Indefinite Leave to Remain UK (ILR) allows migrants to settle permanently in the United Kingdom without immigration time restrictions. Once UK ILR is granted, individuals can live, work and study in the UK indefinitely and are no longer required to extend their visa.
ILR is the final stage of many UK immigration routes and is often the step before applying for British citizenship by naturalisation.
Most migrants become eligible for ILR after completing a qualifying residence period on an eligible visa route while meeting the requirements set out in the UK Immigration Rules.
This guide explains:
• What Indefinite Leave to Remain is
• The main visa routes that lead to settlement
• Continuous residence rules
• English language and Life in the UK Test requirements
• The ILR application process
• Common reasons for ILR refusal
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Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is a form of permanent residence in the UK granted under the Immigration Rules. Once UK ILR is approved, the holder may remain in the UK without needing to extend their visa.
UK ILR holders can:
In most cases, individuals who hold ILR may apply for British citizenship after 12 months, provided they meet the naturalisation requirements.
Official immigration rules governing settlement applications can be found within the UK government’s Immigration Rules:
Different visa categories can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. The qualifying residence period depends on the immigration route under which the applicant has been living in the UK.
While many visas allow temporary residence, only certain immigration routes lead to settlement. Applicants must normally complete a continuous period of lawful residence, meet the requirements of their visa category, and satisfy the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK requirement.
Migrants living in the UK with their British or settled partner may qualify for settlement after completing five years on the Partner Visa route.
This route typically begins with a Spouse Visa, Civil Partner Visa, or Unmarried Partner Visa, which grants 30 months of leave. Applicants must then extend their visa for a further 30 months before becoming eligible for ILR.
To qualify, applicants must demonstrate:
Settlement applications under the Partner route are submitted using Form SET(M).
Migrants living and working in the UK under the Skilled Worker Visa may qualify for ILR after completing five years of continuous residence.
Applicants must normally demonstrate that they:
Because this route is employer-sponsored, applicants must remain compliant with their Certificate of Sponsorship and immigration conditions throughout the qualifying period.
👉 Skilled Worker Visa ILR Guide
Migrants may also qualify for ILR after completing 10 years of lawful continuous residence in the UK, even if this residence was across multiple visa categories.
This route recognises individuals who have built up a long period of lawful residence in the UK.
Applicants must normally demonstrate:
The Long Residence route often includes time spent on visas such as:
Most ILR applications require applicants to demonstrate continuous lawful residence in the UK during the qualifying period.
Continuous residence generally means:
The Home Office will review travel history and immigration records when assessing whether residence has been continuous.
If continuous residence is broken, the qualifying period for settlement may restart. You can read more details in UKVI's Calculating Continuous Period caseworker guidance.
Most applicants for Indefinite Leave to Remain must meet the Knowledge of Language and Life in the UK requirement.
This requirement normally includes:
Applicants may meet the English requirement through:
Failure to meet this requirement is a common reason for ILR refusal.
Applications for settlement are normally submitted online using the relevant settlement form, depending on the immigration route.
For example:
The exact form depends on the immigration route, including SET(M) for Partner route applicants and SET(O) for many work and long residence settlement applications.
Applicants must submit supporting documents demonstrating:
Biometric information is also required before a decision is made.
Processing times vary depending on the application type and whether priority services are used.
Processing times for Indefinite Leave to Remain applications vary depending on the immigration route and whether priority services are used.
Typical processing options include:
Priority services are subject to availability and do not guarantee approval.
👉 Visa Processing Times Explained
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Applicants must pay a government application fee when applying for ILR.
The current application fee is £3,226 per applicant (as of April 2026).
Additional costs may include:
• Priority processing fees (an additional £500 - £1,000 per applicant)
• English language test fees (£150)
• Life in the UK Test fee (£50)
Application fees are normally non-refundable, even if the application is refused.
If you want expert advice about the options available to you or if you are preparing your application and want access to First Migration's knowledge and experience, this is the service for you.
If you want to prepare your own application, why not take advantage of our Document and Application Review Service. Our specialist team can ensure your application is correctly prepared and all supporting documents meet the requirements for your application to be approved.
Our Full Consultancy Service is for clients looking for an end to end service where we take care of the full application process. We'll provide document lists and templates, complete the application forms and take care of everything else for you.
Our Priority Consultancy Service provides you with all the benefits of the Full Consultancy Service plus we will prepare and submit your application within 48 working hours of receiving all the supporting documents for your application.
Applicants must provide supporting documents to demonstrate eligibility for settlement.
Typical documents include:
• Passport and immigration documents
• Evidence of lawful residence
• Life in the UK Test pass notification
• English language certificate (if required)
• Evidence relevant to the visa route used
Examples include:
• Financial and relationship evidence for Partner Visa applicants
• Employer and salary evidence for Skilled Worker applicants
• Immigration history evidence for Long Residence applicants
Submitting incorrect or incomplete documents is a common reason for refusal.
Applicants may normally apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain up to 28 days before completing the qualifying residence period.
Submitting an application earlier than this may result in refusal.
The qualifying period varies depending on the immigration route.
Common examples include:
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Although UK ILR allows permanent residence, the status may lapse if the holder remains outside the UK for more than two consecutive years.
If this occurs, individuals may need to apply for a Returning Resident Visa to regain their settlement status.
Once Indefinite Leave to Remain is granted, you may remain in the UK permanently.
ILR holders may:
Most migrants may apply for British citizenship after holding ILR for 12 months.
Spouses of British citizens may apply immediately after receiving ILR if they meet the eligibility requirements.
ILR applications may be refused if the applicant fails to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.
Common refusal reasons include:
UK ILR Settlement applications require careful preparation because errors can delay approval or affect immigration status.
At First Migration, we assist clients with:
Not all UK visas lead to settlement. Some immigration routes provide a direct pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain, while others are temporary and do not lead to permanent residence.
Common visa routes that lead to ILR include:
Whether a visa leads to settlement depends on the Immigration Rules for that route and the applicant’s ability to meet the relevant residence and eligibility requirements.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is a form of permanent residence that allows migrants to live and work in the UK without time restrictions. ILR holders may remain in the UK indefinitely and may apply for British citizenship after 12 months if they meet the naturalisation requirements.
The qualifying period depends on the immigration route. Many migrants qualify after five years on routes such as the Partner Visa or Skilled Worker Visa. Others may qualify after ten years of lawful continuous residence under the Long Residence route.
The Life in the UK Test is a requirement for most ILR applicants. It assesses knowledge of British history, culture, and society. Applicants must pass this test before submitting their ILR application unless they qualify for an exemption.
Most applicants must demonstrate English language ability at B1 level or higher under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
Yes. ILR applications may be refused if the applicant does not meet the Immigration Rules or if the required evidence is not provided.
ILR does not normally expire, but it may lapse if the holder remains outside the UK for more than two consecutive years.
Most individuals can apply for British citizenship 12 months after obtaining ILR, provided they meet the residence and good character requirements.
Yes. Some routes such as the 10-year Long Residence route allow time spent across multiple visa categories to count toward settlement.
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