~Settlement
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) grants permanent UK residence — eliminating visa renewals, sponsor ties, and work restrictions, while opening the path to British citizenship.
Settlement Timelines by Route
5-Year Route: Skilled Worker, Health & Care, Ancestry, and Family visas require 5 years of continuous residence and meeting salary/earnings criteria.
Accelerated Route (2–3 Years): Global Talent and Innovator Founder routes offer fast-track ILR for eligible leaders and business founders.
10-Year Long Residence: Combines any sequence of lawful UK visas over 10 continuous years.
Key Criteria
All Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applicants must satisfy the 180-day absence rule, pass the Life in the UK Test, and meet B1 English language standards.
Continuous Residence & Absence Calculator
Track your trips outside the UK to ensure you don't breach the 180-day rolling absence limit for ILR.
Skilled Worker & Tier 2 (General)
5 years' continuous sponsored employment.
Spouse, Partner & Civil Partner
5 years on the family route, relationship still subsisting.
Long Residence (10 Years)
10 years' continuous lawful residence, regardless of visa type.
Global Talent
As little as 3 years for exceptional talent, 5 for exceptional promise.
UK Ancestry Visa
5 years' continuous residence on the ancestry route.
Refugee, Bereaved Partner & More
Routes with no minimum period, or different rules entirely.
~Compare
Qualifying periods, side by side.
ILR Qualifying Periods & Continuous Residence Requirements
Your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) qualifying period depends on your specific visa category and immigration history. Standard settlement timelines range from 2 to 5 years for work and family visas, or 10 years under the continuous lawful residence route.
To maintain eligibility, you must satisfy Home Office continuous residence rules (no more than 180 days’ absence in any 12-month period). Any breaks in lawful status or long absences may delay your exact ILR application eligibility date.
| ROUTE | QUALIFYING PERIOD |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker / Tier 2 (General) | |
| Spouse, Partner & Civil Partner | |
| Global Talent (exceptional promise) | |
| Global Talent (exceptional talent) | |
| UK Ancestry | |
| Long residence, any lawful basis | |
| Refugee or humanitarian protection | |
| Bereaved partner | |
| Domestic violence route |
* A 10-year standard qualifying period has been proposed for several routes but hasn't been implemented in the Immigration Rules as of mid-2026 — the periods above remain current[cite: 9].
~Shared Requirements
What most routes have in common.
Standard Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Beyond completing your qualifying period, applicants across nearly all routes must meet mandatory Home Office settlement criteria to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR):
Continuous Residence & Absence Limits: Maintain lawful status without spending more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period.
Knowledge of Language and Life (KOLL): Pass the Life in the UK Test and demonstrate B1 CEFR English language proficiency.
Good Character Requirement: Have a clean immigration record with no major criminal convictions, active NHS debts, or deception on prior applications.
Route-Specific Criteria: Meet minimum salary thresholds for work visas or provide proof of genuine cohabitation for spouse and partner visas.
Life in the UK test
A pass certificate is required for most Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) routes, unless you qualify for an exemption (age, disability, or specific route rules).
English at B1 or above
Required for ILR applications via an approved test, unless already evidenced in a previous qualifying visa application.
Continuous residence
Strict limits on time spent outside the UK — typically no more than 180 days in any 12-month period to maintain ILR eligibility.
Good character
No serious unspent criminal convictions and an honest UK immigration history with nothing undisclosed on your ILR application.
~ Other Circumstances
Routes that don't follow the standard pattern.
A few situations have different rules entirely — worth a direct conversation rather than a generic checklist.
Refugee or humanitarian protection
A separate route to UK permanent residence with its own qualifying period and evidence requirements.
Bereaved partner
If your UK-based partner has died, ILR settlement and permanent residence may be available with no minimum qualifying period.
Domestic violence route
If your relationship ended due to domestic abuse, permanent residence settlement may still be possible even though the relationship has broken down.
Children born or raised in the UK
Different rules apply for children securing UK permanent residence, including routes based on 7 years' continuous UK residence.
~Our Process
How we work with you.
Route confirmed
We identify exactly which UK permanent residence route and qualifying period applies to your specific visa history.
Eligibility checked
Continuous residence, absences, and any route-specific ILR settlement requirements are verified before anything is submitted.
Application submitted
Your adviser submits your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application at the correct time and books your biometric appointment.
Settlement granted
We explain your route towards British citizenship once your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status is successfully granted.
~Questions
Frequently asked.
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION | DETAILS & REQUIREMENTS |
|---|---|
| When can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)? | You can submit your application up to 28 days before completing your qualifying period (e.g., 5 years on a Skilled Worker or Spouse visa). Applying earlier than 28 days may result in a refusal. |
| What is the 180-day continuous residence rule? | To qualify for permanent residence, you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying residence period. |
| How much does an ILR application cost? | The standard Home Office fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain is £3,226 per applicant. Priority processing options are available at an additional cost for faster decision times. |
| Do I need to take the Life in the UK test for ILR? | Yes, most applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK Test and demonstrate B1 level English proficiency unless exempt due to age or medical condition. |
| Can I lose my Indefinite Leave to Remain status? | Yes. Your ILR will automatically lapse if you remain outside the UK continuously for more than 2 years (or 5 years if granted under the EU Settlement Scheme). |
| How long after ILR can I apply for British Citizenship? | You can typically apply for British citizenship after holding ILR for 12 months. However, if you are married to a UK citizen, you can apply immediately after receiving ILR. |