Who is eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain?

Eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) (settlement) in the UK depends on your current visa route, requiring a specific period of continuous lawful residence (often 3, 5, or 10 years), proving good character, passing the Life in the UK Test and meeting English language requirements, with pathways including work, family, ancestry, long residence, or other special categories like Global Talent or Innovator Founder visas.

Who is entitled to indefinite leave to remain?

You must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years. If you have a tier 1 visa, it can be 2 or 3 years. If you have an Innovator Founder or Global Talent visa, it can be 3 years. You may also need to meet the salary or financial requirements - this depends on your visa.

How long do you have to live to get indefinite leave to remain?

Applying for indefinite leave to remain or citizenship

Currently, most people on a 'route to settlement' can apply to live in the UK permanently after 5 years. This is called getting 'indefinite leave to remain' (ILR). The government plans to increase the wait to at least 10 years.

How much money do you need for indefinite leave to remain?

You need to be paid at least a minimum salary if you hold a T2, Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa. How much you must be paid depends on your visa. You'll usually need to be paid at least whichever is the higher out of the following: £41,700 per year.

Is it hard to get indefinite leave to remain in the UK?

Applying for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain is a demanding process. Under current rules, most applicants need five years of continuous UK residence with no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period. The evidential burden is high and the criteria are strict.

NEW 2026 ILR Application Process UK + Required Documents | Step-by-Step Guide

What documents do I need to apply for indefinite leave?

a current passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality. your biometric residence permit ( BRP ), if you have one - you can use it for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card. online proof of your immigration status if you have an eVisa - you'll need to get a share code.

How long is indefinite leave valid?

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) grants a person the right to live, work and study in the UK without being subject to immigration controls. Unlike visas, ILR has no expiry date, but you must be mindful of travel restrictions to maintain your status.

Which countries can I visit with UK indefinite leave to remain?

There are:

• Anguilla.
• Bermuda.
• British Antarctic Territory.
• British Indian Ocean Territory.
• British Virgin Islands.
• Cayman Islands.
• Falkland Islands.
• Gibraltar.

Can I migrate to the UK without a job offer?

You can apply for visas such as a High Potential Individual visa, Graduate visa, or Global Talent visa to get a work visa or work permit in the UK without a job offer. However, you will need to meet other criteria to successfully apply for an unsponsored work visa in the UK.

How much is indefinite leave to remain in the UK in 2025?

ILR Application Fee in 2025

The Home Office application fee for ILR in 2025 is £3,029 per person. This applies to both the main applicant and each dependant, including children.

Can you be denied indefinite leave to remain?

The Home Office can deny your ILR application based on the general grounds of refusal. These criteria are part of the UK Immigration Rules and may either be mandatory or discretionary. In the second case, the UKVI may consider your immigration history before deciding on how to proceed with your application.

What is the fastest way to get British citizenship?

If you have continuously lived in the UK for 5 years or longer, you will be able to apply for citizenship once you've had indefinite leave to remain status or settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) for 12 months. The criteria for citizenship through this route is as follows. You must: Be 18 or over.

What comes after indefinite leave to remain?

You can apply for citizenship if you've lived in the UK for 5 years and have had one of the following for 12 months: indefinite leave to remain in the UK. 'settled status' (also known as 'indefinite leave to remain under the EU Settlement Scheme')

How long can I stay outside the UK with indefinite leave to remain?

The 'continuous residence' limit on absences from the UK changed on 11 April 2024: The absences limit for periods spent in the UK after 11 April 2024 is the same requirement as the standard ILR route - no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12 month period.

What is the difference between permanent residence and indefinite leave to remain?

Unlike PR, ILR is not a result of European regulation and is obtained through UK national immigration laws. Who does it apply to? Non-EEA nationals that have stayed in the UK for at least 5 years under a permitted visa route.

Can I work if I have indefinite leave to remain?

you have indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain in the UK. there's no time limit to your stay in the UK. you can live in the UK and work - either any work or the type of work you're applying to do.

What jobs pay $4000 a month in the UK?

Jobs paying around £4,000 a month (£48,000/year) in the UK are often skilled professional roles, management, or specialist technical positions, including roles like Senior Customer Success Manager, Project Manager, Qualified Train Driver, IT Service Desk Operator, and Specialist Healthcare Support Worker, with some delivery/transport roles like HGV Driver or owner-operator roles also reaching this income, especially with bonuses or in high-demand areas. Specific examples found include Social Media Content Creator, BA Cityflyer Direct Entry Captain, and various NHS/local government roles, often in London or with specific skills. 

What is the easiest way to immigrate to the UK?

UK Work Visas

You can immigrate to the UK from the US through work visas if you have been offered a skilled job by a UK employer. The occupation must be on the Shortage Occupations List, and your prospective employer must have a certificate of sponsorship.

What is the 7 year rule visa in the UK?

You may be able to apply on the basis of being the parent of a child who has been in the UK for seven years. You may hear this being referred to as the “seven years residence rule”. The seven year rule is found in Appendix Private Life of the immigration rules.

What are the new rules for indefinite leave to remain?

Increasing the standard qualifying period for permanent residence (also known as indefinite leave to remain or settlement) from five to ten years, with some people qualifying sooner based on criteria to be decided following public consultation.

Can I go to Paris with an UK visa?

Most UK citizens visiting France for less than 90 days don't pay any visa fees, as a visa isn't required. For those who do need visas, a short-stay Schengen visa costs €90. Long-stay visas are slightly more expensive at €99, but they're free for foreign spouses of French nationals.

How to get indefinite leave to remain quickly?

Applying for a faster decision. You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa or settlement ('indefinite leave to remain') application. Using the 'priority service' means you'll usually get a decision within 5 working days, or 30 working days for Family visa applications from outside the UK.

How can you lose indefinite leave to remain?

One of the most common ways ILR can be lost is by spending extended periods outside the UK. Generally, if an ILR holder spends more than two consecutive years abroad, the Home Office may consider the status lapsed.

How early can I apply for my indefinite leave to remain?

Time in the UK

You must have lived in the UK for 5 years before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. There are rules for what counts towards the 5 years if you have: spent time outside the UK. been a partner or child (a 'dependant) on a visa.