UK Returning Resident Visa Checklist
The Returning Resident visa is for former UK residents who held indefinite leave to remain (ILR), lost it by staying away too long, and now want to return to settle. It matters because the rule has a hard time line: you keep ILR if you were away for less than 2 years, and lose it if you were away longer. Based on the official GOV.UK guidance (gov.uk/returning-resident-visa), September 2026.
Will you keep ILR, or need this visa?
- Away less than 2 years — you still have your indefinite leave to remain, so you do not need this visa. You must have had ILR when you last left and must not have received Home Office financial support to leave.
- Away 2 continuous years or more — you lose ILR and need to apply for a Returning Resident visa to come back and get it restored.
- The 2-year rule is longer for some people: 5 continuous years for EU Settlement Scheme settled status, and 4 continuous years for Swiss nationals and their family members.
Proving your status if you were away less than 2 years
- Your eVisa through your UKVI account, or a share code.
- An old biometric residence permit (BRP) — it can be shown even if it has expired.
- An old passport containing a vignette (the sticker).
Applying after 2 or more years
Apply online for the Returning Resident visa. The decision turns on two things the guidance names directly: your strong ties to the UK — for example, you or your family have lived here most of your life — and your current circumstances and why you have lived outside the UK. You may not need to apply if you or your partner are in the British armed forces, or work for certain UK government departments or the British Council.
Cost and how you apply
- Fee: £726.
- Apply online, then give biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre.
- Dependants — your partner and children — apply separately for a Returning Resident visa if they are eligible.
Documents to prepare
- Your current passport or other valid travel document.
- Your old passports.
- A passport-size colour photograph.
- Documents showing your ties to the UK, such as proof you earn income here or that you rent or own property.
- The guidance only gives those examples, so do not assume a fixed document list beyond what it states.
See the full checklists hub, the UK visa documents checklist, and prepare your photo with the passport photo checker or the photo size chart.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose indefinite leave to remain if I stay away too long?
Yes, if you are outside the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man for too long. You keep indefinite leave to remain (ILR) if you were away for less than 2 years. You lose it if you were away for more than 2 continuous years — 5 continuous years for EU Settlement Scheme settled status, and 4 continuous years for Swiss nationals and their family members.
What do I need to return within 2 years?
You must have had indefinite leave to remain when you last left the UK and you must not have received financial support from the Home Office to leave the UK. You can prove your status with an eVisa through your UKVI account, a share code, an old biometric residence permit (even if it has expired) or an old passport vignette.
What if I was away for 2 years or more?
You can apply for a Returning Resident visa to return to the UK and get your indefinite leave to remain back. Depending on your circumstances you may not need to apply if you or your partner are in the British armed forces, or work for certain UK government departments or the British Council.
What does the application look at?
Your strong ties to the UK — for example, you or your family have lived here most of your life — and your current circumstances and why you have lived outside the UK.
Do my family members apply with me?
No. Your dependants (partner and children) need to apply separately for a Returning Resident visa if they are eligible.
How much does it cost?
It costs £726 to apply. You give biometrics (fingerprints and a photograph) at a visa application centre. The standard processing time is not stated on the guidance page, so none is asserted here.
Source: GOV.UK, "Returning Resident visa" (gov.uk/returning-resident-visa) — retrieved 2026-09-29. Requirements change, so confirm the current position on the official page before you apply.