ECAA Settlement (ILR) | Turkish Businesspersons and Workers

Check which permission counts

For a businessperson, the permitted combination is ECAA Businessperson and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) permission, with the most recent permission in the ECAA Businessperson category. For a worker, the permitted categories are ECAA Worker, the former Tier 2 (General, Minister of Religion or Sportsperson) routes and work-permit permission, with the most recent permission as an ECAA Worker. Do not assume every work visa or period in the UK counts.

Review the full residence and travel history

Appendix Continuous Residence applies to ECAA settlement. The usual limit is 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period, but transitional rules and specified exceptions can affect the calculation. Check the applicable dates and reasons for absences before concluding that a long trip is fatal to an application.

Prepare a dated travel schedule alongside your permissions, applications and decisions, with evidence supporting any relevant exception.

Residence alone is not enough

Businesspersons must show genuine business activity and a viable business, together with an intention to continue operating it. Assess the settlement requirements in their own terms; an earlier extension approval does not prove that the ILR evidence is sufficient.

Maintenance, immigration compliance and suitability also need checking. The settlement public-funds provision concerns funds to which the applicant is not entitled; receiving a benefit does not, without examining entitlement and the circumstances, answer that question.

Business evidence may include accounts, invoices, bank statements, tax records, premises and proof of actual trading.
Workers should prepare the permission and employment chronology, supported by contracts, employer records and payment evidence.

Plan the English and Life in the UK requirements

Check the English-language and Life in the UK requirements and any applicable exemption well before applying. The form of evidence matters: a course certificate is not necessarily an accepted qualification.

Partners and children do not settle automatically

A partner normally needs their own five-year qualifying period with the same partner and must meet the relationship and other requirements. If they are not yet eligible when the main holder settles, further permission may be available under the separate partner provisions.

Children have distinct permission, dependency and parental-status requirements. Do not impose an automatic five-year test on every child. Age, independent life, both parents’ circumstances and any applicable English and Life in the UK requirements must be assessed individually.

Current rules and proposed changes

As checked on 7 September 2026, the ECAA Rules retain the five-year qualifying framework described here. The government’s earned-settlement proposals are separate from the rules currently in force. Their final scope and any transitional treatment for existing holders should not be assumed from consultation wording or commentary.

ECAA decisions and complex cases

Common questions

Should I apply for ILR or another extension?

Check the complete settlement requirements against your evidence and permission expiry. If ILR is not yet appropriate, consider whether you qualify for a further ECAA extension; neither outcome should be assumed.

What if my ECAA settlement application is refused?

Use our refusal enquiry page promptly, giving the decision date and any stated deadline. We must check the available challenge and timing before advising on next steps.

Your next step

Check your ECAA settlement position

Send your current category, expiry date, a short permission and travel timeline, and who would apply with you. We will confirm fit and explain scope and fees before a detailed review.

Make an ECAA ILR enquiry

Official sources

This guide gives general information. The rules, dates and circumstances relevant to an application need to be checked individually.