Indefinite Leave to Remain, commonly known as ILR, is the point at which you can settle permanently in the UK. Once granted, you can live, work, and study here without any time limit on your stay, access public services you are entitled to, travel in and out of the UK without needing further permission to enter, provided your settled status remains valid. and eventually apply for British citizenship.
Reaching this stage is a significant milestone, and the application needs to be prepared carefully. The Home Office will check your immigration history, your residence record, your absences from the UK, your English language level, and your Life in the UK test certificate. A well-prepared application helps ensure that the Home Office has the evidence needed to assess the application correctly
Our immigration team at Reeds is here to guide you through it.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
How Reeds Solicitors Can Help
An ILR application is one of the most important immigration applications you will make, and the fee is significant. The Home Office will scrutinise your residence history, your absences, your financial records, and your compliance with immigration rules. A gap or inconsistency in the evidence can lead to a refusal.
At Reeds Solicitors, we prepare ILR applications thoroughly. We work through your immigration history and travel record in detail, identify any issues before submission, and put together a complete and well-organised application that gives you the best chance of a successful outcome.
Our clients can expect:
- Eligibility assessment and route confirmation
We start with a full assessment of your eligibility: confirming which route applies to you, calculating your qualifying period, checking your absence record, and identifying any issues with your immigration history or good character that need to be addressed. This is the foundation of a successful application.
- Absence calculation and travel history review
Absence calculations are a common area of difficulty in ILR applications
We go through your full travel history for the qualifying period, calculate your absences against the applicable rules for your route, and advise on how any extended periods away from the UK should be explained and evidenced.
- Full evidence bundle preparation
We compile and review the complete evidence bundle for your application. This typically covers proof of continuous lawful residence, evidence of your qualifying visa history, financial documentation where required, your Life in the UK test certificate, and your English language evidence. We check that every document is in the form the Home Office expects before submission.
- Application management and submission
We complete and review all application forms, advise on biometric enrolment, and manage communications with the Home Office throughout the process. We track deadlines carefully and make sure your application is submitted at the right time.
- Refusals and appeals
If your ILR application has been refused, we review the decision carefully and advise on your options. Depending on the reason, depending on the circumstances, you may be able to challenge the decision by way of appeal, administrative review, reconsideration, or a fresh application. We assess the options available in each individual case. We represent clients in immigration appeals and work to resolve refusals as efficiently as possible.
- Pathway to British citizenship
ILR is the final step before British citizenship. Once you hold ILR, most people can apply for naturalisation after 12 months, or immediately if they are married to a British citizen. We advise on the requirements for naturalisation and can manage that application for you when the time comes.
Getting Legal Help
ILR is one of the most important applications in your immigration journey. Our immigration team at Reeds Solicitors prepares these applications carefully and supports clients through every stage, from the initial eligibility check through to settlement and beyond.
You can contact us through the Reeds Solicitors contact page on our website, by calling 0333 240 7373, or by emailing [email protected].
Contact:
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There are several routes to ILR, and the qualifying period depends on the visa category you are on. The most commonly used routes are:
- The family route covers spouses, partners, children, and parents on the five-year family visa route. After five continuous years of lawful residence in the UK on the relevant visa, you can apply for ILR. Family members of British citizens remain on this five-year route.
- The work route covers Skilled Worker visa holders and a range of other employment-based visa categories. Most work visa holders need five years of continuous residence, though some categories such as Innovator Founder and Global Talent visas have a shorter qualifying period of three years.
- The long residence route allows people who have been lawfully resident in the UK for ten continuous years under any combination of visa categories to apply for ILR, regardless of their specific visa route.
- Other routes include UK Ancestry visas, British National (Overseas) visas, and various humanitarian protection routes, each with its own qualifying criteria.
Important note on proposed settlement reforms: The government has consulted on proposals to reform settlement eligibility for certain work routes, including possible changes to qualifying periods. As of June 2026, no changes have yet been implemented and current Immigration Rules continue to apply. Government announcements have indicated that family routes are expected to remain outside the proposed reforms.
To qualify for ILR, your residence in the UK must be both lawful and continuous throughout your qualifying period. This means you must have had valid leave at all times and must not have spent more than the permitted number of days outside the UK.
For many routes there are limits on the amount of time that can be spent outside the UK during the qualifying period, although the precise rules vary depending on the immigration route and the dates involved, a common example is the 180-day rule which states that you must not have been assent from the UK for more than 180 days in a rolling 12-month period. For naturalisation, the absence limits are slightly different (see our naturalisation page). For family visa holders on the five-year route, the 180-day rule does not technically apply, but extended absences can still cause problems in practice and should be explained.
Calculating absences correctly is one of the most common areas where ILR applications run into difficulty. We work through your full travel history with you before submission to make sure there are no surprises.
Most applicants between the ages of 18 and 64 need to show English language ability at B1 level or above. This can be demonstrated through a recognised English language test, a degree taught in English, or nationality from a majority English-speaking country. The government has announced that the English language requirement for settlement will rise to B2 level, but this change is not due to take effect until March 2027. If you are applying before that date, B1 remains the requirement.
You also need to pass the Life in the UK test before submitting your application. The test covers British history, culture, values, and the political system. It consists of 24 questions and requires a score of at least 75%, meaning 18 correct answers, to pass.
The Home Office will consider criminality, immigration compliance, dishonesty, unpaid litigation costs and other suitability factors when deciding an ILR application. Issues in your past do not automatically bar you from ILR, but they need to be declared accurately and handled carefully.
As of 8th April 2026, the ILR application fee is £3,226 per applicant. Dependants applying at the same time each pay the same fee. Optional priority services are available for an additional charge. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is refused, which makes thorough preparation all the more important.
Important: Immigration Rules, Home Office policy and application fees change regularly. The information on this page reflects the position at the date of publication and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal advice on your individual circumstances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is the status that allows a person to live and work in the UK permanently with no time restriction on their stay. It is also known as settlement. ILR holders can access public services they are entitled to, travel freely in and out of the UK, and apply for British citizenship after meeting the relevant residence requirements.
The qualifying period depends on your visa route. Most family visa holders need five years. Most work visa holders also need five years, though some routes have a shorter qualifying period. The long residence route requires ten continuous years of lawful residence. The government has proposed changes that would increase the qualifying period for most work routes to ten years, but as of June 2026, this has not been implemented. The family route remains at five years.
From 8th April 2026, the ILR application fee is £3,226 per applicant. Each dependant applying at the same time pays the same fee. Optional priority services are available at an additional cost. The fee is not refunded if the application is refused.
For most visa routes, you must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying residence. For family visa holders on the five-year route, there is no strict 180-day limit, but extended absences can still raise questions and should be explained. The rules on absences vary by route and the dates of travel, so it is worth getting specific advice before you apply.
Yes, in most cases. The Life in the UK test covers British history, culture, values, and the political system. It consists of 24 questions and you need to score at least 75% (18 correct answers) to pass. Exemptions apply for applicants aged 65 or over, those under 18, and those with certain long-term physical or mental health conditions.
Most applicants need to show English language ability at B1 level on the Common European Framework (CEFR). This can be demonstrated through an approved English language test, a degree taught in English, or nationality from a majority English-speaking country. The government has announced that the requirement will rise to B2 for settlement, but this change does not take effect until March 2027.
A criminal conviction does not automatically bar you from ILR, but it does need to be considered carefully. The Home Office applies a good character test to all ILR applicants and will take into account the nature of the offence, any sentence received, and how long ago it occurred. Some convictions will result in refusal. We advise clients in detail on how their personal history is likely to be assessed before any application is submitted.
ILR can lapse if you are absent from the UK for more than two years at any one time. For those with EU Settlement Scheme settled status, the period is five years, or four years for Swiss citizens with settled status. If your ILR has lapsed, you may need to apply for a Returning Resident visa before re-entering the UK. We advise on how extended absences affect your settled status.
As of June 2026, the Earned Settlement proposals have not been implemented. The consultation closed in February 2026, and the government is still reviewing responses before confirming what changes will be made and when. Until new rules are formally laid in Parliament, current qualifying periods continue to apply. The five-year family route is confirmed as exempt. We advise all clients on the current position and will keep you up to date as the reforms develop.
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