Thursday 5 December 2024

Applications submitted from within the UK

If you submit an application from within the UK for permission to stay (including settlement), you must not leave the Common Travel Area (CTA) which includes the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland until a decision has been made. This is because where a decision on an application for permission to stay has not been made and an applicant travels outside the CTA, their application will be treated as withdrawn on the date they left the CTA. This can have serious consequences if your immigration permission has expired and your right to remain in the UK is dependent on the pending application.

Applications submitted from outside the UK

If you have submitted a UK immigration application from outside the UK, you may travel while your application is pending. You will still have your passport if you provided your biometrics using the UK Immigration: ID Check app or were able to purchase a ‘Keep My Passport While Applying’ service.

If you are a non-visa national or a visa national and hold a valid Visitor visa, you may be able to visit the UK while your application is pending, however you must satisfy the immigration authorities at the border of your intention to enter as a Visitor. If you have an application pending for long term immigration permission, you may be asked additional questions. Caution should therefore be exercised if travelling to the UK as a Visitor while waiting for a decision on an application made overseas.

If your application is approved while you are in the UK and you are not required to resubmit your passport to the overseas visa application centre for endorsement, you must still leave the UK and re-enter in order to activate your new immigration permission.

Applications for citizenship

If you have applied to naturalise or register as a British citizen, you may travel outside the CTA while your application is pending.

Get in touch

If you have any questions about travelling while your application is pending, please refer to our website, contact your assigned LDI lawyer, or email enquiries@lauradevine.com