Ancestry visa to settlement
After 5 years on the UK Ancestry visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which gives you permanent residence in the United Kingdom. This guide explains every requirement, the documents you need, costs, and what happens after you receive ILR.
- Section
- Ancestry Visa
- Reading time
- 10 min
- Last checked
- 2 September 2026
- Source
- The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
- Rowan does not
- Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.
In short
- Apply for ILR after 5 continuous years on the Ancestry visa.
- Must not exceed 180 days absence in any 12-month period.
- Life in the UK test and English language requirement must be met.
- ILR fee is £3,226 per person in 2026.
- Under earned settlement, announced on 2 November 2026 and not yet law, the Ancestry route keeps a 5-year path, with new minimum requirements including B2 English.
ILR is the final step before British citizenship for Ancestry visa holders. After 5 continuous years in the UK, you must meet the continuous residence requirement, pass the Life in the UK test, and meet the English language requirement. This guide walks you through the entire process.
What Is ILR?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is permanent residence in the UK. Once granted, you can live and work in the UK without any visa restrictions, access public funds, and apply for British citizenship after 12 months.
For Ancestry visa holders, ILR is the natural next step after completing 5 years of residence. It removes the conditions attached to your visa and gives you the security of permanent status.
When to Apply
You can apply for ILR once you have completed 5 continuous years on the Ancestry visa. The Home Office allows you to submit your application up to 28 days before you reach the 5-year mark.
Your qualifying period starts from the date you entered the UK on your Ancestry visa (or the date your visa was granted if you were already in the UK when you extended). Check the dates on your visa, or in your UKVI account, which now holds your immigration status online (an eVisa). Biometric residence permits stopped being issued at the end of 2024.
ILR Requirements for Ancestry Visa Holders
1. Continuous Residence
You must have lived in the UK continuously for 5 years. The continuous residence requirement means:
- You must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any single 12-month period
- There is no separate limit on a single absence. The rule is paragraph UKA 14.1 of Appendix UK Ancestry, which applies Appendix Continuous Residence (paragraph CR 3.1). The limit of 184 days at any one time in that appendix applies only to the Long Residence route
Absences are calculated on a rolling 12-month basis, not per calendar year. Keep records of your travel dates. The Home Office may check your travel history using passport stamps and airline records.
If you have exceeded the absence limits, you may need to "reset the clock" and spend additional time in the UK before qualifying. See our absence rules guide for detailed guidance.
2. Life in the UK Test
You must pass the Life in the UK test. This is a computer-based test with 24 questions about British history, culture, and values. You need to answer at least 18 correctly (75%) to pass.
- Cost: £50 per attempt
- Book at: GOV.UK Life in the UK test
- You can take the test multiple times if you do not pass on your first attempt
See our study guide for preparation tips.
3. English Language Requirement
You must demonstrate English language ability at CEFR B1 level or above. You can meet this requirement by:
- Being a national of a majority English-speaking country (including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, and others)
- Having a degree taught in English
- Passing an approved English language test at B1 level or above
Most Ancestry visa applicants from Australia, New Zealand, and some other countries are exempt from the English language test. Applicants from South Africa may also qualify for exemption.
4. No Serious Criminal Convictions
You must meet the good character requirement. Serious criminal convictions, ongoing criminal proceedings, or immigration offences may prevent you from receiving ILR.
Documents Needed for ILR
Prepare the following for your ILR application:
- Your current passport
- Your online immigration status (eVisa) details
- Life in the UK test pass certificate
- English language test certificate (if applicable)
- Evidence of UK residence: payslips, bank statements, council tax bills, utility bills, or HMRC correspondence
- Travel history for the qualifying period
- Any previous passports used during the 5-year period
See the ILR documents checklist for a complete list.
Costs
The ILR application costs in 2026:
- ILR application fee: £3,226
- Life in the UK test: £50
- English language test (if needed): approximately £150 to £200
- Total: approximately £3,276 to £3,476 per person
How to Apply
Apply online through GOV.UK. The process involves:
- Complete the online application form
- Pay the application fee
- Book and attend a biometric appointment (or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app)
- Upload supporting documents
- Wait for a decision
Processing Times
ILR applications in 2026 typically take 6 months for standard processing. You can opt for priority or super priority service for faster processing:
- Priority: £500 extra, for a decision usually within 5 working days
- Super priority: £1,000 extra, for a decision by the end of the next working day (2 working days if your appointment is at a weekend or on a bank holiday). Availability is limited
Earned Settlement: Announced on 2 November 2026
On 2 November 2026 the government announced its decision on earned settlement, which makes 10 years the standard wait for settlement for most routes. It is not yet in the Immigration Rules: the Home Secretary told Parliament the changes will begin to be laid from the December 2026 rules and will be brought in during 2027. Until then, the 5-year rules on this page apply.
The UK Ancestry route keeps a 5-year path. The government's response to the consultation (CP 1707) says a recognised British connection will include "Commonwealth citizens who qualify through the UK Ancestry route on the basis of having a UK-born grandparent", and that British connections "will continue to qualify for a five-year pathway, provided the applicant meets the relevant route and mandatory settlement requirements" (page 14).
Those minimum requirements are new. They include B2 English, no criminal record in the UK, no outstanding government debt, the Life in the UK test, and earnings of at least £12,571 a year (pages 4 to 8 and 11), and no specified public funds in the 5 years before applying, or a 20-year path instead (page 14). Our earned settlement guide covers the whole framework.
After ILR: British Citizenship
Once you have ILR, you can apply for British citizenship by naturalisation after 12 months. Check whether your home country allows dual citizenship before applying.
What the Application Draws On
A settlement application on this route rests on the same evidence described above: a Life in the UK test pass, the English language requirement (or an exemption), and records of time in the UK and absences. GOV.UK says the earliest an application can be made is 28 days before the 5 years are complete.
Related guides:
Questions and answers
When can I apply for ILR on the Ancestry visa?
You can apply for ILR after 5 continuous years of living in the UK on the Ancestry visa. You can submit your application up to 28 days before you complete the 5-year qualifying period.
How much does ILR cost after an Ancestry visa?
The ILR application fee in 2026 is £3,226 per person. You will also need to pay £50 for the Life in the UK test if you have not already passed it.
Do I need to pass an English test for ILR?
You must meet the English language requirement at CEFR B1 level. However, nationals of majority English-speaking countries (such as Australia, New Zealand, and certain other Commonwealth nations) are exempt from this requirement.
How many days can I be absent from the UK and still get ILR?
You must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any single 12-month period during your 5-year qualifying period. Individual absences are counted within each rolling 12-month window.
This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.