We wanted to use this Post to help you, as an OISC adviser or immigration lawyer, navigate Home Office Policy Guidance and Instructions it provides to its caseworkers. These documents are different to and separate from the Immigration Rules. We hope that this content will help you quickly access the Home Office Policy Guidance you are looking for.

By way of background, the Home Office publishes policy guidance in most or all areas of immigration law and nationality law. In some cases they come in the form of webpages, sometimes in the form of general “guidance” and in other cases in the form of “instructions” to Home Office caseworkers.

Please note that immigration law is fast-changing and there is no guarantee that the guidance will be up-to-date when you click on the links. To stay up-to-date with immigration law, check our CPD Courses and see our wider immigration law training for our full suite of courses.

Please see below for the different categories of Home Office Policy Guidance.

Visitors

Visit guidance version 11.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1019544/Visit.pdf
Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor https://www.gov.uk/standard-visitor
Considering human rights claims in visit applications Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/424016/considering_hr_claims_from_visitors_guidance_v1_0_ext.pdf
Transit Version 5.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/939065/transit-guidance-v5.0ext.pdf

WORKING/BUSINESS/INVESTMENT

Skilled Worker and Intra-Company Transfer Worker

Skilled Worker visa https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa
Skilled Worker caseworker guidance Version 4.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1042120/Skilled_worker.pdf
Intra-company visas https://www.gov.uk/intracompany-transfer-worker-visa
Intra-Company Routes Version 3.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/983271/intra-company-guidance-v3.0.pdf
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Sponsor a Skilled Worker
Version 12/21 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1043575/Sponsor-a-Skilled-Worker-12-21.pdf
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Sponsor an Intra-Company worker Version 10/21 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1025238/Sponsor-an-Intra-Company-worker-10-21 003_.pdf

T2 Minister of Religion

Minister of Religion visa (T2) https://www.gov.uk/minister-of-religion-visa
T2 Minister of Religion caseworker guidance Version 2.0 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/innovator-appendix-w-workers

Innovator

Innovator visa https://www.gov.uk/innovator-visa
Innovator Version 5.0 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/innovator-appendix-w-workers

Tier 1 (Investor)

Tier 1 (Investor) of the Points Based System – Policy Guidance https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/834448/Tier_1_Investor_guidance_10_2019_v0.1_.pdf
Tier 1 (Investor) Version 18.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1038357/Tier_1 Investor_.pdf

T5 Temporary Workers

Temporary Work caseworker guidance Version 24.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1043705/Temporary_Work.pdf
Temporary Work – Creative Worker visa https://www.gov.uk/creative-worker-visa
Worker and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Sponsor a Creative Worker
Version 10/21 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1023450/Sponsor-a-Creative-Worker-10-21.pdf
Temporary Work – Charity Worker visa https://www.gov.uk/temporary-worker-charity-worker-visa
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Sponsor a Charity Worker
Version 10/21 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1024433/Sponsor-a-Charity-Worker-10-21.pdf
Temporary Work – Religious Worker visa https://www.gov.uk/religious-worker-visa
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Sponsor a Minister of Religion or Religious Worker Version 10/21 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1024249/Sponsor-MOR-Rel-Worker-10-21.pdf
Temporary Work – Government Authorised Exchange visa https://www.gov.uk/government-authorised-exchange
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Sponsor a Government Authorised Exchange worker Version 10/21 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1024674/Sponsor-a-GAE-worker-10-21.pdf
Temporary Work – International Agreement visa https://www.gov.uk/international-agreement-worker-visa
Workers and Temporary Workers: guidance for sponsors Sponsor an International Agreement worker Version 12/21 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1043442/Sponsor-an-International-Agreement-Worker-12-21.pdf
Temporary Work – Seasonal Worker visa https://www.gov.uk/seasonal-worker-visa

Youth Mobility Scheme

Youth Mobility Scheme visa https://www.gov.uk/youth-mobility
Youth Mobility Scheme Version 17.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1043433/Youth_Mobility_Scheme_1_Jan_2022.pdf

Representative of an Overseas Business

Representative of an Overseas Business visa https://www.gov.uk/representative-overseas-business
Representative of an Overseas Business Version 20.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1020725/Representative_of_an_overseas_business.pdf

Global Talent

Apply for the Global Talent visa https://www.gov.uk/global-talent
Global Talent Version 6.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1019033/Global_talent_caseworker_6_Oct_21.pdf

UK Ancestry

UK Ancestry visa https://www.gov.uk/ancestry-visa
UK Ancestry Version 19.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/978817/uk-ancestry-casework-guidance-v19.0ext.pdf

Overseas Domestic Worker visa

Overseas Domestic Worker visa https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dependent-family-members-in-work-routes- immigration-staff-guidance
Information for persons coming to the UK as an overseas domestic worker. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/730783/Overseas_Domestic_Worker_applicant_leaflet_2018_V2.1.pdf
Domestic workers who are victims of modern slavery – caseworker guidance Version 5.0 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-workers-in-private-households

British National (Overseas) visa

British National (Overseas) visa https://www.gov.uk/british-national-overseas-bno-visa
Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route Version 4.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1036455/Hong_Kong_British_National Overseas route.pdf

S2 Healthcare Visitor

Enter the UK as an S2 Healthcare Visitor https://www.gov.uk/guidance/enter-the-uk-as-an-s2-healthcare-visitor
S2 Healthcare Visitor Version 4.0 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/s2-healthcare-visitor-caseworker-guidance

Service providers from Switzerland

Apply for a Service providers from Switzerland visa https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-service-providers-from-switzerland-visa
Service providers from Switzerland Version 1.0 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/service-providers-from-switzerland-caseworker- guidance

Extension and Settlement ECAA

Turkish Businessperson visa https://www.gov.uk/turkish-business-person
Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay guidance Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/946527/turkish-ecaa-extension-v1.0ext.pdf
Indefinite leave to remain if you’re a Turkish Worker or Businessperson https://www.gov.uk/turkish-worker-business-person-settlement

Miscellaneous

Dependant family members in work routes https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dependent-family-members-in-work-routes- immigration-staff-guidance
Dependants of part 5 migrants https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dependants-of-part-5-migrants

Family

Family Migration: Appendix FM Section 1.7 Appendix Armed Forces Financial requirement Version 8.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1039148/1.7_-_Financial_requirement.pdf
Family Migration: Appendix FM Section 1.7A – Adequate maintenance and accommodation Version 10.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1039150/Appendix_FM_Section_1.7A_Adequate_maintenance_and_accommodation.pdf
Immigration Directorate Instructions Chapter 8 Section FM 3.1 July 2012 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/263239/children.pdf
Immigration Directorate Instructions Chapter 8 Section FM 3.2 July 2012 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/263240/child_gen.pdf
Immigration Directorate Instructions Chapter 8 Section 5A Annex M July 2012 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/263209/children_annex_m.pdf
Family Policy Adult dependent relatives Version 3.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1049806/Adult_dependent_relatives.pdf
Family Policy Family life (as a partner or parent), private life and exceptional circumstances Version 16.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1039000/Family_life as_a_partner_or_parent private_life_and_exceptional_circumstance s.pdf
Concession to the family Immigration Rules for granting longer periods of leave and early indefinite leave to remain Version 2 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1042405/Concession_on_longer_periods_of_leave_and_ILR.pdf
English language requirement: family members under Part 8, Appendix FM and Appendix Armed Forces Version 8.0 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/english-language-requirement-family-members

Students

Student visa https://www.gov.uk/student-visa
Child Student visa https://www.gov.uk/child-study-visa
Student and Child Student Version 3.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/976139/student-route-casework-guidance-v3.0-ext.pdf
Study English in the UK (Short-term study visa) https://www.gov.uk/visa-to-study-english
Short-term Student (English language) Version 3.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1022104/Short-term_student English_language_.pdf

Settlement

Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain
Indefinite leave to remain: calculating continuous period in UK Version 22.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/939345/calculating-continuous-period-v22.0ext.pdf
Settlement for people on a protection route (refugee status / humanitarian protection) Version 5.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1020232/Settlement_protection.pdf

British Citizenship

Guide AN https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/998195/Guide_AN_final.pdf
Booklet AN https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/384912/2903160_requirements_an_booklet.pdf
Check if you can become a British citizen https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship
Apply for citizenship if you have indefinite leave to remain or ‘settled status’ https://www.gov.uk/apply-citizenship-indefinite-leave-to-remain/apply-for-your-children
Registration as British citizen: children Version 7.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1009695/registration-as-a-british-citizen-children-v7.0ext.pdf
British overseas citizens: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-overseas-citizens-nationality-policy- guidance
British subjects: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-subjects-nationality-policy-guidance
British nationals (overseas) Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/633109/british-national-overseas-v1.0.pdf
British protected persons: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-protected-persons-nationality-policy- guidance
Historical background information on nationality (nationality guidance) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/historical-background-information-on-nationality- nationality-guidance
Requirements and considerations common to all types of British nationality (nationality guidance)
Collection:
Nationality policy: adoption Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/632057/nationality-policy-adoption-v1.0.pdf
Nationality policy: assessing ordinary residence Version 2.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/655489/Nationality-policy-assessing-ordinary-residence-v2.0EXT.pdf
Chapter 55: Deprivation and Nullity of British citizenship https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/631643/deprivation-nullity-Chapter-55.pdf
Nationality policy: domicile Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/632058/domicile-guidance-v1.0.pdf
Nationality policy: children of unmarried parents Version 3.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/786448/Nat-policy-children-of-unmarried-parents-v3-ext.pdf
Nationality policy: full capacity requirement Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/631642/nationality-policy-full-capacity-requirements-v1.0EXT.pdf
Nationality Policy: general information – all British nationals Version 2.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/963263/nationality-policy-general-information-all-british-nationals-v2.0ext.pdf
Nationality: good character requirement Version 2.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/923656/good-character-guidance-v2.0-gov-uk.pdf
Nationality policy: identity Version 2.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1036678/Nationality_policy_-_identity.pdf
Nationality procedures: levels of decision making (Formerly chapter 1) Version 5.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/760591/nationality-procedures-levels-of-decision-making-v5.0ext.pdf
Nationality procedures: Passports (handling) Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/632066/Nationality-procedures-passports-v1.0.pdf
Nationality procedures: priority treatment requests Version 2.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/659517/nationality-procedures-priority-treatment-requests-v2.0ext.pdf
Nationality policy: renunciation of all types of British nationality Version 3.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/677713/renunciation-of-all-types-of-british-nationality-v3.pdf
Nationality policy: surrogacy Version 2.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/787212/nationality-policy-surrogacy-v2.0ext.pdf
British citizenship (nationality guidance) Collection:
British citizenship: automatic acquisition https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/automatic-acquisition-nationality-policy-guidance
Naturalisation as a British citizen by discretion: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/naturalisation-as-a-british-citizen-by-discretion- nationality-policy-guidance
Registration as a British citizen: British Nationality (Hong Kong) Act 1997 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-nationality-hong-kong-act-1997-nationality- policy-guidance
Registration as British citizen: children of British parents Version 6.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/824429/registration-as-british-citizen-children-of-british-parents-v6.0ext.pdf
Registration for British citizenship: following renunciation https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renunciation-of-british-citizenship-nationality-policy- guidance
Registration as British citizen: other British nationals Version 4.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/948234/registration-as-british-citizen-other-british-nationals-v4.0ext.pdf
Registration as British citizens: stateless persons Version 2.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/647407/registration_as_a_british_citizen_stateless_persons_v2_0ext.pdf
British overseas territories citizens (BOTC) (nationality guidance) Collection:
Automatic acquisition: BOTC (Formerly chapters 22, 23, 24) Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/633075/automatic-acquisition-BOTC-v1.0.pdf
British overseas territories citizens – descent: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/british-overseas-territories-citizens-descent- nationality-policy-guidance
Naturalisation as a BOTC: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/naturalisation-as-a-botc-nationality-policy-guidance
Registration as a BOTC – children: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registration-as-a-botc-children-nationality-policy- guidance
Registration as a BOTC – following renunciation: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registration-as-a-botc-following-renunciation- nationality-policy-guidance
Registration as a BOTC – stateless: nationality policy guidance https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/registration-as-a-botc-stateless-nationality-policy- guidance