If you have lived abroad

You need a check for each country where you spent a continuous period of six months or more. Each must come from an official source in that country, usually a government body, and the personal details must match your application exactly. These checks take time and the SIA cannot decide without them, so start them before you apply. The threshold changed from five years to ten years on 1 December 2025.

The SIA offers this option after you submit the application. An approved exception requires a sworn oath, a letter confirming the oath is genuine, and a character reference from a professional or a person of equivalent standing. If you served in the armed forces overseas, an extract from your military service record can be used instead of country checks.