The domestic violence concession is now called the Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC). It gives eligible people who hold UK permission as a partner, or as the dependant of a partner, three months of independent immigration status and the chance to apply for access to public funds. That short window lets you leave an abusive relationship without losing your right to remain in the UK while you sort out a longer-term route, usually settlement under the domestic abuse rules.
If you are in danger now, call 999. Everything below can wait until you are safe.
TL;DR
- The MVDAC is a Home Office concession that gives 3 months’ leave outside the rules, with permission to work and no bar on public funds, for eligible victims of domestic abuse.
- It was formerly called the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC), and its eligibility has been widened several times, most recently in October 2026 to cover some adult children.
- You apply on the Leave Outside the Immigration Rules (DDV) form. Evidence is judged on the balance of probabilities and there is no single mandatory format.
- Benefits are not automatic. You must claim them separately and meet their own rules.
- Before the three months end, you must apply for settlement (SET(DV)) if eligible, apply for another route, or arrange to leave. Take advice early.
Table of Contents
- What the concession is
- Who is eligible
- What you get if the concession is granted
- Other financial help while you wait
- How to apply
- What happens after the three months
- Common concerns
- Our perspective
- How we can help
- FAQ
- Sources
What the concession is
The MVDAC is a policy concession, not part of the Immigration Rules. The Home Office’s own guidance says it is meant to let eligible victims safely leave an abusive relationship and find independent support while they deal with their long-term immigration options.
It does not grant settlement and it is not a visa you can renew. It is a bridge. The three months exist so that a person whose right to stay depended on a partner is not forced to choose between staying with an abuser and becoming destitute or unlawfully resident.
You may still see it called the destitution domestic violence concession, the DDV concession or DDVC. These are older names for the same policy, and many charity and advice pages still use them.
Who is eligible
Eligibility is set out in the Home Office guidance, and it has grown over time. In summary, you must be 18 or over, your relationship must have broken down because of domestic abuse, and you must need independent status and want the option of applying for public funds.
The guidance covers people who have, or last had, permission in particular routes:
- as a partner under Appendix FM (the family route, which includes spouse and partner visas);
- as a partner under the armed forces route;
- as the dependent partner of someone on a work or study route;
- as a spouse, civil partner or durable partner with pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
The history matters because many older web pages are out of date. The concession originally covered only partners under Appendix FM or the armed forces rules, was extended to dependants on work or study routes on 16 February 2024, and to EU pre-settled status holders from 4 April 2024. If you were told years ago that you did not qualify because your partner was a student or a skilled worker, that advice may no longer be right.
The same guidance also warns that the policy does not provide for all victims of domestic abuse. If your situation falls outside these routes, for example if you came as a visitor, other options may exist, so ask a specialist rather than assuming there is nothing.
What counts as domestic abuse
Abuse is not only physical. Controlling behaviour, threats, sexual abuse, financial abuse and emotional abuse can all form part of the picture. The Home Office asks whether it is satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that the relationship broke down because of abuse, which is a lower standard than the criminal courts use. You do not need a conviction or a police report to apply.
What you get if the concession is granted
A successful application gives you:
- three months of leave outside the rules;
- permission to work;
- no prohibition on recourse to public funds, which means you can apply for benefits and housing support that you could not claim before.
That last point is often misunderstood. Public funds are not guaranteed: the concession removes the bar, but you still have to apply to the relevant body and meet its criteria. Local authorities, the Department for Work and Pensions and housing teams each decide for themselves.
Children
Dependent children can be added to your application, even if they would not qualify on their own. They can be under 18, or 18 and over if they were last granted permission as a dependent child and are not living an independent life. The October 2026 update extended eligibility to adult children in that position.
Other financial help while you wait
Public funds can take time to arrive. In England and Wales, the government has announced that around £2 million through the Women’s Aid Flexible Fund will provide payments of up to £500 and rental deposit payments of up to £2,500 to help victims escape abuse. Funding is channelled through specialist services, so the route in is usually a domestic abuse organisation rather than a direct application.
For migrant women in particular, specialist organisations such as Southall Black Sisters, Solace Women’s Aid and JUNO Women’s Aid are named in Refuge’s guide on money and financial abuse as sources of advice on abuse, money, housing and legal options. The same guide notes that legal aid may be available if you are on a low income and can evidence the abuse.
If your problem includes court proceedings about children or finances and you cannot afford a lawyer, some people look for family court support from a McKenzie Friend, who can help you prepare and sit alongside you in a hearing. A McKenzie Friend is not a solicitor, so immigration questions still need regulated advice.
How to apply
The process is shorter than most visa applications, but it deserves care.
- Complete the LOTR (DDV) form. This is the Leave Outside the Immigration Rules form for domestic violence concession cases, and you send it to the Home Office. Use the current version from the official GOV.UK guidance page, because forms are renamed and updated.
- Explain what happened. Give enough information for the Home Office to conclude that the relationship broke down due to domestic abuse. Evidence is considered in the round and no specific format is mandatory.
- Include your children, if they are with you. Name them on the application so they receive the same period of leave.
- Keep your UKVI account secure. Your online account may hold details your former partner knows about. The Home Office guidance has a section on keeping an applicant’s account secure, so change passwords and contact details where you can do so safely.
- Keep copies. Photograph or scan everything you send, and store it somewhere your partner cannot reach, such as with a trusted friend, an advice service or a solicitor.
Evidence that helps
There is no fixed list, but typical material includes:
- letters from a domestic abuse charity, GP, health visitor or social worker;
- police or court records, such as a crime reference number or a protection order;
- messages, emails or recordings showing threats or controlling behaviour;
- a personal statement describing events with dates as far as you can recall them.
If you have none of these, say so and explain why. A clear, consistent personal account can carry real weight, but writing it well is one of the places where legal help is most useful.
What happens after the three months
This is where people most often run into trouble. The concession ends after three months, and the guidance sets out your options. If you do not hold EU pre-settled status, before it expires you must:
- apply for permission to stay in a relevant immigration route;
- apply for settlement on form SET(DV) if you are eligible under Appendix VDA; or
- make arrangements to leave the UK.
If you hold pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you can apply for SET(DV) at any time, but you lose access to public funds under the concession if you do not apply within the three-month period.
Settlement for victims of domestic abuse
Appendix VDA is the route to indefinite leave to remain (settlement) for victims of domestic abuse who meet its requirements. The guidance stresses that you should submit the SET(DV) application before the three months run out so that you continue to benefit from section 3C leave, which keeps your status going while the Home Office decides.
Missing that deadline can leave you without lawful status and without access to public funds. Count the days from the date your concession was granted, not from the day you received the letter, and plan to apply well before the end.
Since the settlement application is the real goal, think about the evidence for it at the same time as the concession application. A consistent account across both reduces the risk of questions later.
Common concerns
“Will I be removed if I apply?” The concession exists so that victims can come forward. Applying is the lawful way to protect your position, but each case differs, especially where your previous permission has already expired. Get advice before submitting if there are gaps in your status.
“My partner controls my documents.” Say so in your application. Many applicants have no access to passports, letters or the account used for the original visa, and charities and solicitors deal with this regularly.
“I am not sure the abuse is serious enough.” Controlling and financial abuse count. If you are afraid, isolated or being denied money or documents, speak to a specialist service and let them help you judge it.
“I came on a different visa.” The routes listed above are the only ones covered, but your circumstances may still fit another provision. Do not rule yourself out from a web page that may be several years old.
Our perspective
In our work on family and partner cases, the same pattern appears again and again. People come to us when the three months are already running, or when the relationship has ended and their visa is close to expiry. The legal test is not the hard part. The hard part is that the person is frightened, short of money and holding fragments of paperwork.
We handle every enquiry through a qualified solicitor from the first contact, not a trainee, because a client in this position should not have to explain their situation more than once. We publish fixed fees so that cost is not one more source of fear. Our fees page lists them, including £120 for a one-hour initial consultation and £1,000 for a settlement application. If more than one person needs to be included, additional applicants are £400 each. We do not publish a fixed price for every service, and where a matter needs individual assessment we say so before you commit.
Our advice is practical. Apply for the concession as early as you safely can, put your children on the application, and treat the settlement application as the deadline that matters. Keep a record of every date. Where you also need a specialist domestic abuse service for refuge, housing or a safety plan, use it alongside legal advice, not instead of it.
— michelle
How we can help
If your status is at risk, an initial consultation lets a solicitor look at your visa history, the evidence you have and the deadlines you face, then tell you what to file and in what order. Settlement applications, extensions, leave to remain and appeals are all handled in the same team. You can see what we do on our immigration services page, or read about our urgent visa service if time is already short.
If you later want to rebuild your immigration position through a new partner application, our guides to spouse visa documents and changes of circumstances after a spouse visa explain what the Home Office expects.
FAQ
Is the domestic violence concession the same as the MVDAC?
Yes. The Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession is the current name for what was called the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession. The purpose is the same: a short period of leave so a victim can leave an abusive partner and seek longer-term status.
How long does the concession last?
It lasts three months. During that time you have permission to work and can apply for public funds. Before it ends you need to apply for settlement under Appendix VDA if you qualify, apply for another route, or arrange to leave the UK.
Do I get benefits automatically if the concession is granted?
No. The concession removes the bar on public funds, but you must apply for each benefit or housing support and meet its criteria. A domestic abuse charity can help you with claims and with emergency payments while you wait.
Can my children be included?
Yes. Children can be added to your application even if they would not qualify alone. They can be under 18, or 18 and over if they were last granted permission as a dependent child and are not living independently.
Where can I get help with money problems caused by abuse?
Specialist services for migrant women, such as Southall Black Sisters, Solace Women’s Aid and JUNO Women’s Aid, advise on abuse, money, housing and legal options. In an emergency, call 999.
Sources
- Migrant victims of domestic abuse concession, GOV.UK
- Vital support for victims in £20 million funding boost, GOV.UK
- My Money, My Life, Refuge
- Legal support for domestic abuse victims, McKenzie Friend guidance
Leave a Reply