Proving your right to live in the UK with the Windrush scheme

Summary

It’s free to apply to the Windrush scheme. If you’re eligible, you’ll get a document that proves your right to live and work in the UK permanently. * you or your parents arrived in the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973 - check countries in the Commonwealth on GOV.UK * you arrived in the UK from any country before 1989 If you or your parents are Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973, you might also be eligible for British citizenship from the Windrush scheme. If you think you’re eligible for the Windrush scheme, the first thing you should do is contact your nearest Citizens Advice and arrange to speak to an adviser. They can help you work out if you can apply. Some Citizens Advice advisers can give immigration advice, but it depends where you live. If your nearest Citizens Advice can't give immigration advice, they might be able to help you find a local solicitor who can. You can also check your eligibility and how to apply on GOV.UK. You could claim compensation if you had problems because you couldn’t prove your right to live in the UK - for example, when you had to show your right to work, rent or claim benefits. You could also claim compensation if the.

Key information

• you or your parents arrived in the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973 - check countries in the Commonwealth on GOV.UK
• you arrived in the UK from any country before 1989
• current and previous passports
• letters from the Home Office
• birth and marriage certificates for you and any children born in the UK
• school reports and exam certificates
• employment records - for example old payslips or P45 forms
• It’s free to apply to the Windrush scheme. If you’re eligible, you’ll get a document that proves your right to live and work in the UK permanently.
• you or your parents arrived in the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973 - check countries in the Commonwealth on GOV.UK
• If you or your parents are Commonwealth citizens who arrived before 1973, you might also be eligible for British citizenship from the Windrush scheme.
• If you think you’re eligible for the Windrush scheme, the first thing you should do is contact your nearest Citizens Advice and arrange to speak to an adviser.
• Some Citizens Advice advisers can give immigration advice, but it depends where you live. If your nearest Citizens Advice can't give immigration advice, they might be able to help you find a local solicitor who can.

Practical guidance

• Source: Proving your right to live in the UK with the Windrush scheme

Related topics

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• British citizenship — Apply for citizenship if you have British nationality
• British citizenship — Application to register child as British overseas territories citizen
• British citizenship — Correct a registration or naturalisation certificate