This section will be covering everything we currently know about visas to come to the UK and to stay in the UK. It will also cover visa information that we know about other countries as well.
We are not Visa experts so if you are having problems or need to speak to anybody about visas, we highly recommend you speak to the following people.
Voyage Relocations – Michael who owns and runs Voyage is very well known in our community for keeping so many of us in the country! He is also wonderful at making sure your visa applications to get here are successful. If it is possible for you to stay here or be here – he can help you!
A specialist in Tier 2 and sponsorship, Relationships (FLR M and EEA)Indefinite Leave to Remain (Set O or Set M)Extending visas (Tier 1, UK Ancestral, EEA, FLR(M) visas and of course the famous Tier 5 working holiday visa! He is also happy to review your applications so that you have everything in order!
Drop him an email at info@voyagerelocations.com or call 0203 170 8848
We also work with VisaCheck UK -an immigration and visa advice company with up-front pricing that is tailored to your needs. They can help you through a successful application, even if you think you don’t comply with UK Home Office requirements. Their advisers have over a decade of experience with Tiers 1, 2, 4, 5, Ancestry, Spousal and Dependent visas, along with Citizenship, Permanent Residency or Indefinite Leave to Remain applications. They offer appointments outside of typical office hours, or can check your application and documents and provide advice remotely. See their website for further details (https://visacheck.co.uk/), email (admin@visacheck.co.uk) or give call on 07392808294.
I NEED HELP TO MAKE SURE MY TIER 5/ANCESTRY/OTHER VISA IS OK FOR ME TO SUBMIT TO THE HOME OFFICE
Do not worry, we have a NEW Visa checking service! Not 100% sure your Tier 5 or Ancestry Visa is going to get accepted at the final hurdle? Voyage Relocations are offering a checking service to make sure your application gets through without the potential rejection issues. It’s a small investment for your piece of mind! They offer very fast turnaround on this so that you can get planning your adventure in the UK! Looking for a quick check on other applications, Voyage can help and discuss these on a case by case basis.Please contact info@voyagerelocations.com call 0203 170 8848
CAN I STAY AFTER MY TIER 5 VISA DATE
NO. You have other options but you cannot get a new T5 or overstay. There are no extensions to the T5 working holiday visa.
Ignore **ALL** “advice” you will get from others on being able to stay 30/90 days more (untrue) or that it’s fine to overstay (NOT a safe/clever/legal option!!) The date on your visa/BRP is not for guidance, it’s a definite end date. Overstaying may affect travel to other countries as well, and the UK Border Agency isn’t known for letting things slide.
Do you have UK ancestry? Can you get sponsored through work? Want to marry a UK citizen? These are other ways to stay here. If in doubt, contact the experts on the top of this page.
CAN I APPLY FOR MY YOUTH MOBILITY VISA FROM INSIDE THE UK?
No chance mate. You need to apply from outside the UK. The rules seemed to have changed and you can apply in Europe. These changes took us all by surprise but seems to be working for many people, here is a link from Aussies in London that explains how this can be done.
Maggie from our group applied from Albania and has a wonderfully detailed way to do this. A highly recommended way to cheaply do it AND explore an awesome country!
HOW DOES THE TIER 5 EXTENSION WORK? ANY ADVICE?
Check out this mean write up by Aritaku!
CAN I COME RIGHT BACK IN ON A HOLIDAY VISA WHEN MY TIER 5 VISA RUNS OUT?
We have e-Gates. This means you do not have to see a physical person, therefore you may be able to get back in to spend time here before you fly home. You MUST use them, the airports and borders will all tel Kiwis to use these every time. We are still unclear on if the e-Gates will identify that you are coming back but at this stage it is all good to reenter. See next question below for clarification if you need to see a human.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I TRY TO REENTER AND MY E-GATES TELL ME TO GO TO A BORDER GUARD?
**Do not stress** This is exactly what all of us had to go through for the last 20 years! The main thing is they want to make sure you are honestly coming in to exercise the right for the holiday visa that you’re attempting to come in on. These visas are 6 months long and are given on arrival (usually by e-gates)
If you are worried by this then be prepared and make sure you have the following on hand if your eGates experience is rejected:
+ Ticket out of the UK (anywhere)
+ Proof of funds to pay for your time here on holiday
+ Proof of bookings while you are here on holiday
+ If possible, a P45, to prove you are not working here on your return (the main thing they reject/are worried about)
+ Anything else to prove you are a genuine holiday maker here!
If you see a human at the border and they are making life tough for you, having all this with you should help. After all, your visa states you should have done all work/travel within your visa length, so they may be suspicious that you’re continuing your work.
I ARRIVED BEFORE MY TIER 5 VISA STARTED, WHAT SHOULD I DO??
Do I need to leave the UK and reenter? We now have e-Gates, so your passport will not be stamped when coming into the UK and ALL the signs at all London airports will tell you to go directly to the eGates. You can come in beforehand and according to people on our group at the moment you do not need to leave and come back again. There is some conflicting information that you do not need to do this, we cannot be 100% on if it will be OK or not but with cheap flights being available all the time it is not a huge issue. You can always ask our experts on the top of the page!
BRP PICK UP
You have to enter the UK within 90 days of your visa start date, here is the guidance on pick up times.
BRP PICK UP AT THE POST OFFICE – IN CASE YOU ARE ASKED FOR A STAMP!
The staff should not need to ask for this, however here is some solid information in case they do!
COLLECT BRP FROM DIFFERENT POST OFFICE
Here is all the information you need to pick it up from another branch
CAN SOMEBODY ELSE PICK UP MY BRP?
Yep, in some cases. But read the section at this link “Nominate someone else to collect your BRP”
LOST/STOLEN BRP (Biometric Residence Permit)
Way way too many of you lose your BRP cards. It’s a sad fact of life! However you can get it replaced at this link here.
CAN I TRAVEL/TRAVEL BACK INTO THE UK WITHOUT A BRP?
Yes. You are a resident of the UK and you will be using the e-gates with your passport at all times. Once you know you have lost it/had it stolen, apply for the replacement and if you have any documents from the Home Office acknowledging this, have these to hand. If you don’t, do not stress. If your e-gates refuse you, just speak calmly to a border guard and explain you have already applied for the replacement card. They will look you up on their system and let you in. Do not let their grumpiness worry you, they must let you in.
HOW TO GET YOUR UK ANCESTRY VISA!
Alexandra have created a cool YouTube video on how to do this!
Here is another STEP BY STEP process on getting an ancestry visa.
And another list of things to do to get this Visa from Claudia
Here is a guide to switching from Tier 5 to your partners UK Ancestry Visa (Unmarried)
HOW TO GET A SPOUSE VISA
You can ask Amber and read this post to find out how! And read this one too!
HOW DO I GET INDEFINITE LEAVE TO REMAIN (ILR)?
Here is a very handy web link with the information for you!
HOW DO I GET UK CITIZENSHIP?
We have a fully descriptive link here on how to go through it!
HOW DO I GET MY TIER 5/WORKING HOLIDAY VISA?
It’s a pretty straight forward visa compared to the others, but here is one guide to help you!
And here is another one! And just in case, here is one from 2022!
NOTE, these are older articles and do not reflect the visa changes from late June 2023 that make the visas 3 years long with a 35 year old age limit! If in doubt, ask the KIL Chat group!
You can apply for the Tier 5 visa via this link here!
I WANT TO REPLACE/RENEW MY NEW ZEALAND PASSPORT IN LONDON
Sure! It’s really super quick, even quicker if you get a Real Me account. (which you can set up in NZ, not out of NZ) But still very quick regardless. Here is the link with all the info for you to apply!
I WANT TO COME TO NZ ON MY BRITISH PASSPORT NOT MY KIWI ONE
It’s annoying if you choose this as you will need to apply for a NZeTa before you can board the plane (and pay for it!!) Or pay for an endorsement to go into your UK passport. Either way, it’s annoying and easier to come in on the NZ passport. And waiting times for new passports are really short too! Here is a little conversation about this on the page!