Something happened before

I have a criminal record

Sample content

A conviction does not automatically end every immigration route, and it does not affect every route in the same way. The details — what, when, and what sentence — decide it.

What the words mean

Suitability: The part of the rules about character and conduct, separate from whether you otherwise qualify.
Deportation: A separate process from removal, which can follow a conviction. If you have been told you face it, treat it as urgent.
Spent conviction: A conviction treated as spent for some purposes. Immigration applications often ask about convictions whether or not they are spent — read the question carefully.

What to do first

Step 1. Get the details of the conviction: the offence, the date, and the exact sentence.
Step 2. Answer the question on the form as it is written, and declare what it asks for.
Step 3. Do not leave anything out. Non-disclosure is treated more seriously than most convictions.
Step 4. Take advice before applying, not after a refusal.

What to gather

Court documents or a certificate of conviction
Evidence of what has happened since: work, study, references
Any correspondence from the Home Office about your status

Who can help

This is not a question a website can answer. How a conviction affects a particular route depends on the sentence length and the route, and a regulated adviser can tell you in one conversation what months of searching will not.

Find a regulated adviser

Sample content · written for review · not checked by a lawyer or against the Immigration Rules