Settlement — victim of domestic abuse

United KingdomHumanitarian protection

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?

A settlement route for a person who has, or was last granted, permission as a partner on a specified route and whose relationship has permanently broken down due to domestic abuse.

See recorded sources

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
This route allows settlement where a person has, or was last granted, permission as a partner on a specified route and the relationship has permanently broken down due to domestic abuse.

Which population, circumstances or geographic group does the mechanism cover?

Partners (not fiancé(e)s/proposed civil partners) of a British citizen, a settled person or an EEA national with EUSS limited leave under Appendix FM; spouses, civil or durable partners with EUSS limited leave; partners of a person with refugee permission; certain Part 8 partners of settled persons; earlier victims of domestic abuse; partners under the Armed Forces rules; and those with leave under the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession. Dependent children can also apply.

See recorded sources

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(a) a partner under Appendix FM (except for permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner) of a person who is a British citizen, settled in the UK or an EEA national in the UK with limited leave to enter or remain granted under paragraph EU3 of Appendix EU
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(aa) a spouse, civil partner or durable partner under Appendix EU with limited leave to enter or remain
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(b) a partner under Appendix FM, Part 8, Part 11, or Appendix Family Reunion (Protection) of a person with permission as a refugee; or
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(c) a spouse, civil partner, unmarried or same sex partner under paragraph 282(a), 282(c), 285, 295B(a), 295B(c) or 295E of Part 8 of a person present and settled in the UK; or
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(d) a victim of domestic abuse under Appendix FM or Part 8; or
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(e) a partner under Appendix Armed Forces or Part 7
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(f) leave outside the rules granted under the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
Dependent children can also apply on this route.

Where can protection be requested, and is this a direct application, border/in-country request, referral or other process?

A direct online application: in the UK on form SET (DV); from outside the UK only if the applicant was abandoned overseas, applying for entry clearance on the form 'Return to the UK' (TB certificate where required).

See recorded sources

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
The applicant must be in the UK, unless the applicant is overseas because they have been abandoned overseas.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
VDA 1.1. A person applying from outside the UK on the Victim of Domestic Abuse route must apply for entry clearance online on the gov.uk website on the specified form: “Return to the UK”.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(a) for the Victim of Domestic Abuse, and a child applying on the Victim of Domestic Abuse route at the same time as their parent and who is included in their parent’s application, form SET (DV); or
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
VDA 3.2. Where a person is applying for entry clearance on the Victim of Domestic Abuse route they must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate

What happens after the request: registration, family handling, major support and rights where officially stated?

The relationship must have broken down permanently as a result of domestic abuse. Fees can be waived. Children can be included in the parent's application or apply separately. If requirements are met, the applicant is granted settlement (in the UK) or entry clearance for settlement (abroad); refusals can be challenged by Administrative Review.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Support and rights while the application is pending are not described in this appendix.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
VDA 4.2. The relationship between the applicant and their partner must have broken down permanently as a result of domestic abuse.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(a) any fee must have been paid (unless the applicant has been granted a fee waiver); and
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
(b) for a child of a Victim of Domestic Abuse who is not applying at the same time as their parent, form SET (DV).
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
VDA 10.1. Where the applicant is outside the UK and the requirements for entry clearance are met, they will be granted entry clearance for settlement.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
VDA 10.2. Where the applicant is in the UK and the requirements for settlement are met, they will be granted settlement.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/immigration-rules/immigration-rules-appendix-victim-of-domestic-abuse
VDA 9.2. If the application is refused, the person can apply for an Administrative Review under Appendix AR: Administrative Review.

Which competent authority, UN body or official assistance channel should the person use?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the competent authority or official help channel.

See recorded sources

Limits of the record

Current GB capture review did not establish a literal, route-specific claim for this answer.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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Settlement — victim of domestic abuse

What exactly is this: asylum, temporary protection, humanitarian admission, resettlement or another protection mechanism?

Which population, circumstances or geographic group does the mechanism cover?

Where can protection be requested, and is this a direct application, border/in-country request, referral or other process?

What happens after the request: registration, family handling, major support and rights where officially stated?

Which competent authority, UN body or official assistance channel should the person use?

Your story.Your next step.

Your story.
Your next step.