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You can apply to extend your Turkish Worker visa if you already have permission to stay in the UK as a Turkish Worker.

Eligibility

You can only extend your visa if you’re already in the UK.

You’ll need to meet the eligibility requirements to extend your visa.

How long you can stay

The length of time you can apply to extend your stay for and what job you can do depends on how long you’ve legally worked in the UK.

How long you’ve worked in the UK	Length of permission to be in the UK	What you can do
3 to 4 years	Up to 1 year	Change employer, but in the same occupation
4+ years	Up to 3 years	Work in any occupation for any employer

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle in the UK permanently (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

How to apply

You must apply to extend your visa online.

Your partner and children (‘dependants’) can apply separately to extend their dependant visas, if they already have them.

How long it takes

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity and provide your documents.

You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You’ll find out if you need one when you start your application.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa extension within 6 months.

How much it costs

There’s no fee to apply to extend your visa.

What you can and cannot do

With a Turkish Worker visa extension you can:

• include your family (‘dependants’) on this extension if they’re already in the UK and have a dependant visa
• study
• do voluntary work
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements

You cannot:

• apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension

If your application is successful, you’ll get a full list of what you can and cannot do with a Turkish Worker visa.

To be eligible to apply for an extension of your Turkish Worker visa you need to:

• have a valid Turkish Worker visa
• show you have not broken any immigration laws

When you apply to extend your visa you’ll need to provide:

• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• proof of all your employment during your current stay in the UK, including payslips and bank statements for the whole period you’ve worked here

To prove you have a valid Turkish Worker visa, you’ll also need to provide either:

• your biometric residence permit (BRP) - you can use it for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card
• online proof of your immigration status (an eVisa) - you’ll need to get a share code

You’ll need to have a blank page in your passport on which to put the visa.

If you’re an au pair, you can provide a letter from your host family if you do not have payslips and bank statements.

Your job

You should also provide evidence that shows you have been legally employed in the UK with the same employer for at least 3 years, and you’re planning to:

• carry on doing the same type of job, if you’ve been legally employed for between 3 and 4 years
• work for any employer doing any job, if you’ve been legally employed for 4 years or longer

Evidence can include things like a letter from your current or prospective employer, or a current job application letter.

You can usually apply to extend a Turkish Worker visa if you’re in the UK and all of the following are true:

• you have a valid Turkish Worker visa
• you can show you have not broken any immigration laws

Your partner or children will need to apply separately, including children who have turned 21 during your stay.

Fees

There’s no fee to apply to extend your visa.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

Apply to extend your Turkish Worker visa

You must apply online before your current visa expires.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Continue your application

You can sign back into your application if you’ve saved it. 

Find out how to sign in to your account.

How long it takes to get a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months of your application date.

You’ll be contacted if your application will take longer, for example because:

• your supporting documents need to be verified
• you need to attend an interview
• of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision - you’ll be told if you can when you apply.

After you apply

If you need to change something in your application after you’ve sent it contact UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).

You can ask to cancel your application. You’ll only get your fee refunded if UKVI has not started processing your application.

You’ll get an email or a letter containing the decision on your application. This will explain what you need to do next.

Your partner and children can apply to extend their permission to stay in the UK as your ‘dependants’ if they’re eligible. To do this, they must have a valid dependant visa.

Your children or those of your partner can apply to come to the UK if you have a Turkish Worker visa. They’ll need to apply for a visa as your dependant.

If their application is successful, their visa will end on the same date as yours.

Your relationship

A dependant partner or child is any of the following:

• your husband, wife, civil partner or unmarried partner
• your child under 21 - including if they were born in the UK during your stay
• your child over 21 if they’re currently in the UK as your dependant

You’ll need to provide evidence of your relationship when you apply.

Your partner

You must be able to prove one of the following:

• you’re in a civil partnership or marriage that’s recognised in the UK

• you’ve been living together in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply

• you’ve been in a relationship for at least 2 years when you apply but you cannot live together, for example because you’re working or studying in different places, or it’s not accepted in your culture

If you’re not living together, you’ll need to prove that you have an ongoing commitment to each other, for example by providing evidence that you:

• communicate regularly with each other

• support each other financially

• care for any children you have together

• spend time together as a couple, for example on holiday or at events

Your child

Your child must:

• live with you (unless they’re in full-time education at boarding school, college or university)
• not be married, in a civil partnership or have any children
• be financially supported by you

If your child lives with you, you’ll need to provide evidence of their address such as:

• a bank statement
• credit card bills
• driving licence
• NHS registration document
• an official letter from their university or college

Documents you must provide

For each dependant in the UK applying to extend you must have:

• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• bank statements or payslips for the last 6 months showing you can support them

To prove they’re dependants on your Turkish Worker visa, they’ll also need to provide either:

• their biometric residence permit (BRP) - they can use it for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card
• online proof of their immigration status (eVisa) - they’ll need to get a share code

If you’re the only parent of any dependants aged under 18 in the UK, you must provide legal documents or written permission from their other parent showing you legally have sole responsibility.

Applying inside the UK (extend)

Your partner or children who are already in the UK can apply to extend their visa.

Your partner or child will need to apply separately (including children who have turned 21 during your stay).

How to apply

If the dependant is your partner, they must .

You need to .

They’ll need your application number - you’ll get this when you apply. This number is called a Global Web Form (GWF) or a Unique Application Number (UAN). You’ll find it on emails and letters from the Home Office about your application.

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your partner and children will need to prove their identity. They’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign into their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 6 months.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply.

Applying from outside the UK

Your children or those of your partner can apply to come to the UK if you have a Turkish Worker visa. They’ll need to apply for a visa as your dependant.

If you’re already in the UK and want your child to join you, they must .

Proving their identity

As part of their application, your children (or your partner’s children), will need to prove their identity. They’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan their identity document - they’ll also create or sign into their UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have their fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a visa application centre

They’ll be told what they need to do when they apply.

How long it takes to get a decision

Once they’ve applied online, proved their identity and provided their documents, they’ll usually get a decision within 12 weeks.

They may be able to pay to get a faster decision - they’ll be told if they can when they apply.

Children born in the UK

If you have a child while you’re in the UK, they do not automatically become a British citizen.

You can . You must do this if you want to travel in and out of the UK with your child.

You’ll need to provide a full UK birth certificate for each child, showing the names of both parents.