Guidance

Form ROA: guidance

Guidance to apply for a certificate of entitlement proving you have the right to live and work in the UK.

• From: UK Visas and Immigration
• Published: 22 March 2019
• Last updated: 24 August 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 24 August 2026

     Updated the guide in the following sections: Changes to the certificate of entitlement to the right of abode, Expiry of certificate of entitlement to the right of abode in the UK, Updating your photograph and Citizenship related queries.

  2. 13 March 2026

     A new section "travel to the UK" has been added to the guidance.

  3. 21 January 2026

     Updated to reflect that from 26 February 2026 certificates of entitlement will be a digital record.

  4. 21 July 2025

     Updated guidance to add information about the Windrush Scheme; provide further clarity about who has the right of abode in the UK; add 'Citizenship-related queries' section; and amend 'Explanation of terms' section to clarify the meaning of being settled in a qualifying British overseas territory.

  5. 17 April 2025

     The section 'OISC and immigration advice' has been updated to reflect OISC name change to Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).

  6. 22 June 2023

     Amended references to HMPO from 'Her Majesty' to 'His Majesty' and updated outdated links and email addresses.

  7. 2 February 2022

     Added accessible version of document.

  8. 22 March 2019

     First published.

Documents

Form ROA: guidance (accessible version)

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Form ROA: guidance

PDF, 284 KB, 23 pages

Details

Read the ROA guidance to find out if you can apply for a certificate of entitlement showing you have the right to live and work in the UK, or ‘right of abode’.

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