UK Windrush Scheme

Summary

The UK Windrush Scheme helps eligible people who are already settled in the UK get proof of their existing right to live and work there, when they lack evidence of their status. For some eligible Commonwealth citizens, it also offers the chance to apply for British citizenship for free.

It is free to apply. This is not a general new immigration route, and it is not for people newly moving to the UK — it documents a right that long-settled people already hold.

Eligibility

You may be a fit if:

• You are already settled in the UK, and one of the following describes how you or your family came here.
• You came to the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973.
• Your parent came to the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973.
• You came to the UK from any country before 31 December 1988 and have been settled here ever since.

What This Route Allows

The scheme confirms your existing right to live and work in the UK. GOV.UK says the proof may be a letter or access to an eVisa, depending on your circumstances. Some eligible Commonwealth citizens can also use it to apply for British citizenship for free. It documents an existing entitlement rather than creating an ordinary visa.

What This Route Is Not

• A general new UK immigration route.
• A route for people newly moving to the UK.
• A paid application — it is free.
• A grant of new status; it proves a right you already hold.

Next Steps

1. Confirm you are settled in the UK and that one of the Windrush categories describes your history.
2. Gather any documents that show how long you have lived in the UK and when you arrived.
3. Decide whether you need proof of status, free British citizenship, or both.
4. Apply to the Windrush Scheme through GOV.UK — there is no fee.
5. Keep the confirmation (letter or eVisa access) safe as evidence of your right to be in the UK.

Sources

• GOV.UK — Windrush Scheme: get proof of your right to be in the UK