What Countries Can I Visit With UK ILR?

The United Kingdom does not grant long-term visas, instead UK visas are mostly short-term visas and valid for 6 months.

Depending on the country, any of the UK visas listed can be used:

• UK Visitor Visa (Standard visitor and Short-term study)
• UK Student Visa
• UK Work Visa
• UK Transit Visa
• UK Family Visa (Spouse)
• UK Residence Permit (ILR and BRP)

It is strongly advised applicants waiting for a pending ILR visa or residence permit do not travel outside the United Kingdom during this period, otherwise their application will be invalidated and they will have to reapply and pay the fees again.

However, once you have got your Indefinite Leave to Remain granted and have already applied for citizenship status, you are permitted to travel outside of the UK while your citizenship application is pending.

When applying for citizenship you are able to send a copy of your passport with your application and keep your physical passport with you, allowing you to travel.

If you are deported from the UK your indefinite leave will be invalidated. It can also be revoked if you are unable to be deported due to refugee status or are no longer a refugee, or obtained ILR by deception.

Your ILR will lapse if you stay outside the UK for 2+ continuous years, or 5+ if you have been granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.

There are a total of 14 British overseas territories, formerly known as British dependent territories.

There are:

• Anguilla
• Bermuda
• British Antarctic Territory
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Falkland Islands
• Gibraltar
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• St Helena and its dependencies
• Turks and Caicos Islands

These territories have a constitutional link with the UK and are under its formal control but they do not form part of the UK. They are self-governing and have separate jurisdictions but rely on the UK for matters such as foreign policy or defence.

If you are a British citizen and you would like to move to one of the British overseas territories, you will have to apply for a visa.

As a British citizen, you have to go through all the immigration procedures that other foreign nationals go through before emigrating to these territories.

You will need to have spent at least 5 years in the UK before you are eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and a further 12 months to be able to apply for British citizenship.

When an individual has successfully received their ILR status, they do not receive their extended citizenship rights right away. This only applies to certain visa routes and you will need to ensure that the one you are on is applicable.

Once you have your British citizenship, you will then gain your extended rights. Only then will you have the same rights as a British citizen.

If you have a UK visa, you will only be able to travel within the UK. If you wish to visit, live or work in another country, then you will have to apply for a visa directly from that country.

However, if you wanted to relocate within Europe, you would now need a visa from that country.

Currently, British citizens are only permitted to stay in a European country for up to 90 days, If you wish to relocate further afield, then you would need a visa from that country.

EEA nationals and their family members can apply for UK Citizenship.

If you are a British Overseas Territories Citizen, a British National Overseas citizen, a British Overseas citizen, a British subject, or a British protected person then you are not a British citizen; however naturalisation is unlikely to be suitable for you as you are likely to have an alternative route to British citizenship through registration.