Indefinite Leave to Remain, also called settlement, is permanent immigration status that normally allows a person to live, work and study in the UK without a time limit.

The qualifying period depends on the immigration route. Some routes can lead to settlement after 3 years, many after 5 years, and Long Residence is generally based on 10 years of qualifying lawful residence.

Many settlement routes allow an application up to 28 days before the qualifying period is completed, but the correct date depends on the route and immigration history. Applying too early can create refusal risk.

Absence rules are route-specific. Many work and business settlement routes use a maximum of 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period, but exceptions and different rules can apply.

Most adult settlement applicants aged 18 to 64 need to meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK requirement unless an exemption or route-specific exception applies.

English-language requirements depend on the settlement route and the date of application. Several routes have a higher B2 English requirement scheduled for applications from 26 March 2027, so the current rule should be checked before applying.

The current standard application fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain is £3,226 per person. Faster decision services may be available for some routes for an additional fee.

Standard settlement applications are usually decided within 6 months after biometric information is provided, although complex cases can take longer and faster services may be available on some routes.

Leaving the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while an in-country settlement application is pending will usually cause the application to be treated as withdrawn.

Some settlement routes allow qualifying time from specified other immigration categories to be combined, while others require the full qualifying period on a particular route. The complete immigration history should be reviewed before relying on combined residence.

No. Some visas are direct settlement routes, while others are temporary and do not lead directly to ILR. Where a current visa is not a settlement route, switching strategy or Long Residence may need to be considered.

Dependants may be able to apply at the same time or later depending on their own route, residence period, age and family circumstances. Family settlement timing should be checked separately.

ILR can normally lapse after a continuous absence of 2 years from the UK, Ireland and the Crown Dependencies. Other permanent statuses, including EUSS settled status, have different absence rules.

ILR can be an important step towards British citizenship. Many applicants usually wait 12 months after settlement before naturalising, while a person married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen can have different timing rules.

We can review the settlement route, qualifying period, absences, immigration history, route-specific evidence, dependants and application timing, then support the case from eligibility review through document preparation and submission guidance.