UK Residence Permit

Although Britain has now left the European Union, the EU Settlement Scheme remains open for those already resident in the UK holding ‘pre-settled status’. German citizens meeting this criteria can apply for ‘settled status’; however, they must have been resident in Great Britain prior to 31st December 2020; or have an appropriate and eligible family member resident at that time.

In some cases, applications to the EU Settlement Scheme will still be accepted if there are ‘reasonable grounds’ for a late application. It is recommended that in such circumstances applicants seek legal advice. Total Law can help with this; call us on 0333 305 9375 to talk through your options.

If a German national does not meet the criteria to apply for permanent residence under the EU Settlement Scheme, they must follow one of the below visa routes.

German nationals may be able to apply for permanent residence in the United Kingdom if they have a family member who already holds settled status or ILR. In order to be eligible under a family route, applicants must:

• Be present in the UK on a valid spouse visa, child visa or adult dependant relative visa
• Have an appropriate family member hold settled status or ILR (usually a spouse, a child or an adult dependent)
• Meet the relevant relationship requirements (for partners, this means the couple must live together, even if they are unmarried)
• Meet the financial requirements (these vary dependent on circumstance but in most cases will require a combined income between partners of at least £29,000)
• Pass a ‘Life In The UK’ test on British society, history and culture
• Meet the appropriate English language requirements.

How long the applicant must have been resident in the UK prior to applying for permanent residency via the family route depends on the visa type they already hold, but is usually a minimum of two or five years.

In some cases, a German national may be eligible to apply for permanent residence in the UK as a result of their professional visa status. Work visas allow for the legal entry to and work within the UK. Several work visas currently allow the holder to apply for permanent residency after a five year period. They are:

• Skilled Worker visa
• Scale-up visa
• Global Talent visa
• Health and care worker visa
• Tier 2 International Sportsperson visa
• International Agreement visa as part of a diplomatic household.

In the case of an ILR application being made through the work visa route, the applicant must:

• Have been legally resident in the UK for the required amount of time and committed no criminal or immigration offences during that period
• Continue to be sponsored by their UK-based employer
• Continue to be working in a qualifying job
• Meet the minimum income requirements
• Pass a ‘Life In The UK’ test on British society, history and culture
• Meet the appropriate English language requirements.

It should be noted that those present in the UK on a work visa that doesn’t allow for a permanent residence application route may be able to convert their visa into a class that does. Total Law’s team of immigration solicitors can advise – call us on 0333 305 9375 to discuss.

German citizens present in the United Kingdom under a valid business visa may be eligible to apply for permanent residence. This route is most commonly taken by holders of the Innovator Founder Visa, which offers a direct route to ILR application after just three years – one of the quickest routes available.

To be eligible for permanent residence when in the UK with a business visa, the applicant must:

• Have been legally resident in the UK for the required amount of time and committed no criminal or immigration offences during that period
• Have a new endorsement for the business they have established in the country
• Pass a ‘Life In The UK’ test on British society, history and culture
• Meet the appropriate English language requirements.

It should be noted that despite common misconception, the Start-up visa does not allow a route for a permanent residence application. However, holders of a Start-up visa may be able to convert their visa class to a business visa that does offer a route to ILR.

The Tier 1 Entrepreneur and Investor visas offer routes to ILR in some situations – it is advised that holders seek legal advice to get more information. Contact Total Law on 0333 305 9375 to discuss.

Other routes to apply for permanent residency in the United Kingdom include the Commonwealth ‘Right To Abode’ pathway and a specific application route for Stateless persons. As Germany is not a Commonwealth state, neither of these routes are currently open for German nationals.

Being granted permanent UK residency does not automatically entitle the holder to British citizenship. Instead, they must apply separately to become a British national after they have held permanent residence (ILR) status for a minimum of a one-year period.

British citizenship holds its own eligibility requirements, although it should be noted that those who qualify for permanent residence are unlikely not to qualify for citizenship unless their circumstances change drastically during the one-year period.

It should be noted that as both the UK and Germany permit dual citizenship, a German national will not have to renounce their existing nationality to become a British citizen.

As of 2025, the fee to apply for permanent residence in the UK is £3,029 per applicant. There is no lower rate for a family member of a settled person, even if they are a minor.

This cost is subject to frequent price rises and so it is advised that applicants seek out the newest possible advice before applying.

Additional fees can be paid for an expedited decision-making process. £500 per application files a five working-day turnaround and £1000, a one working day turnaround. These services are available subject to demand and only in uncomplicated cases unlikely to result in complex administration.