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If you鈥檙e settled in the UK but have no evidence to prove it, you might be eligible to apply to the 鈥榃indrush Scheme鈥�.

You may be able to apply for proof that you can live and work in the UK if one of the following is true:

• you came to the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973
• your parents came to the UK from a Commonwealth country before 1973
• you came to the UK from any country before 31 December 1988 and are now settled here

It鈥檚 free to apply.

The proof that you get will depend on what you鈥檙e entitled to based on your circumstances. For example, you could get a letter or access to an online record of your right to be in the UK (known as an eVisa).

If you鈥檝e suffered losses because you did not have proof of your right to be in the UK

If you are eligible for this scheme, you might also be able to apply for compensation. The compensation scheme is for losses that happened because you could not show that you had a right to live in the UK.

鈥楲osses鈥� can be things like not being able to work, find a place to live or get health treatment. They can also include immigration action, like detention or removal from the UK.

You may be able to apply for proof of your right to live and work in the UK if both of the following apply:

• you鈥檙e a Commonwealth citizen
• you were settled in the UK before 1 January 1973

What you鈥檙e entitled to depends on whether you:

• have been living in the UK continuously
• left the UK for more than 2 years and came back
• are outside the UK

If you鈥檝e been living in the UK continuously

If you鈥檝e lived in the UK continuously, or have the right of abode, you can apply for one of the following:

• British citizenship
• a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode
• proof that you have indefinite leave to remain

Contact the Windrush helpline for help with working out if you鈥檙e eligible.

Find out how to apply.

If you鈥檝e left the UK for more than 2 years and come back

If you鈥檝e been away from the UK for more than 2 years at some point and are now lawfully in the UK, you might be entitled to indefinite leave to remain.

If you already have indefinite leave to remain you might be able to apply for either:

• proof that you have indefinite leave to remain
• British citizenship

Contact the Windrush helpline for help with working out if you鈥檙e eligible.

Find out how to apply.

If you鈥檙e outside the UK

If you鈥檝e left the UK and have lost your indefinite leave to remain, you might be entitled to:

• a Returning Resident visa
• a 10 year multiple entry visa

Contact the Windrush helpline for help with working out if you鈥檙e eligible.

You can apply for one of the following:

• British citizenship
• a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode
• proof that you have indefinite leave to remain

If you do not have indefinite leave to remain but are here lawfully, you can apply for it through the scheme.

To apply, one of your parents must be a Commonwealth citizen and either:

• was settled in the UK before 1 January 1973
• had the right of abode

You must have lived continuously in the UK since arriving (or being born) here. One of the following must also be true:

• you were born in the UK
• you came to live in the UK before turning 18

You do not have to have lived continuously in the UK, if you were automatically a British citizen or a citizen of the UK and Colonies from birth. You can apply for a document to confirm your status.

Contact the Windrush helpline for help with working out if you鈥檙e eligible.

Find out how to apply.

You can apply for proof that you have the right to live and work in the UK if you came to live in the UK before 31 December 1988 and are now settled here.

You can be of any nationality.

Contact the Windrush helpline for help with working out if you鈥檙e eligible.

Find out how to apply.

When you apply, the Home Office will work with other government departments to find records of you living in the UK.

None of your information will be shared with immigration enforcement teams.

If you鈥檙e in the UK

Apply using the Windrush Scheme application form (UK).

Post it to the address on the form with your supporting documents.

The Windrush helpline can post a paper form to you.

If you鈥檙e outside the UK

You must .

Fee

It鈥檚 free to apply.

What happens next

The Windrush taskforce will get in touch with you if they have any questions about your application, or if they need more information.

Give your fingerprints and photo

You鈥檒l be asked to provide your fingerprints and a photo (biometric information) once you鈥檝e sent in your form.

You may be eligible for the Windrush Scheme if you arrived in the UK from any country before 1989.

You may also be eligible if you or your parent is a citizen of one of the following Commonwealth countries:

• Anguilla
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• The Bahamas
• Bangladesh
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• British Antarctic Territory
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• Brunei
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Cyprus (excluding the Sovereign base area)
• Dominica
• Falkland Islands
• Fiji
• The Gambia
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Hong Kong
• India
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Mauritius
• Monserrat
• Namibia
• Nauru
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
• Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
• Saint Lucia
• Samoa
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• Sri Lanka
• St Kitts and Nevis
• St Vincent and The Grenadines
• Swaziland
• Tanzania
• Tonga
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Virgin Islands
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

Contact the Windrush helpline for help with working out if you鈥檙e eligible.

The Windrush helpline can:

• help you make a claim
• give extra support to those who need it - for example, elderly or vulnerable claimants
• post a form to you

If you are outside the UK, email the helpline and request a call back.

Outside of the helpline opening hours, you can leave a message to ask for your call to be returned at a convenient time.

You can also about the scheme.