Staying in Scotland permanently

The UK government plans to change immigration rules

On 12 May 2025, the UK Government published plans to change immigration rules. The immigration rules have not changed yet. We’ll update our advice pages when the rules change. We know you might have questions about what this means for you.

Find out how changes to immigration rules might affect you (citizensadvice.org.uk)

If you need help to move to or settle in Scotland, you can book a free advice appointment with an adviser from a Citizens Advice Bureau in Scotland.

You can read the UK government’s immigration white paper (gov.uk)

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)

Proving your knowledge of English

You might need to prove your knowledge of the English language if you’re aged 18 or over and applying for citizenship or indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Find out how to prove your knowledge of English for citizenship and settling (gov.uk)