India in United Kingdom — Official Government Sources

Expired Biometric Residence Card (brc)

Test Limit

24 months

You must take your test no later than 24 months after the expiry date shown on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever is sooner.

Source: UKVI — Education - English Language Proficiency

Expired Biometric Residence Permit (brp)

Test Limit

24 months

You must take your test no later than 24 months after the expiry date shown on the card, or until 31 December 2026, whichever is sooner.

Source: UKVI — Education - English Language Proficiency

English Language Test Booking

Booking Timeframe

28 days

You should be able to take a test within 28 days of booking, but it may not always be at the location nearest to you.

Source: UKVI — Education - English Language Proficiency

Languagecert Esol Selt 4-skills Result

Validity Period

2 years

If you already held a LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills result this remains valid for 2 years.

Source: UKVI — Education - English Language Proficiency

Languagecert Esol Selt 4-skills Test

Replacement Date

6 July 2025

From 6 July 2025 the LANGUAGECERT ESOL SELT 4-skills test was replaced by the LANGUAGECERT Academic SELT and LANGUAGECERT General SELT tests.

Source: UKVI — Education - English Language Proficiency

Secure English Language Test (selt)

Validity Period

2 years

Test results are valid for 2 years from the date the test is awarded.

Source: UKVI — Education - English Language Proficiency

Overseas Citizen Of India (oci) Card

Required Residency Period Before Application

12 months

if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Maximum Relaxation Period

30 days

the Central Government may, if it is satisfied that special circumstances exist, relax the period of twelve months, up to a maximum of thirty days which may be in different breaks

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Required Residency Period For Citizenship

5 years

if he/she is registered as OCI Cardholder for five years and is ordinarily resident in India for twelve months before making an application for registration

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Minimum Age For Citizenship Application

18 years

A person registered as an OCI Cardholder is eligible to apply for grant of Indian citizenship under section 5(1) (g) of The Citizenship Act, 1955 if he/she has attained full age (18 year)

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Application Start Date

02.12.2005

OCI Scheme is operational from 02.12.2005

Source: OCI Services — OCI Online Application

Visa - International Students

New Rating System Start Date

summer 2027

But from summer 2027, a new traffic light rating system will make clear to regulators, and the public, which institutions are recruiting responsibly.

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Net Migration Decrease

74 %

under which net migration has now fallen by 74%.

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Students Contacted Due To Expiry

306000

Since last summer, the Home Office has contacted 306,000 students whose visas are due to expire.

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Economic Contribution

37 billion GBP

International students bring significant economic and soft power benefits, contributing £37 billion in export earnings.

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Asylum Claims Decrease

30 %

Student asylum claims are down 30% in the last year.

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Course Completion Rate

90 %

Course completion rate: must reach at least 90% (previously 85%)

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Course Enrolment Rate

95 %

Course enrolment rate: must reach at least 95% (previously 90%)

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Visa Refusal Rate

5 %

Visa refusal rate: must remain below 5% (previously 10%)

Source: UKVI — Visa - International Students

Net Migration Reduction

74 %

These measures form part of the government’s broader drive to restore order and control to the immigration system - under which net migration has now fallen by 74%.

Source: Home Office — Visa - International Students

Students Contacted

306000

Since last summer, the Home Office has contacted 306,000 students whose visas are due to expire.

Source: Home Office — Visa - International Students

Economic Contribution

37 billion GBP

International students bring significant economic and soft power benefits, contributing £37 billion in export earnings.

Source: Home Office — Visa - International Students

Course Completion Rate

90 %

Course completion rate: must reach at least 90% (previously 85%)

Source: Home Office — Visa - International Students

Course Enrolment Rate

95 %

Course enrolment rate: must reach at least 95% (previously 90%)

Source: Home Office — Visa - International Students

Visa Refusal Rate

5 %

Visa refusal rate: must remain below 5% (previously 10%)

Source: Home Office — Visa - International Students

Evisa

Share Code Validity

90 days

A share code is valid for 90 days.

Source: UKVI — Residency - Indefinite Leave to Remain

Indefinite Leave To Remain

Processing Time

12 months

To apply for citizenship, you must usually have been living in the UK for at least 12 months after being granted indefinite leave.

Source: UKVI — Residency - Indefinite Leave to Remain

Validity Period

4 years

If you’re a Swiss citizen with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you and your family members can spend up to 4 years in a row outside the UK, Ireland or the Crown Dependencies before your leave automatically ends.

Source: UKVI — Residency - Indefinite Leave to Remain

Import Vat Certificate

Required Documents

C79

You’ll need your Import VAT Certificate (C79) to claim back any VAT you paid on the goods you’ve imported.

Source: HMRC — Tax - Importing Goods

Eori Number

Eligibility Criteria

starts with XI

You’ll need a new one if you have an EORI number that does not start with GB. If you move goods to or from Northern Ireland, you may need one that starts with XI.

Source: HMRC — Tax - Importing Goods

BoI

work-permit

DVLA

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DWP

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GOV.UK

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HCI London

HCI London Homepage · Tax - India-UK Tax Initiatives · OCI Card Services UK · Education - General Information · OCI Card Services

HMRC

National Insurance for foreign workers · Tax - Child Benefit · Tax - Tax Codes · Housing - Finding a Place to Live · Income Tax rates and allowances · Self Assessment tax returns · Visa - Visa and Immigration Services · Tax - Tax Overpayments and Underpayments · Setting up as self-employed · National Insurance Number · UK-India Double Taxation · Tax - Importing Goods · Driving - Driving in the UK · Work - Working in the UK · Citizenship - Applying for Citizenship · Tax - Child Benefit · Tax for New Arrivals · Double taxation agreements · Tax - Registration for Tax Advisers · General - Information for Abroad · Tax - Import Duty Repayment · Tax - Understanding Your Tax Obligations · Tax - Voluntary National Insurance Contributions for Periods Abroad · Tax - Voluntary National Insurance Contributions for Time Abroad

Home Office

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MHA

Residency - Foreigners Division

NHS

NHS for New Arrivals · Emergency services 999 · GP Registration · Healthcare - Global Health Insurance Card · NHS charges for overseas visitors · Healthcare - Healthcare Abroad

OCI Services

OCI Online Application

UKVI

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VFS Global UK

Apply UK Visa from India

e-Visa

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