10 other ways to get permission to live in the UK on your own

There are several ways to obtain permission to live in the UK on your own, depending on your individual circumstances, qualifications, and eligibility criteria. Here are some common pathways:

1. Work Visas: If you have a job offer from a UK employer, you can apply for a work visa. The type of work visa you can apply for depends on the type of work you’ll be doing and your skill level. Some common work visa categories include the Skilled Worker Visa, Intra-Company Transfer Visa, and Global Talent Visa.

2. Study Visas: If you’re accepted into a recognized educational institution in the UK, you can apply for a study visa. The most common study visa is the Student Visa. This allows you to study full-time in the UK and may provide options for part-time work.

3. Entrepreneur and Investor Visas: If you have a substantial amount of money to invest or start a business in the UK, you might be eligible for an Entrepreneur Visa or Investor Visa. These visas typically require meeting financial investment and business plan requirements.

4. Innovator and Start-up Visas: These visas are designed for individuals who want to start innovative businesses in the UK. The Innovator Visa is for more experienced entrepreneurs, while the Start-up Visa is for those starting their first business.

5. Family Visas: If you have family members who are settled in the UK (British citizens or those with indefinite leave to remain), you might be eligible for a family visa. This includes joining a partner, spouse, parent, or child who is already in the UK.

6. Ancestry Visa: If you have a grandparent who was born in the UK, you might be eligible for an Ancestry Visa. This visa allows you to live, work, and study in the UK for up to 5 years.

7. Refugee and Humanitarian Protection: If you have been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection, you may have permission to live and work in the UK.

8. EU Settlement Scheme (For EEA Nationals): If you are a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, and you were living in the UK before December 31, 2020, you might need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to secure your immigration status in the UK.

9. Long Residence: If you have lived in the UK legally for a continuous period of 10 years, you might be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) based on long residence.

10. Dependent of Someone with Permission to Stay: If you’re a dependent of someone who already has permission to stay in the UK (e.g., spouse, partner, child), you might be eligible for a dependent visa.