
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
International Sportsperson
- International Sportsperson visa https://www.gov.uk/sportsperson-visa
- International Sportsperson: guidance for caseworkers Version 1.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1020879/International_Sportsperson.pdf
Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) of the Points Based System – Policy Guidance https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1019243/Tier_1_Entrepreneur_Policy_Guidance_10.21.pdf
- Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) Version 27.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1019273/Tier_1 Entrepreneur 6_Oct_21.pdf
Start-up
- Start-up visa https://www.gov.uk/start-up-visa
- Start-up Version 6.0 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/fi le/1037144/Start_Up.pdf
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