Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK
Settle in the UK permanently with clear, expert guidance from trusted immigration solicitors.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows non-UK citizens to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom without time limits. It’s the key step before British citizenship and offers long-term security to those who have built a life here.
If you’re preparing to apply for ILR, our specialist immigration solicitors in London can help you meet all legal requirements and submit a strong application.
Call us on +44 0208 166 1898 or get in touch through our website to speak with our immigration team.
Book your FREE consultation today!
Settle in the UK permanently with clear, expert guidance from trusted immigration solicitors.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows non-UK citizens to live, work, and study in the United Kingdom without time limits. It’s the key step before British citizenship and offers long-term security to those who have built a life here.
If you’re preparing to apply for ILR, our specialist immigration solicitors in London can help you meet all legal requirements and submit a strong application.
Call us on +44 0208 166 1898 or get in touch through our website to speak with our immigration team.
About Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Indefinite Leave to Remain, often called “settlement”, is not a visa but an immigration status. It allows you to remain in the UK without immigration restrictions, access public services, and work or study freely.
Most people apply for ILR after 5 or 10 years.
Note: The Government is currently consulting (until February 2026) on the ‘Earned Settlement’ model, which proposes moving the standard 5-year route to a 10-year baseline for most workers, with accelerated routes for high earners. This includes a proposal that ILR applicants must have paid National Insurance for at least three years and have no outstanding debts to the NHS or HMRC to qualify.
Our immigration solicitors can:
- Review your eligibility and visa history.
- Identify the correct ILR route (family, work, or long residence).
- Prepare and submit your ILR application to the Home Office.
- Verify your supporting documents.
- Help resolve complex or previously refused applications.
We provide straightforward advice at every stage so you can apply with confidence.
How to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK
To obtain ILR, you must have completed a continuous period of lawful residence on an eligible visa route. Common routes include:
- 5 years as a spouse or partner
- 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa
- 10 years of lawful, continuous residence
- 5 years as a refugee or under humanitarian protection
- 5 years on a UK Ancestry visa
You must then:
- Confirm your eligibility based on your visa type and residence period.
- Pass the Life in the UK Test.
- Meet the English language requirement (usually CEFR level B1).
- Complete the correct online form: SET(M), SET(O), or SET(LR).
- Upload your documents and attend a UKVCAS biometric appointment.
Pay the Home Office fee.
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How to apply for ILR in the UK
To obtain ILR, you must have completed a continuous period of lawful residence on an eligible visa route. Common routes include:
- 5 years as a spouse or partner
- 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa
- 10 years of lawful, continuous residence
- 5 years as a refugee or under humanitarian protection
- 5 years on a UK Ancestry visa
You must then:
- Confirm your eligibility based on your visa type and residence period.
- Pass the Life in the UK Test.
- Meet the English language requirement (usually CEFR level B1).
- Complete the correct online form: SET(M), SET(O), or SET(LR).
- Upload your documents and attend a UKVCAS biometric appointment.
- Pay the Home Office fee
ILR application checklist
✅ Confirm your qualifying route and continuous residence
✅ Pass the Life in the UK and English tests
✅ Prepare supporting evidence and financial documents
✅ Submit the correct online application form
✅ Attend your biometric appointment
✅ Wait for your Home Office decision (usually within 6 months)
Fees and processing time
- Home Office fee: £3,029
- Decision time: Around 6 months for standard applications
- Priority service: May be available for an additional fee
Our legal fees for ILR applications are fixed and will be confirmed before any work begins. Please contact us for a quote tailored to your case.
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To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain, you must usually meet the following:
- Continuous lawful residence
- You must have lived in the UK lawfully for the qualifying period.
- Typically, 5 years for family or work routes, or 10 years for long residence.
- For 5-year routes: You must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period.
- For 10-year routes: Absences after 11 April 2024 are limited to 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. Absences before 11 April 2024 are subject to the previous limit of 548 days in total.
- Knowledge of English and Life in the UK
- Pass the Life in the UK Test.
- Meet the English language requirement at B1 CEFR or higher (or hold a degree taught in English).
- Good character
- No serious or recent criminal convictions.
- No immigration breaches or overstaying.
- Financial requirements (where relevant)
- Family and work routes require proof of income or financial independence.
- Skilled Workers must remain with their sponsor and meet salary thresholds.
- Correct application form
- SET(M) – for spouses or partners.
- SET(O) – for most work-related routes.
- SET(LR) – for the 10-year long residence route.
- Biometric information
You’ll provide fingerprints and a photograph at your UKVCAS appointment.
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Supporting documents vary by visa route but usually include:
- Valid passport and digital eVisa (UKVI account share code)
- Proof of lawful residence and travel history
- Life in the UK Test pass certificate
- English language test certificate (B1 CEFR or higher)
- Financial documents (payslips, tax records, or bank statements)
- Employer letter or sponsorship confirmation
- Tenancy agreement or proof of property ownership
- Relationship evidence for family routes
Any non-English document must be translated by a certified translator.
Note: While B1 is the current standard for settlement, note that from 8 January 2026, new applicants for many work routes (Skilled Worker, Scale-up) must meet the higher B2 standard. For ILR, ensure you have a valid B1 certificate that has been previously used for a successful visa application, or sit a new test.
Can ILR be lost or withdrawn?
ILR has no expiry date, but it can be withdrawn in certain circumstances:
- Absence from the UK:
If you leave the UK for more than two continuous years, your ILR may lapse. You’ll need to apply for a Returning Resident visa to re-enter. - Serious criminal offences:
The Home Office can cancel ILR if you’re convicted of a serious crime or pose a risk to public safety. - Fraud or false information:
ILR can be revoked if obtained through deception. - Becoming a British citizen:
Once you are naturalised as a British citizen, your ILR automatically ends.
To maintain your ILR status, keep ties to the UK, avoid long absences, and ensure your current passport is linked to your UKVI account.
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Securing Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) requires meeting specific financial criteria that vary significantly depending on your path. With the government’s “Earned Settlement” model currently under consultation (through February 2026) and scheduled for implementation in April 2026, it is critical to ensure your income meets current standards before the baseline qualifying periods shift.
A. Family & Partner Routes
The current minimum income requirement (MIR) for most new spouse and partner applications is £29,000.
- Combined Income: This can include the income of both partners if the applicant is already working legally in the UK.
- Savings Alternative: If you are relying solely on cash savings to meet the requirement, the current threshold remains £88,500.
- Transitional Protections: Individuals who entered the partner route before April 2024 may still be eligible under the previous lower thresholds. We can audit your history to confirm if these protections apply to your upcoming settlement.
B. Skilled Worker and other work routes
Salary requirements for settlement have moved toward a higher skill-and-wage baseline.
- If you entered the route after April 2024, you must generally earn £41,700 to settle. If you were already in the route before that date, you may qualify under a transitional rate.
- Occupation-Specific Rates: The Home Office “Going Rates” are updated regularly. Meeting the general threshold is not enough; your specific role must satisfy the median salary requirements for your SOC code.
- Strategic Note: The upcoming April 2026 reforms may introduce higher English language requirements (B2 level) and deeper scrutiny of National Insurance contributions.
C. 10-year long residence
Under the current 10-year route, a critical “holding period” now applies. Even if you have reached 10 years of total lawful residence, you must have held your current grant of leave for at least 12 months before submitting your SET(LR) application. This rule is a frequent cause of refusal for those who switch visa categories in their final year of residence.
D. Humanitarian protection and refugees
- No financial requirement normally applies.
Our solicitors will confirm which financial evidence is appropriate for your specific ILR route.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying before completing the qualifying period.
- Using the wrong application form (SET(M), SET(O), or SET(LR)).
- Missing or incomplete financial documents.
- Failing to pass the Life in the UK Test.
- Inaccurate or incomplete travel history.
- Submitting untranslated foreign documents.
We carefully check every detail of your ILR application to help you avoid these common errors.
Recent client experience
We assisted a client who had been on a Skilled Worker visa for five years and was unsure about their qualifying absences. After verifying travel records and employment documents, their ILR was granted within four weeks.
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You may qualify through one of several routes:
- 5-year Spouse or Civil Partner route
- 5-year Skilled Worker route
- 10-year Long Residence
- UK Ancestry visa (after 5 years)
- Refugee or Humanitarian Protection (after 5 years)
- Private or Family Life route (usually 10 years)
Our solicitors will help you identify the correct route and prepare evidence specific to your immigration history.
ILR vs British citizenship
The table below shows how ILR differs from British citizenship:
Feature | Indefinite Leave to Remain | British Citizenship |
Right to stay permanently | Yes | Yes |
Voting in UK elections | No | Yes |
Apply for a British passport | No | Yes |
Travel flexibility | Limited (2-year rule) | Unlimited |
Subject to immigration control | No | No |
After holding ILR for 12 months, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship, provided you meet the other requirements.
Our UK immigration solicitors can help you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Expert advice on eligibility, documents, and Home Office applications for settlement in the UK.
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we understand that immigrating to a new country is a significant
decision that comes with its own set of challenges.
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Speak to our immigration solicitors
If you’re ready to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, our London immigration team can guide you through every stage of the process.
Call +44 0208 166 1898 or send us an enquiry to book a consultation.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
ILR gives you settled status in the UK with the right to live and work here without restriction.
2. How long must I stay in the UK before I can apply?
Usually 5 years, or 10 years under the long-residence route.
3. Can I lose ILR?
Yes, if you stay outside the UK for over two years or if it’s revoked for criminal or immigration reasons.
4. Do I need a language test?
Yes, unless exempt (for example, if you’re over 65 or from an English-speaking country).
5. Is ILR the same as British citizenship?
No. ILR is settlement status; citizenship gives you a British passport and full political rights.
6. Can you help with my ILR application?
Yes. We offer eligibility reviews, document checks, and full application support.
