You Need to Prove Long Residence Under the Windrush Scheme
Members of the Windrush Generation who arrived in the UK from Commonwealth countries between 1948 and 1973 and settled lawfully may be entitled to documentation of their status, British citizenship, or compensation under the Windrush Schemes. Applications and documentation are free of charge.
Quick Answer
Apply to the Windrush Taskforce for free documentation of your lawful settled status. You do not need a BRP or passport — statements from community members and employers can support your application. Compensation for losses caused by the Windrush scandal is available separately through the Windrush Compensation Scheme. Legal aid is available for Windrush applications.
Full Explanation
Members of the Windrush Generation are those who arrived in the UK from Commonwealth countries between June 1948 and December 1972 (or their children) and who had the right of abode or right of residence in the UK under the Immigration Act 1971. Many were settled lawfully but never obtained formal documentation of their status, leading to severe hardship — including loss of jobs, homes, and healthcare — when the hostile environment policies of the 2010s required documentation that many could not produce.
Under the Immigration Act 1971 s.1(2), Commonwealth citizens who were already settled in the UK on 1 January 1973 have the right of abode and do not require leave to remain. The Windrush Scheme (2018 onwards) established a dedicated Home Office taskforce to help such individuals document their status. Applications under the Windrush Scheme are entirely free, and the Home Office has accepted a wide range of evidence of long residence, including employer letters, school records, NHS records, religious institution records, and statutory declarations from community members.
Separately, the Windrush Compensation Scheme provides financial compensation to those who suffered losses — including loss of employment, homelessness, or wrongful removal from the UK — as a result of the Home Office's failures. Compensation claims are also free and can be made by the affected individuals themselves, by their close family members, or, where the individual has died, by their estate.
Legal aid is available for Windrush documentation applications and appeals. Free advice is also available from a number of specialist charities and law centres. The Windrush Scheme has no deadline for applications, but individuals should apply as soon as possible to regularise their status and preserve compensation claims.
If you have been wrongly deported under the hostile environment policies, the Home Office has a specific returns route to facilitate re-entry to the UK.
Legal Basis
- §Immigration Act 1971 s.1(2) — right of abode of Commonwealth citizens settled before 1 January 1973
- §Windrush Scheme 2018 — administrative scheme for documenting Windrush Generation status
- §Windrush Compensation Scheme — financial compensation for losses caused by hostile environment
What To Do
Contact the Windrush Taskforce
Call the Windrush Helpline on 0800 678 1925 (free, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) or apply online via GOV.UK. Explain your situation and the documentation you need. The taskforce can guide you through what evidence is acceptable and how to submit your application.
Gather Evidence of Long Residence
Collect as much evidence as possible of your continuous residence in the UK: employment records, school or university records, NHS records, National Insurance records, HM Revenue and Customs records, letters from churches or community organisations, and witness statements from employers, teachers, or community leaders who knew you in the UK.
Submit Your Application for Documentation
Submit your Windrush documentation application to the Home Office. The application is free. The Home Office will issue a letter confirming your status, a No Time Limit (NTL) stamp in a current passport, or — if you qualify — documents confirming your right of abode or Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Apply Separately to the Windrush Compensation Scheme for Losses Suffered
If you suffered losses because of the hostile environment — including loss of employment, wrongful detention, inability to access the NHS, or homelessness — apply to the Windrush Compensation Scheme. The scheme is free; you can apply yourself, use a legal representative, or seek help from the Windrush Justice Fund.
Important Deadlines
Important Warnings
You do not need to pay a representative to apply to the Windrush Scheme — it is entirely free. Be wary of unscrupulous immigration advisers who charge fees for Windrush applications.
Compensation claims under the Windrush Compensation Scheme should be submitted as soon as possible — the scheme may close. Keep evidence of all financial losses.
If you were wrongly deported, contact the Windrush Helpline immediately — there is a specific route to facilitate your return to the UK.