Can Tier 2 Visa Holders Apply for UK PR and Citizenship?

Yes, it is possible for someone on a Tier 2 (General) Visa in the UK to eventually apply for Permanent Residency (PR), also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), and later for citizenship, but it depends on meeting specific eligibility criteria and timelines.

Here’s the general process:

1. Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR):

After holding a Tier 2 (General) Visa for a certain period, you can apply for ILR, which allows you to stay in the UK permanently. To apply for ILR, you typically need to:

• Have held your Tier 2 visa for at least 5 years. (In some cases, such as for high earners or those in specific jobs, you might be eligible for ILR after just 3 years.)

• Meet the salary requirement: You must earn at least £25,600 per year (or the ""going rate"" for your job, whichever is higher).

• Pass the Life in the UK Test: This test assesses your knowledge of British culture, history, and society.

• Meet English language requirements: Typically, this means having a recognized English qualification or being a native English speaker.

• Have a clean immigration and criminal record: No serious criminal convictions or breaches of immigration rules.

Once granted ILR, you can live and work in the UK without any restrictions.

2. British Citizenship:

After you’ve been granted ILR, you can apply for British citizenship. The main requirements are:

• Have held ILR for at least 12 months (unless married to a British citizen, in which case you can apply immediately after ILR).

• Be of good character: This means no serious criminal convictions.

• Pass the Life in the UK Test again.

• Meet the English language requirements (if not already proven).

• Residency requirements: You must have lived in the UK for at least 5 years before applying for citizenship (or 3 years if married to a British citizen). Additionally, you should not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK during the 5-year period, and no more than 90 days in the last 12 months.

Key Points to Consider:

• Continuous residence: To apply for ILR, you need to show that you’ve lived in the UK continuously and haven’t been away for more than a certain number of days.

• Tier 2 to ILR Transition: If you change employers or job roles, the new job must still meet the Tier 2 visa criteria to continue toward ILR.

Once you’ve gained ILR and have lived in the UK for the required amount of time, you can apply for British citizenship if you wish.

It's advisable to keep track of the exact requirements and timelines, as immigration rules can change. Consulting an immigration lawyer or advisor can also help ensure you're on the right track.