the handbook with the walls still standing. If you’ve got a spare Saturday before your test, Stonehenge and the British Museum’s Roman rooms are where a lot of the early chapters happened.

Where this sits

The pass from this test goes in with indefinite leave to remain and comes up again a year later on applying for British citizenship, which is the order mine went. Get it done and both of those pages get easier.

If you’re further back than that, start at moving to the UK from Australia: the visa, the money before you’ve earned a pound here and the Australian admin. The test is a long way down that road, but it’s the one bit of it you can get out of the way years early.

FAQ

The whole process, on video