Specialist ECAA Lawyers for Turkish Nationals in London
Kreston Solicitors has built a strong reputation within the Turkish and Turkish-Cypriot communities in London for our work under the European Community Association Agreement, better known as the Ankara Agreement. Our Enfield office sits in the heart of a vibrant Turkish-speaking community that stretches across Edmonton, Palmers Green, Haringey, Wood Green and beyond, and our London ECAA solicitors regularly assist clients throughout Greater London on Ankara Agreement matters.
Although the ECAA route has been closed to new entrants since 1 January 2021, existing ECAA Businessperson and Worker visa holders (along with their dependants) continue to have important rights under Appendix ECAA of the UK Immigration Rules. Getting expert advice from specialist London immigration lawyers is essential to protect those rights.
Current Position: ECAA After Brexit
The Ankara Agreement was originally signed in 1963 between Turkey and the European Economic Community. When the UK joined the EEC in 1973, it became bound by the Agreement, allowing Turkish nationals to establish businesses and take up employment in the UK on more favourable terms than other overseas nationals.
When the UK left the EU, the Ankara Agreement ceased to apply to new applicants from 11pm on 31 December 2020. However, the UK Government preserved the rights of those who already held ECAA leave through Appendix ECAA of the Immigration Rules. This means that:
- New entry clearance applications under the Ankara Agreement are no longer possible
- Existing ECAA Businesspersons and Workers can apply to extend their leave
- Children of ECAA visa holders under the age of 21 can, in some circumstances, still apply to join their parents in the UK
- Partners and children who were already dependants on or before 31 December 2020 can apply to extend their leave as dependants
- ECAA holders and their qualifying dependants may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous residence
ECAA Services Our London Solicitors Provide
ECAA Businessperson Extensions
If you are already in the UK as an ECAA Businessperson, you can apply to extend your stay under Appendix ECAA Extension of Stay. You must show that:
- You are continuing to run a genuine, viable UK business
- You have invested a realistic and proportionate amount in the business
- You have sufficient funds to maintain yourself and any dependants without public funds
- You have complied with UK tax, immigration and companies’ obligations
Our ECAA solicitors help you prepare the documentary evidence (accounts, tax returns, invoices, contracts, bank statements and client testimonials) needed to demonstrate that your business is active and genuine.
Dependants of ECAA Visa Holders
Partners’ and children’s rights under Appendix ECAA can be complex, especially since the closure of the route. Our London immigration lawyers advise on:
- Applications for dependent partners and children under 21
- Applications by adult children who previously held ECAA leave
Transfers from other categories where appropriate
Why Choose Kreston Solicitors for ECAA Cases?
- Deep roots in the Turkish community of North London, Enfield, Edmonton, Palmers Green, Wood Green and beyond
- Turkish-speaking solicitors and support staff at our London office
- Long track record of successful ECAA applications and appeals
- Understanding of the commercial realities facing Turkish-owned businesses, from restaurants and barbers to wholesale and construction
- Transparent fixed fees wherever possible
Contact Our London ECAA Solicitors
If you hold or previously held an ECAA visa and are thinking about extending your stay, applying for settlement, or challenging a refusal, contact Kreston Solicitors today. We are based at 44 London Road, Enfield, and we welcome clients from across London and the UK.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The ECAA route closed to new applicants at 11pm on 31 December 2020, following Brexit. Only existing visa holders and certain qualifying dependants can now apply under Appendix ECAA. Turkish nationals wishing to come to the UK for business or work for the first time must use the current points-based routes, such as the Skilled Worker or Innovator Founder routes.
ECAA extensions are usually granted for three years at a time. Your dependants will normally be granted leave aligned with yours. After five years of continuous lawful residence you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain under Appendix ECAA.
Under the current rules, ECAA extension applicants and their qualifying dependants are not generally required to pay an application fee or the Immigration Health Surcharge, reflecting the historic treaty basis of the route. Rules do change, so our London ECAA solicitors will confirm the current position when you instruct us.
Children under 21 of an ECAA visa holder can, in some circumstances, still apply for entry clearance or further leave to remain as dependants, even if they were not previously in the UK. We will assess your family’s specific circumstances and advise on the best route.
Yes. Kreston Solicitors has Turkish-speaking immigration lawyers at our Enfield office at 44 London Road, easily reached from Edmonton, Palmers Green, Haringey, Wood Green, Tottenham and across North London.
The Home Office looks closely at business genuineness and viability. Refusals often turn on insufficient evidence, poor bookkeeping, or inconsistencies between tax returns and application forms. If you have received such a refusal, speak to our ECAA solicitors urgently, there is usually a short window to challenge the decision.
Yes, in many cases you can switch, for example, into the Skilled Worker route if you have a qualifying job offer, or the Spouse Visa route if you have a British or settled partner. Switching has different fees and conditions and may affect your long-term settlement planning, so we recommend tailored advice first.