Gurkha Settlement Visa UK: Eligibility, Rights, and Application Process Explained

 This guide explains who qualifies for the Gurkha Settlement Visa, what rights it grants, and how the application process works.

Following sustained public campaigning, the UK government introduced settlement arrangements for Gurkhas discharged before 1 July 1997 and certain eligible family members. These arrangements were incorporated into the Immigration Rules through changes implemented on 5 October 2023. The Immigration Rules and related guidance were further amended in October 2024, and applicants should refer to the most current requirements in force at the time of application. The 2015 policy adjustment relating to adult children of former Gurkhas may be noted as historical context, but the current eligibility assessment should be based on the latest rules and guidance.

Gurkha Settlement Visa Eligibility depends on your relationship to a former Gurkha and the circumstances of their discharge. Broadly, you may qualify for settlement (Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain) in one of the following situations:

You may be eligible if you completed at least four years' service as a Gurkha with the British Army. This applies whether you were discharged before or after 1 July 1997, though the specific application route differs slightly between the two groups.

The spouse of a former Gurkha applying for settlement is generally eligible to apply alongside them. Importantly, only one spouse per former Gurkha is recognised for this purpose. Where a Gurkha was married to more than one wife under Nepalese law, immigration authorities will only accept the spouse formally nominated by the former Gurkha and in the case of a deceased Gurkha, this is typically the first wife recorded on the official Kindred Roll maintained by the British Army.

Dependants under 18 years old of a former Gurkha who is applying for settlement, or who is already present and settled in the UK, can generally apply as part of the family unit.

The widow of a former Gurkha discharged before 1997 may also be eligible, provided she can demonstrate that her late husband would have met the settlement criteria had he applied. As with spouses of living veterans, only one widow per Gurkha is recognised, normally the first wife listed on the Kindred Roll.

This is the most complex and frequently misunderstood category. Adult children of former Gurkhas are not automatically entitled to settlement. Under the 2015 policy adjustment, an adult child between 18 and 30 years of age may be eligible only if several specific conditions are met, including that the former Gurkha parent has been granted (or is in the process of being granted) settlement under the relevant arrangements, the applicant is the son or daughter of that former Gurkha, the applicant is applying from outside the UK, and the applicant was under 18 at the time their parent was discharged or first became eligible.

In addition, the applicant generally needs to show they are living with their parents (unless away at boarding school, college, or university), are not in full-time employment if under a certain age, and remain wholly or mainly dependent on their parents for both financial and emotional support.

Applicants over 30 face an even higher bar and can only be considered under exceptional, compelling, and compassionate circumstances; the Home Office has repeatedly noted that many adult-child applications are submitted by people who do not, in fact, meet these narrow criteria.

Once granted, the Gurkha Settlement Visa typically comes in the form of Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) both of which carry the same practical rights:

The settlement visa itself is valid for the duration of your passport, and you can travel to the UK as soon as it is issued. However, if there is a significant delay between the visa being issued and your actual arrival in the UK, an immigration officer may question you on arrival, and you will need to satisfy them that you genuinely intend to live in the UK.

One point of reassurance for older veterans: there is no deadline by which Gurkhas discharged before 1 July 1997 must apply for a settlement visa though in practice, applying sooner reduces complications and allows access to benefits and services without delay.

Settlement applications normally attract a substantial Home Office fee, alongside the Immigration Health Surcharge for most applicants. However, there are important fee waivers specific to Gurkhas and other Foreign and Commonwealth service personnel. While non-UK personnel leaving service who wish to settle in the UK would otherwise need to pay the full indefinite leave fee, this fee is waived for those with at least six years' service, or for those discharged due to an illness or injury attributable to their service. The same fee waiver also extends to eligible veterans already living in the UK who have not yet regularised their immigration status.

Because fees, surcharges, and waiver criteria are periodically updated, it's essential to check the current rates directly through the official GOV.UK visa fees pages or with the Salapaz Consultancy before submitting payment.

Step 1: Confirm Your Eligibility Category

Before doing anything else, identify exactly which eligibility category applies to you — former Gurkha, spouse, dependent child, widow, or adult child since each has different evidence requirements.

Step 2: Gather Required Documents

While exact requirements vary by category, applicants generally need:

A valid passport

Evidence of the former Gurkha's military service (service record, discharge certificate)

Marriage certificate (for spouses) or birth certificates (for dependent children), with certified English translations where needed

For widows, the Kindred Roll record and evidence supporting the deceased's eligibility

For adult children, evidence of ongoing dependency, such as proof of living with parents and lack of independent income

Passport-sized photographs meeting UK visa specifications

Any relevant police clearance or character documents, since undisclosed criminal history or prior visa refusals can result in refusal and even a future travel ban

Step 3: Complete the Application Form

Applications for settlement as a former Gurkha must be made using the visa application form known as VAF 4A, which must be completed in full and in English. Spouses and other eligible dependents applying separately generally complete the relevant sponsor and dependent sections of the form, including financial and employment details. It's worth noting that the form specifically asks about prior visa refusals or criminal convictions failing to disclose this information can result in refusal and may lead to a ten-year travel ban from the UK.

Step 4: Pay the Visa Fee

Pay the relevant settlement visa fee (less any applicable fee waiver) through the approved payment channels. In Nepal, payments are typically processed in liaison with Standard Chartered Bank, and a small bank handling charge usually applies on top of the visa fee itself.

Step 5: Submit Biometrics and Supporting Documents

Applicants will need to attend a Visa Application Centre or relevant facility to provide biometric information (fingerprints and a digital photograph) and submit their full application package.

Step 6: Await a Decision

Settlement applications generally take longer to process than short-term visit visas, given the more detailed checks involved. Processing times can vary, so it's best to confirm current estimates with UK Visas and Immigration or the Gurkha Settlement Office before making firm travel plans.

Step 7: Receive Your Settlement Status

Once approved, you'll receive confirmation of your Indefinite Leave to Enter or Remain, which depending on current Home Office digital systems — may be issued as a Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or recorded as an eVisa linked to your UKVI account.

The Gurkha Settlement Visa represents a hard-won recognition of the extraordinary service Gurkha soldiers have given to the United Kingdom. For eligible veterans, spouses, and children, it offers a genuine path to building a new life in the UK with full settlement rights. Because eligibility rules particularly around adult dependants and fee waivers are detailed and subject to periodic change, it's essential to verify the latest requirements through official GOV.UK guidance or directly with the Salpaz Consultancy in Kathmandu before applying.

Immigration rules, fees, and processing times can change. Always confirm current requirements with UK Visas and Immigration or the Salpaz Consultancy before submitting an application.