Indefinite leave to remain

ILR or Indefinite is also called settlement for foreign nationals residing in the UK. Indefinite leave to remain enables you to live, work or study in the UK without any restriction, subsequently can apply for British Citizenship. You may be able to apply for Indefinite leave to remain if you work in UK, have family in the UK, have lived in the UK for 10 years or you are a Commonwealth citizen. You are required to spend qualifying period in one of the immigration categories that will lead to settlement then you might be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain which means you will no longer be living with any restrictions, you can stay and work, start your own business freely without any restrictions.

Eligibility requirement varies depending on the circumstances of the individual and the type of visa they hold, and your status you old However, the applicant must have lived in the UK with no criminal record and must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months during qualifying period.

To qualify for settlement or ILR, you must be under one of the following categories, there might be other discretionary option available however following are more commonly known as routes to indefinite leave to remain ILR.

Work

• Tier 2, T2, International Sportsperson or Skilled Worker visa
• Scale-up Worker visa
• Global Talent, Tier 1 Entrepreneur, or Investor visa
• Innovator Founder visa
• represent an overseas business
• Turkish Worker or Businessperson visa
• Private servant in a diplomatic household with an International Agreement Domestic worker

• your partner has died
• your relationship ended because of domestic violence
• spouse or partner
• Child dependent
• Parents visa
• Private life
• Parents visa

• you’ve been living here for 10 years or more.
• Commonwealth citizen
• Ancestry visa
• You may be eligible for citizenship instead, for example by applying under the Windrush scheme.

If you have ILR you no longer have any restriction, you will be regarded as settle residence of UK and can live freely. In some circumstances you may have difficulty to prove ILR status for practical reason, such as if you have lost you passport containing your status endorsement or stolen or has expired or you don’t have documentary evidence you proof ILR or have legitimately changed your identity since being granted ILR , you can apply no time limit application for confirmation of you status if form of BRP.

Requirements to qualify for indefinite leave to remain could be vary depending inimical circumstances however in general following are the requirement based on which you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

• Being present in UK legally for certain period.
• Have passed life in UK test.
• Can proof requirements of B1 English level.
• Have not been outside of UK more than 180 days during past 12 months.
• You do not fall for refusal under para 9 of the immigration rules.

At the time of writing 2024, ILR application cost is £2885 for each person applying.

Applicant are required to provide prove of knowledge of English language by passing an approved English language test at least level A1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale for your first visa application or at least level A2 in speaking and listening if applying for extension unless you are exempt. You can prove knowledge of English by providing degree certificate, if you have a degree or academic qualification that was taught or research in English. You may need to provide certificate from Eccti to show degree equivalency to UK research or academic degree and confirmation it was taught in English.

• you’re applying as an adult coming to be cared for by a relative
• you’ve been in the UK on a family visa for 5 years and you’re extending it as a partner or parent.
• you’re over 65.
• you’re applying as a child.
• you have a physical or mental condition that prevents you from meeting the requirement.
• You will also be exempt if you are from majority English speaking country including Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados. Belize, the British Overseas Territories, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, USA.

To maximize chances of success in ILR application you are require providing number of supporting documents as follows.

• Valid passport or travelling documents.
• Evidence of meeting financial requirements such as employment letter bank stamen, payslip.
• Details of criminal conviction if any
• Evidence of genuine and subsisting relationship
• Evidence showing time spent outside UK.
• Pass life in UK test
• Evidence of English language test B1.
• Other documents depending on your circumstances.