Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

Key takeaways

• ILR (settlement) lets you live, work and study in the UK without time limits and is normally the main step before British citizenship.
• Most applicants apply for ILR after 5 years on a qualifying route, but some routes allow settlement after 3 years, while long residence usually requires 10 years.
• As of June 2026 the five-year route still applies, but the Government has confirmed plans for an “earned settlement” system that would raise the standard qualifying period to ten years, expected to take effect in autumn 2026.
• The current ILR application fee is £3,226 per person. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge for ILR.
• You must usually pass the Life in the UK test, meet the English language requirement (currently CEFR level B1 for most routes), and not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
• You can apply up to 28 days before completing your qualifying period. A standard decision takes up to six months, with paid priority options available.

Obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK is the main long-term goal for many people who wish to stay in the country permanently. ILR — also called settlement — removes the time limits attached to most visas and is usually the final step before applying for British citizenship.

Before you apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, it is important to understand the requirements, the costs and the qualifying period that applies to your visa route. The process is detailed, and a single error can lead to refusal, so it is worth getting it right the first time.

Table of contents

• What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
• What does ILR allow you to do?
• What are the requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain?
• How long must I have lived in the UK to apply for ILR?
• What is continuous residence for ILR?
• Can different visa categories be combined for ILR?
• What are the English language requirements for ILR?
• What is the Life in the UK test?
• Can dependants apply for ILR?
• How do I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?
• What documents do I need for an ILR application?
• How long does an ILR application take?
• How much does Indefinite Leave to Remain cost in 2026?
• What can I do if my ILR application is refused?
• What happens after ILR — the route to citizenship
• What is the “earned settlement” reform, and will the qualifying period change?
• Why choose Sterling Law for your ILR application?
• FAQ

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

ILR is a form of settlement that allows people from other countries to live in the United Kingdom without a time limit on their stay. It removes most of the conditions attached to ordinary visas and is a key step on the road to permanent settlement and citizenship.

ILR is one of the last stages of becoming a permanent resident. Holders can work, study and access most public services, and they can usually apply for British citizenship after holding settlement for twelve months (or sooner in some cases, such as those married to a British citizen who meet the residence rules for naturalisation).

Not everyone can apply straight away, because you first need to hold an eligible visa. Routes that can lead to ILR include Spouse and partner visas, unmarried partner visas, family visas, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, the Skilled Worker route, and certain sportsperson visas. It is also possible to settle from the Minister of Religion, Senior or Specialist Worker, UK Ancestry, and long residence routes, among others.

What does ILR allow you to do?

ILR gives the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as the status remains valid. With ILR, a person can usually:

• live in the UK without a visa expiry date;
• work for an employer or be self-employed;
• study in the UK;
• access public funds and benefits if eligible;
• use the NHS without paying the Immigration Health Surcharge;
• sponsor eligible family members under the Immigration Rules;
• apply for British citizenship later, if the naturalisation requirements are met.

ILR is not the same as British citizenship. An ILR holder remains subject to immigration rules in some situations, including rules on long absences, deception, serious criminality and deportation.

What are the requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain?

The requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain depend on the route, but most applications involve several core issues. The Home Office will look at both the qualifying period and the applicant’s current eligibility at the date of application.

Most ILR applicants need to show:

• the correct qualifying period in the UK;
• continuous lawful residence;
• absences within the permitted limits, where absence rules apply;
• compliance with immigration conditions;
• no serious suitability concerns;
• the required English language evidence, unless exempt;
• the Life in the UK Test, unless exempt;
• route-specific evidence, such as employment, salary, family relationship or business evidence.

The application is not approved simply because a person has lived in the UK for several years. The applicant must prove that the specific rules for their settlement route are met.

How long must I have lived in the UK to apply for ILR?

The qualifying period depends on your visa route. Five years is the standard requirement, but some routes are shorter and some are longer.

You can submit your ILR application up to 28 days before you complete your qualifying period. Applying earlier than that can lead to refusal, so timing matters.

What is continuous residence for ILR?

Continuous residence means that the applicant has lived in the UK throughout the required qualifying period without breaking the residence rules. It is one of the most important ILR requirements.

For many work, business and long residence routes, the absence rule is usually assessed by looking at whether the applicant has spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during the qualifying period.

Can different visa categories be combined for ILR?

Sometimes, but not always. Whether different visa categories can be combined depends on the settlement route.

For example, a Skilled Worker applicant may be able to count time spent on certain other work routes, but a spouse or partner on the 5-year family route usually cannot count time spent on an unrelated visa towards that 5-year family route.

Long residence is different because it is based on 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK across qualifying forms of permission. However, long residence has its own rules on lawful stay, excluded categories, absences and current permission.

If you have held more than one UK visa, your ILR strategy should be checked before applying. A route that looks shorter may not be available if earlier immigration categories do not count.

What are the English language requirements for ILR?

For most routes you must show English language ability at CEFR level B1 across speaking and listening, usually by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). Some applicants are exempt.

You generally do not need to take a test if any of the following apply:

• you are aged 65 or over;
• you are a national of a majority English-speaking country;
• you hold a degree that was taught or researched in English (subject to confirmation of the qualification);
• you qualify under a specific exemption, for example certain victims of domestic abuse or people granted humanitarian protection.

What is the Life in the UK test?

The Life in the UK test checks your knowledge of British traditions, history, culture and institutions. It has 24 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer at least 18 correctly to pass.

You can book the test at an approved test centre, with the centres listed on the Home Office website. The test fee is £50. If you do not pass, you can re-sit it after a short waiting period, with no limit on attempts, but you pay the fee each time. People under 18 and aged 65 or over are exempt, as are those with a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents them from taking it. You can read more in our guide to the Life in the UK test.

Can dependants apply for ILR?

Yes. Partners and spouses and other dependants can apply for settlement, usually at the same time as the main applicant.

Children under 18 can be included, and children over 18 may apply if they are still financially supported by their parents. Each dependant must usually meet the same core requirements as the main applicant, including the residence and absence rules, and pay the same application fee. Parents may also need to show they can support their children financially.

How do I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?

You apply online, choose the correct application form for your route, gather your documents, pay the fee and attend a biometric appointment. The two most common forms are SET(M), used by partners and children of British citizens or settled persons, and SET(O), used for most other routes such as work visas.

The main steps are:

1. Confirm your eligibility and that you have completed the correct qualifying period.
2. Pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English language requirement.
3. Complete the correct online form for your route.
4. Gather your supporting documents.
5. Pay the application fee and book your biometric appointment.
6. Attend your UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) appointment to provide fingerprints and a photograph.
7. Wait for the Home Office decision.

You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while an in-country ILR application is pending. If you do, the application may be treated as withdrawn.

What documents do I need for an ILR application?

The exact list depends on your circumstances, but every application needs proof of identity, evidence that you meet the residence and absence rules, and your test results. Preparing this evidence carefully is one of the most important parts of the process.

Documents commonly required include:

• a valid passport or other identity document;
• evidence of your immigration history and current status;
• a record of your travel, to show you meet the 180-day absence rule;
• your Life in the UK test pass notification;
• your approved English language test certificate (unless exempt);
• for families, children’s birth or adoption certificates and evidence of financial support;
• any route-specific evidence, such as an endorsement letter for Innovator Founder applicants or payslips for Skilled Worker applicants.

How long does an ILR application take?

A standard ILR application usually receives a decision within six months. If you need a faster outcome, you can pay for a priority service.

The priority service aims to provide a decision within five working days, and the super priority service within two working days, each for an additional fee. Processing can take longer if documents are missing or submitted incorrectly, which is another reason to prepare the application carefully.

How much does Indefinite Leave to Remain cost in 2026?

The ILR application fee is £3,226 per applicant from 8 April 2026, and each dependant pays the same amount separately. Unlike most temporary visas, an ILR application does not require the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Note that the Immigration Health Surcharge does apply to the limited (time-limited) visas held before settlement, but it is not charged on the ILR application itself. Optional premium appointment services may carry their own fees.

What can I do if my ILR application is refused?

If your application is refused, the Home Office will explain why. Depending on the reason, you may be able to apply again, ask for an administrative review, or in some cases appeal. Acting quickly and on proper advice is important.

The most common reasons for refusal are not meeting a requirement, missing or incorrect documents, excessive absences, an unspent criminal record, a previous immigration breach, or a relationship found not to be genuine. In rare cases the Home Office may refuse on public interest grounds.

A refusal is not always the end of the matter. If the issue was a simple error and you genuinely meet the requirements, you may be able to reapply. If you believe the decision was wrong, you may be able to challenge it.

What happens after ILR — the route to citizenship

ILR is usually the step before British citizenship. Most people can apply for naturalisation twelve months after being granted settlement, provided they meet the residence and good character requirements.

ILR does not expire, but it can lapse if you are absent from the UK for more than two years, so many people choose to move on to citizenship to secure their status.

What is the “earned settlement” reform, and will the qualifying period change?

The Government has confirmed plans to replace the current system with an “earned settlement” model, under which the standard qualifying period would rise to a ten-year baseline.

In May 2025 the Government published an immigration white paper proposing a longer qualifying period for settlement. A consultation on the detail, A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, closed on 12 February 2026. The Home Secretary has since confirmed that the qualifying period for ILR will be extended from five to ten years for many routes, with implementation expected in autumn 2026.

Two points are worth keeping in mind:

• The reform is intended to apply, in principle, to people who are already in the UK and on a pathway to settlement, although the position on transitional arrangements has not been finalised.
• Some routes are expected to keep shorter pathways. Indications so far suggest that Innovator Founder and Global Talent routes would retain a three-year route, and partners of British citizens would remain on five years.

Because the position is still developing, anyone approaching eligibility should take advice on whether to apply under the current rules before any changes take effect.

Why choose Sterling Law for your ILR application?

Sterling Law advises individuals and families on Indefinite Leave to Remain applications, including 5-year work routes, family routes, long residence, dependants, domestic abuse settlement, refugee settlement and complex immigration histories.

Our work can include:

• checking the correct ILR route and application form;
• calculating the qualifying period and 28-day application window;
• reviewing absences and continuous residence;
• identifying whether different visa categories can be combined;
• checking English language and Life in the UK evidence;
• preparing document checklists for the correct route;
• reviewing employment, salary, family or business evidence;
• drafting legal representations for complex cases;
• advising dependants and family members;
• assisting after refusal or where there are suitability concerns.

If you are preparing an ILR application, unsure which route applies, or concerned about absences, documents or refusal risks, contact Sterling Law for legal advice before submission.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

ILR is settlement status that lets you live, work and study in the UK without time limits or most visa conditions. It is usually the step before British citizenship.

Who can apply for ILR?

People who have completed a qualifying period of lawful residence on an eligible visa, such as Skilled Worker, partner, Global Talent or Innovator Founder routes. The exact period depends on the route.

How long do I need to live in the UK before applying for ILR?

Most routes require five years of continuous lawful residence. Innovator Founder and Global Talent can lead to ILR after three years, while the long residence route requires ten years.

How much does an ILR application cost in 2026?

The application fee is £3,226 per person from 8 April 2026, with the same fee for each dependant.

How long does an ILR decision take?

A standard decision usually takes up to six months. Priority and super priority services aim to decide within five and two working days respectively, for an extra fee.

Can I travel after getting ILR?

Yes. ILR has no day-to-day travel limit, but it can lapse if you are outside the UK for a continuous period of more than two years.

Does ILR expire?

ILR has no fixed expiry date, but it can lapse through long absence and can be revoked for serious criminality or where it was obtained by deception.

What can I do if my ILR application is refused?

Depending on the reason, you may be able to reapply, request an administrative review, or appeal. Taking early legal advice gives you the best chance of putting things right.

Submit your enquiry