If your relationship with your partner has ended because of domestic abuse, and your permission to be in the UK was based on that relationship, you may be able to settle in the UK permanently in your own right. This route exists so that no one has to stay in an abusive relationship to keep their immigration status. If you are in immediate danger, call 999.
Settlement route — this is an application for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), not a temporary visa. Also known as the SET(DV) route. It is separate from any police or family court process, and nothing on this page replaces contacting the police or a specialist support service.
Reviewed by the Morgan Smith Immigration team — IAA-regulated UK immigration specialists. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.
TL;DR
The Victim of Domestic Abuse route allows a person whose UK permission was based on a relationship with a British citizen, settled person or certain other partners to apply for indefinite leave to remain if that relationship broke down because of domestic abuse. The fee is £3,226 per person, or no fee if you cannot support yourself. There is no English test, no Life in the UK test and no minimum residence period, and a decision usually takes up to 6 months.
£3,226
Fee — or no fee if you cannot pay
None
No English test or minimum residence
6 months
Usual decision time
What is the Victim of Domestic Abuse Route?
The Victim of Domestic Abuse route, set out in Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse of the Immigration Rules, is a settlement route for people who came to the UK as the partner of a qualifying person and whose relationship has since broken down because of domestic abuse from that partner or the partner’s family.
Domestic abuse for this purpose is not limited to physical violence. GOV.UK describes it as emotional, psychological, physical, sexual or financial abuse, including threatening or controlling behaviour. The abuse may have come from your partner or from members of your partner’s family.
The route is deliberately different from ordinary partner settlement. There is no five-year qualifying period, no English language requirement and no Life in the UK test. If you cannot support yourself financially, there is no application fee. Convictions that relate to the abuse you suffered are not held against you when your application is assessed.
If you have no money to live on while you apply, the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession can give you permission to stay and access to benefits in the meantime. Once granted, you must make your settlement application within 3 months or that permission ends. Everything we handle on this route is dealt with in confidence, by an adviser who understands what is at stake.
Eligibility Requirements
You must meet all three conditions to settle in the UK on this route.
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Permission as a Partner
Your current or most recent permission must have been as the partner of a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, a member of the UK armed forces who has served at least 4 years, a person with permission as a refugee, a person with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status held as their spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner. Permission as a fiancé(e) does not qualify.
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Relationship Ended Because of Abuse
You must show that the relationship broke down because of domestic abuse from your partner or your partner’s family. Evidence can include police reports, court orders, medical records, letters from a GP, refuge or support service, and your own detailed statement. There is no single required document.
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Inside or Outside the UK
You can apply from inside the UK. You can also apply from outside the UK, but only if you can show that you were abandoned there. There is no continuous residence requirement and no minimum time you must have spent in the UK.
What You Can and Cannot Do
What settlement on this route gives you, and the limits of who can use it.
✓ You Can
- Apply with no fee if you cannot support yourself financially
- Settle without an English test, a Life in the UK test or a minimum residence period
- Use the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession for permission to stay and access to benefits while you apply
- Live, work and study in the UK with no time limit once settlement is granted
- Apply for British citizenship later, once you meet the naturalisation requirements
✗ You Cannot
- Use this route if your permission was as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner
- Use this route if your partner was here on a work, study or other temporary visa and was not British, settled, a refugee, serving in the armed forces or an EU pre-settled national
- Apply from outside the UK unless you can show you were abandoned there
- Let the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession run past 3 months without applying for settlement — the permission ends
- Expect the Home Office to hold convictions relating to the abuse itself against you — the rules exclude them
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: September 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £3,226 per person |
| If you cannot support yourself | No fee — waiver on evidence |
| Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) | No charge |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | Not payable — settlement applications are exempt |
| English test / Life in the UK test | Not required on this route |
| Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession | No fee — check current fees |
How to Apply as a Victim of Domestic Abuse
Five steps, handled confidentially, from first contact to a settlement decision.
Get Safe and Get Advice
Your safety comes first: contact the police or a specialist support service if you are at risk. Then speak to a regulated adviser in confidence to confirm you qualify and plan the evidence.
Apply for the Concession if You Need It
If you have no money to live on, apply for the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession for permission to stay and access to benefits while your settlement application is prepared.
Gather Your Evidence
Proof of your relationship and your partner’s status, and evidence of the abuse: police, court, medical, GP, refuge or support-service records and your own statement. Include fee-waiver evidence if you cannot pay.
Apply Online Using Form SET(DV)
Submit the settlement application on gov.uk. If you used the concession, this must be within 3 months of it being granted. Pay £3,226 or apply with a fee waiver.
Receive Your Decision
Usually within 6 months of giving your biometrics. Settlement gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK with no time limit.
Speak to Our Team Today
Fill in the form and an immigration specialist will be in touch within one business day.
Request a Consultation
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about settling in the UK after a relationship has ended because of domestic abuse.
What is the Domestic Abuse Visa (ILR) in the UK?
It is a settlement route in Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse of the Immigration Rules. It allows someone whose permission to be in the UK was based on a relationship with a British citizen, settled person or certain other partners to apply for indefinite leave to remain if that relationship ended because of domestic abuse. It was previously known as the domestic violence, or SET(DV), route.
How much does the domestic abuse settlement application cost?
£3,226 per person. If you cannot support yourself financially there is no fee: you can show this with bank statements or letters from a local authority or support agency proving you are homeless, cannot afford essentials such as food or heating, or have a very low income.
What counts as domestic abuse for this route?
GOV.UK describes it as emotional, psychological, physical, sexual or financial abuse, including threatening or controlling behaviour. It covers abuse from your partner and abuse from your partner’s family.
Do I need to pass an English test or the Life in the UK test?
No. Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse contains no English language requirement and no Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement.
Is there a minimum time I must have lived in the UK?
No. Unlike the ordinary partner route, there is no continuous residence requirement and no five-year qualifying period.
What is the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession?
It is short-term permission for people who have left an abusive relationship and have no money to support themselves. It gives you permission to stay and lets you claim benefits if you are eligible while you prepare your settlement application. You must apply for settlement within 3 months of the concession being granted or the permission ends.
Can I apply if my partner was on a work or student visa?
No. Your partner must have been a British citizen, a person with indefinite leave to remain, a member of the UK armed forces with 4 or more years’ service, a person with permission as a refugee, someone with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status. Partners of people on other temporary visas should seek advice on their options.
Can I apply from outside the UK?
Yes, but only if you can show that you were abandoned outside the UK. The Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession is only available to people already in the UK.
How long does a decision take?
You will usually get a decision within 6 months of providing your fingerprints and photo.
Will a conviction connected to the abuse count against me?
No. The rules state that criminal convictions relating to the domestic abuse must not be considered when assessing whether your presence in the UK is conducive to the public good. Other suitability rules still apply.
Confidential Advice on the Domestic Abuse Route
Our immigration specialists handle everything from sponsor licence checks to visa approval — for employers and applicants alike.