Criminal Convictions and Your UK Visa

If you are in the UK on a visa and are arrested, charged, or convicted of a crime, it can affect your immigration status. This applies to all types of visas, including work, student, family, or visitor visas.

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1. What Happens If You Are Charged or Convicted?

If you are convicted of a crime, the Home Office may:

Shorten your visa

Refuse to renew your visa

Start deportation action (especially for serious offences)

If your case is still pending (waiting for a decision), it may delay any visa decisions or applications you make.

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2. What Counts as a Serious Crime?

The UK takes stronger action if:

You are sentenced to 12 months or more in prison

You are a repeat offender

You commit a crime that causes serious harm

In these cases, the Home Office may say your presence is not in the “public interest” and move to remove you from the UK.

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3. What If You Are Not Convicted?

Even if you are not convicted, a criminal charge can still affect your visa application or future stay, especially if:

The case involves violence, drugs, or dishonesty

The Home Office believes you are not of “good character”

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4. Do You Have to Tell the Home Office?

Yes. You must declare any criminal history, whether it happened in the UK or another country. This includes:

Convictions

Court appearances

Police cautions or warnings

Failing to do so can lead to a visa refusal or ban from returning to the UK.

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5. Can You Stay in the UK with a Conviction?

It depends on:

The seriousness of the crime

Your sentence

How long you’ve been in the UK

Your family or private life here

In some cases, you may be allowed to stay, especially if you have British children or long residence in the UK — but this is not guaranteed.—

Get Legal Advice

If you have been charged or convicted while on a visa, it’s important to get legal advice right away. Every case is different, and early help can make a big difference to your future in the U.