UK Visas and Permits For Indians apply online free

This is the most common visa that allows Indians to work in the UK.

You must have a job offer from a UK company that is on the Home Office’s approved sponsor list.
This visa allows you to stay in the UK for up to 5 years, after which you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

This is similar to the USA Green Card or India’s OCI Card.

Once you get ILR, you can live and work in the UK permanently, and access public funds.
After holding ILR for a few years, you may also apply for British Citizenship.

After holding ILR for at least 1 year, you can apply for British Citizenship and get a British Passport.

If your grandparents were born in the UK, you can apply for this visa (rarely applicable to Indians).

After completing your studies in the UK, you can stay and work for 2 years (3 years for PhD graduates).

✅ Comparison Table

Country	Card / Status	Permission to Live and Work	Convertible to Citizenship
UK	Skilled Worker Visa	Temporary (Up to 5 years)	Yes (via ILR → Citizenship)
UK	Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)	Permanent Residency	Yes (after holding ILR for 1 year)
UK	British Citizenship	Full rights as a UK citizen	N/A
UK	UK Ancestry Visa	Temporary (Up to 5 years)	Yes (via ILR → Citizenship)
UK	Graduate Visa	Temporary (2-3 years)	No (must switch to Skilled Worker Visa or other)

Explore key UK visas, permits & cards for Indians to live & work in the UK. Learn about Skilled Worker Visa, ILR, British Citizenship & more.