Turkish Businessperson (ECAA) Extensions & Settlement

The Turkish Businessperson route was based on the Ankara Agreement between Turkey and the European Economic Community, often referred to as the ECAA. It allowed Turkish nationals to come to the UK to establish or join a business. It is now a legacy route and is closed to new main applicants.

The route only covers people who were granted, or who applied successfully for, ECAA leave on or before 31 December 2020 (the cut-off was 11pm on that date). For those people and their families, it remains possible to extend their stay and, in time, apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Who this is for

• Turkish businesspersons in the UK with existing ECAA leave who need to extend.
• ECAA businesspersons who have built up 5 years and want to settle.
• Partners and children of ECAA businesspersons.

If you are a Turkish national who did not have ECAA leave or a successful application by the cut-off, this route is not available to you, and we can advise on the current business routes instead.

Extending your stay

Existing ECAA businesspersons can apply to extend their permission for up to 3 years at a time, and can extend as many times as they remain eligible. At the time of writing, there is no Home Office fee for an ECAA extension application.

Key points for an extension generally include:

• Your business must still be running, and you must be actively involved in it.
• You must continue to meet the requirements of Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay.
• You should be able to evidence the business's activity with reliable documents such as accounts, bank statements, tax records and contracts.

Gaps in evidence, a business that has stopped trading, or a change in the way you work can all affect eligibility, so it is sensible to take advice well before your current permission ends.

Partners and children

• Partners can apply to extend their permission in the UK only; they cannot apply for entry clearance on this route. The relationship must be genuine and subsisting.
• Children under 21 can apply for entry clearance or permission to stay, even if they have not previously held ECAA leave.
• Children aged 21 or over can only extend leave they already hold.

Indefinite leave to remain

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years living and working in the UK on the route. The requirements generally include:

• 5 years' continuous residence, without having relied on public funds.
• No more than 180 days in any 12-month period.
• Meeting the English language requirement.
• Passing the Life in the UK test (the test fee is currently £50).

Unlike extensions, settlement applications carry a Home Office fee, which is currently £3,226 per person. Family members may be able to apply for settlement at the same time, depending on their circumstances.

Documents commonly needed

Every case is different, but applications on this route usually rely on:

• Passports and evidence of your current ECAA permission.
• Business accounts, bank statements, tax records, invoices and contracts showing the business is trading.
• For partners, evidence that the relationship is genuine and subsisting, such as proof of living together.
• For children, birth certificates and evidence of their current status.
• For settlement, a record of absences from the UK, and your English language and Life in the UK evidence.

Common problems we help with

• Working out whether you are still eligible under the route after a gap or change in circumstances.
• Evidencing that the business is genuinely running when trading has been uneven.
• Calculating continuous residence and absences before a settlement application.
• Family members who are approaching the age of 21 or whose status needs regularising.
• Responding to Home Office requests for further information.

How Stonebridge can help

• Confirming whether you, your partner and your children fall within the ECAA arrangements.
• Reviewing your business evidence and preparing extension applications.
• Preparing indefinite leave to remain applications for you and your family.
• Advising on alternative routes if the ECAA route no longer fits your situation.

If you hold ECAA leave and are thinking about your next application, book a consultation so we can review your position in good time.