The Gurkha community has long been at the heart of the Nepalese diaspora in the United Kingdom, and ongoing policy discussions around settlement rights continue to affect thousands of veterans and their families.
Since the landmark 2004 ruling that allowed post-1997 Gurkha veterans to settle in the UK, successive campaigns have pushed for equal rights for pre-1997 veterans and their dependants. Recent updates to Home Office guidance have expanded eligibility criteria for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications.
Who Is Affected
Veterans who served in the Brigade of Gurkhas before 1997 and have not yet secured permanent settlement, adult dependent children of Gurkha veterans, surviving spouses and partners of deceased veterans, and family members who entered on dependant visas and are seeking ILR.
What You Should Do Now
If you or a family member may be affected, seek qualified immigration advice from a solicitor who specialises in Gurkha settlement cases. Find Nepali-speaking legal professionals in the Legal Services category on the Nepalese Business Directory.