Settlement/Indefinite Leave to Remain

We can submit ILR applications every week for same-day service for applicable categories, we are authorised by the UK Border Agency. We can also assist with postal applications for all categories.

This is a permanent UK visa, officially called Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows to stay in the UK indefinitely - forever. 

You can apply for an ILR under all categories within 28 days before the end of your 'qualifying period', not earlier. A qualifying period of duration of (lawful) continuous residency in the UK. For spouses/partners of UK citizens and their dependants it is 2 years; for most others - 5 years; for Long Residence applications - 10 years of lawful residence. All the above categories are eligible for same-day service at Home Office except 10 years of Long Residence and applications following a 5 -year visa under Huma nitarian Protection.

New rules have been added from 6 April 2011, for example, all applicants now need to be free of 'unspent' criminal convictions at the date of application. Also, Tier 1 General applicants need to pass a points test again.

We strongly advise to book our Advice Session to ensure you qualify for an ILR before risking so much money on an application.

Examples on the issues we can advise during the session: absences from the UK (are they within the limit?), what to do if you have a criminal conviction or a driving offence, what if your British spouse/partner is claiming benefits, do you pass a points test, what if you changed your name, do you have enough money to satisfy the maintenance requirement, can you leave the UK after you get an ILR and when it can become invalid and many others.

Dependants, i.e. a spouse/partner and children under 18.y.o.,can be included in the main applicant's application.

Family members can be included as above only if they currently hold dependent visas (for example, work permit dependant, Tier 1 dependant etc). Spouses holding a separate Work Permit cannot be included.

Exception- Long Residence applications where each family member has to qualify and apply separately, i.e. dependants cannot be included (even a spouse and small children). 

Everyone applying for an ILR has to pass a Life in The UK Test, except those who are under 18 or over 65 y.o. There is also a requirement to have a certain level of knowledge of English language, however, it is sufficient to pass a Life in The UK Test only. Since Life in The UK Test is in English and you've passed it, your English is considered acceptable. Life in the UK Test is valid for an indefinite preiod (it does not have a date of expiry).

1) Spouses and partners of British citizens and of UK permanent residentscan apply after 2 years a partner visa.

2) Holders of a Work Permit, HSMP, Tier 1 General, Tier 2.Can apply for an ILR after 5 years of continuing residency. 5 years for this purpose can be a combination of these and some related visa categories (but not Ancestral or self-employment visas). HSMP visa holders can apply after 4 years of residency in the UK if they entered HSMP before April 2006; this is possible under HSMP Judicial Review policy. Holders of Tier 1 General need to pass a points test again, mainly to demonstrate that your income has not gone much lower than when you passed points test last time.

Dependants: residence requirements (number of years in the UK) has to be met by the main applicant only for holders of Work Permits or HSMP visas under the 'old' rules (under the Rules before Points-Based System).

However, if the main applicant currently holds a visa under the new Tiered PBS system (Tier 1, 2 etc) then a dependant spouse can only qualify for an ILR at the same time if dependant spouse has lived in the UK together with the main applicant for at least 2 years on a dependant visa. Otherwise, once the main applicant is granted an ILR, his/her spouse has to apply for a Spouse visa for 2 years and apply for an ILR after 2 years on that new visa. Or alternatively, you could wait until both main applicant and a spouse qualify for an ILR and apply together (as long as the current visas' validity would allow). Children are not affected and can apply without meeting a 2 years residency rule.

3) Holders of an Ancestral visa. Can apply for an ILR having lived and worked in the UK for 5 years while holding an Ancestral visa (5 years cannot be combined with being in the UK on other types of visas).

4) People applying on the basis of Long Residence of 10 years. For those who have spent continuous 10 years lawfully in the UK. 

5) Business people, self-employed people and investors.Can apply for an ILR having met a 5 years of continuing residency. 5 years for this purpose can be a combination of categories which are related to business, self-employment and investment categories (but not employment or Ancestral visas).

6) Parents, grandparents, children under 18 y.o. and other dependent relatives of a person who is a permanent UK resident and currently living in the UK. Such people can apply for an ILR any time before their current UK visa expires, there is no 5 years residence requirement and no need to pass a Life in The UK Test or demonstrate English language ability.

7) Those holding 5 years visas under Humanitarian Protection can apply for an ILR within 28 days before current visa expires (not earlier). You do not need to pass Life in The UK Test and you do not need to be free of 'unspent' criminal convictions.

8) European and Swiss citizens and their family members and their family members. Please refer to a page for applications under European law on the left menu.