How to Get a UK PR from India in 2023?

The United Kingdom (UK) is arguably the most reputed international destination for international students and workers. It has a plethora of opportunities for students and professionals who wish to pursue higher studies and careers abroad. Besides an excellent academic infrastructure, the UK offers outstanding research and job opportunities and a commendable healthcare system.

With a UK PR (permanent residency), one can significantly upgrade their quality of living by residing and working in a cosmopolitan environment with world-class facilities. There are many possibilities for growth and career enhancements for UK residents. The country has witnessed a steady improvement in the rate of employment and quality of life.

All these factors make the UK an ideal place to migrate to in 2023. Therefore more and more international students are looking to earn a UK PR after completing their studies in the country.

Why migrate to the UK?

1. High-quality academics : Home to some of the best and oldest universities in the world, the UK continues to maintain a high standard in quality formal education. It provides advanced courses and curricula along with post-graduation work benefits and work visas.
2.   Demand for skilled workers: Skilled workers are highly regarded across fields and industries in the country, with more foreign employers hiring talented and well-experienced immigrants.
3. Healthcare : The UK has a robust healthcare infrastructure and is always looking for competent healthcare professionals to fortify the system. Considering that, talented immigrants in the healthcare field are offered high-package job roles.
4. IT & software sector : Talented and skilled workers are offered credible jobs in the IT sector and software industry, with more people getting employed with work visas regularly.
5. Developed economy: The UK is an already established and developed country that is growing daily. It is inviting more migrants that are skillful and proficient at working and adding to the nation’s growth.

 If you are thinking about gaining PR in the UK, read this article to get all the relevant information about the application procedure and how Indian students and workers can get PR in the UK.

Click to know more about : Top 5 in-demand jobs in UK   

Getting a PR for UK Residency

With a processing time limit of around five years, the application process for UK Permanent Residency (PR) requires considerable patience and dedication. That said, if you are keen on staying in the UK permanently, then your efforts will be definitely worth it.

Following is a comprehensive guide to obtaining PR in the UK as per the standard UK immigration rules.

Immigration Programs in the UK

The government of the UK provides different visa types and immigration programs for immigrants worldwide. The type of visa to opt for would depend on an individual’s purpose of travel and intentions of migrating.

The UK government offers a variety of visa categories and immigration programs for immigrants from all around the world. The visa type to opt for would depend on the UK visitor's objectives and varies depending on whether they intend to immigrate.

The UK visas come under three categories:  

• Tier 1: Highly qualified foreigners
• Tier 2: Skilled foreign workers with a job offer in a shortage area
• Tier 5: Youth mobility and temporary foreign workers

The Tier 1 (Highly qualified foreigners) visa category includes the following sub-categories:    

• Exceptional Talent Visa
• Investor Visa
• Entrepreneur Visa
• Graduate Entrepreneur Visa

The Tier 2 (Skilled foreign workers with a job offer in a shortage area) visa category includes the following sub-categories:    

• Intra-company Transfer Visa
• Sportsperson Visa
• Minister of Religion Visa

The Tier 5 (Youth mobility and temporary foreign workers) visa category includes the following sub-categories:    

• Temporary Worker Visa
• Youth Mobility Scheme Visa

Eligibility criteria to migrate to the UK with PR

• Applicant must be at least 18 years of age
• Must have cleared the English language proficiency test    
• Must have sufficient proof of funds
• Have scored at least 70 points to qualify
• Carry a valid job offer (in the case of skilled workers) or Letter of acceptance (in the case of students going to study in the UK)

Requisite paperwork for immigration to the UK

• A copy of the Tier 1 General Visa sponsorship (with reference ID or number)
• English language test score or any other proof of English language proficiency
• Bank statements and/or any other proof of funds
• A valid passport (must have at least one empty page)
• Copy of any expired passports
• Health certificates
• Document of criminal history, if any

PR in the UK after study?

If you work in the UK after completing your studies, you can have a Tier 1, Tier 2, Skilled Worker, or International Sportsperson visa. Hence, apply for your PR accordingly. To get a PR in the UK after finishing studies there, you must have spent at least five years living and working there. A PR after study in UK also makes international students eligible to apply for British citizenship. Indian students may apply for permanent residency in the UK in the following situations:

• They work in the UK
• They have a family in the UK
• They are a Commonwealth citizen
• They are returning to the UK after having indefinite leave to remain previously
• They have served the armed forces
• They qualify for either discretionary leave or humanitarian protection as a refugee

Eligibility Criteria for PR in the UK for International Students

To be eligible for a PR in the UK, you must first have a valid visa and complete the necessary financial requirements after completing masters-level education in the UK. To qualify for PR in the UK, international students must meet the following requirements:

• Must have lived and worked in the UK for at least five years.
• Must have a job from the official list of approved employers.
• Must meet the minimum salary requirements, i.e. £25,600 per year or £20,480 per year (when you are paid less) or £10.10 per hour.
• Must be needed for their job and continue to meet the salary requirements even after getting indefinite leave to remain.
• Have taken the “Life in the UK Test”.
• Fulfill the English language requirements or have completed a degree taught in English.

Cost of Acquiring PR for the UK

Usually, permanent residency applications filed in the United Kingdom take six months to approve. For an individual PR or ILR (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK, the application processing fee is £2,389. For your fingerprints and other biometric information, you will be charged £19.20.

If you apply in person, you will have to pay a substantially higher fee. However, the benefit of applying in person is that you can get a response to your application the same day and don't have to wait up to six months for it to be processed.

If you want to get a quicker response to your application, you can opt for one of the following services:    

• Priority service : Through this service, you will receive a decision within five working days. To use this service, you will have to pay an additional £500. The total application fee for this will add up to £2,889.
• Super priority service : If you avail of this service, you will obtain a statement the next day after providing your biometric data. This service costs £800. The total application fee for this service would be £3,189.

Conclusion

Getting a permanent residency in the UK is possible for Indian and other international students who meet the official requirements. There is no reason to prevent you from receiving a PR in the UK if you enroll in a UK university or course, have top-notch grades and degree, and are talented in your line of work. Indeed, obtaining a PR in the UK after finishing higher education and working one’s way up can give a fundamentally new and positive direction to a student's life.

The Edmissions team is here to provide you with help throughout the college application process. Before you submit your application to your desired college or university, it is recommended that you get in touch with a Edmissions specialist by registering on the website edmissions.com . To learn more about application processing, contact our Edmissions specialists at [email protected] .    

 For a quick overview related to study abroad, click here