Staying in Scotland permanently

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The UK government makes immigration laws. Scotland is part of the UK so there is no separate Scottish immigration system. If you want to stay in Scotland permanently, you must follow the UK immigration rules. 

There are different ways to settle in the UK, including getting:  

• Indefinite leave to remain  
• Settled status under the EU settlement scheme  
• British citizenship  

Applying for indefinite leave to remain

Indefinite leave to remain gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK. You can stay as long as you like. You can use it to apply for British citizenship. 

There are different ways to apply based on your situation. 

Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain (gov.uk) 

Applying for settled status under the EU settlement scheme

The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) is a program that allows EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens and their family members to live, work and study in the UK.  

Under the EUSS you can have settled or pre-settled status.  

The deadline to apply was June 30, 2021, but the scheme is still open to some. 

If you have pre-settled status under the EUSS, it lasts for five years. At the end of the five years, it will usually extend by another two years. If you have pre-settled status, you can usually switch to settled status after you’ve lived in the UK for five years in a row 

It’s free to apply. 

Check if you can switch from pre-settled to settled status (gov.uk)  

Find more information about switching to settled status (citizensadvice.org.uk)

Check if your family members can get pre-settled status or settled status

If you’re an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen living in the UK, your family can apply to live in the UK.  

Check if your family members can get pre-settled status or settled status (citizensadvice.org.uk) 

Applying for British citizenship

British citizenship gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK. You can stay without any immigration restrictions. 

Before you apply, you need to have permission to live in the UK permanently. For example, by having: 

•  Indefinite leave to remain 
•  Settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme 

Find advice on deciding if citizenship is right for you (citizensadvice.org.uk)

Check if you can apply for citizenship (gov.uk)

Header image photo credit: Fife Council / Damian Shields