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The SET forms, and which one to use

Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain requires the correct application form for your visa route. Using the wrong form wastes time and money. This guide explains the three main ILR forms and which one you need.

Checked 2 September 202610 min readWritten by the Rowan Editorial Team
Section
ILR & Settlement
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

  • SET(O) covers most work-based visas including Skilled Worker, Innovator, and Global Talent.
  • SET(M) is specifically for the spouse, partner, and parent family routes.
  • SET(LR) is for 10 years of continuous lawful residence regardless of visa type.
  • All three forms are submitted online and cost £3,226 per person.
  • Using the wrong form results in your application being returned, not refused.

SET(O) is for work-based routes including Skilled Worker. SET(M) is for spouse and partner routes. SET(LR) is for 10 years of long residence. Using the correct form is essential. This guide tells you which form matches your visa route and what each form requires.

Why There Are Different Forms

The Home Office uses different application forms for ILR because the eligibility criteria differ depending on which visa route you are on. Each form asks questions specific to that route and requires evidence tailored to its requirements.

All three forms are submitted online and cost the same (£3,226 per person). See our ILR cost breakdown for a full fee summary. They all result in the same outcome if approved: Indefinite Leave to Remain. The difference is in the eligibility criteria and the evidence you need to provide.

SET(O): Settlement for Other Routes

SET(O) is the most commonly used ILR form. Despite its name suggesting "other", it covers the majority of work-based visa routes.

Who Uses SET(O)?

  • Skilled Worker visa holders
  • Global Talent visa holders
  • Innovator Founder visa holders
  • Minister of Religion visa holders
  • Representative of an Overseas Business visa holders
  • Various other work-based categories

Key Requirements for SET(O)

  • 5 years of continuous residence on an eligible visa route
  • Must still be employed by your sponsor (for Skilled Worker) at the time of application
  • Meet the salary threshold for your occupation
  • Pass the Life in the UK test
  • Meet the English language requirement (at B1 level or above)
  • No more than 180 days absent from the UK in any 12-month period

Evidence Needed

For Skilled Worker applicants, you typically need:

  • A letter from your employer confirming your ongoing employment and salary
  • Your passport and your online immigration status (eVisa), which replaced biometric residence permits at the end of 2024
  • Life in the UK test pass notification
  • English language evidence
  • Evidence of absences from the UK

SET(M): Settlement on the Family Route

SET(M) is used by people on the family route, primarily those on spouse, partner, or parent visas.

Who Uses SET(M)?

  • Spouse visa holders
  • Unmarried partner visa holders
  • Civil partner visa holders
  • Parent visa holders (parent of a British child)

Key Requirements for SET(M)

  • 5 years on the family route (this is the standard period for the 5-year route)
  • You and your partner's relationship must be genuine and subsisting
  • Meet the financial requirement at the time of application
  • Pass the Life in the UK test
  • Meet the English language requirement (at B1 level for ILR, which is higher than the A1 level required for the initial visa)
  • Adequate accommodation

Evidence Needed

  • Evidence of your ongoing relationship (cohabitation, shared finances, recent photos)
  • Financial evidence meeting the income threshold
  • Your passport and your online immigration status (eVisa), which replaced biometric residence permits at the end of 2024
  • Life in the UK test pass notification
  • English language evidence at B1 level

The 10-Year Family Route

Some people on the family route are placed on a 10-year route to settlement (instead of the 5-year route) if they do not meet certain requirements (such as the financial threshold). If you are on the 10-year family route, you still use SET(M) but after 10 years instead of 5.

SET(LR): Settlement Based on Long Residence

SET(LR) is for people who have lived continuously and lawfully in the UK for 10 years, regardless of which visa types they held during that time.

Who Uses SET(LR)?

  • People who have been in the UK on various visa types for a combined total of 10 continuous years
  • People whose visa route does not have its own path to ILR
  • People who have changed visa types multiple times but have maintained continuous lawful residence

Key Requirements for SET(LR)

  • 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK
  • No single absence of more than 180 days in any 12-month period
  • Total absences must not exceed 18 months in the 10-year period
  • Pass the Life in the UK test
  • Meet the English language requirement
  • Be of good character

Continuous Residence

The key concept for SET(LR) is "continuous lawful residence". Your stay in the UK must have been lawful (on a valid visa) for the entire 10-year period. Any gap in lawful status (even a single day of overstaying) can break the continuity and reset the clock.

This is why it is critical to always apply to extend your visa before your current one expires. As long as you apply before the expiry date, your leave continues under Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.

Quick Reference: Which Form for Your Route

  • Skilled Worker visa: SET(O)
  • Global Talent visa: SET(O)
  • Spouse/Partner visa (5-year route): SET(M)
  • Spouse/Partner visa (10-year route): SET(M)
  • Parent visa: SET(M)
  • 10 years continuous lawful residence: SET(LR)
  • Ancestry visa: SET(O)
  • Innovator Founder visa: SET(O)

If you are unsure which form to use, check the GOV.UK settlement page, which directs you to the correct application based on your visa type.

The Application Process

Regardless of which form you use, the process is similar:

  1. Complete the online application form on GOV.UK.
  2. Pay the £3,226 application fee for each person applying.
  3. Attend a biometric appointment. GOV.UK says there is no fee for giving your fingerprints and photograph.
  4. Submit your supporting documents (usually uploaded online).
  5. Wait for a decision (typically 6 months for a standard service).

A priority service is available for an additional fee, which aims to provide a decision within approximately 6 weeks. A super priority service (decision within 1 to 2 working days) may also be available depending on your route.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the wrong form: This is the most basic mistake and results in your application being returned.
  • Applying too early: You cannot apply before you have completed the required qualifying period. Check your eligibility date carefully.
  • Not meeting the English language requirement at the correct level: ILR requires B1 level English, which is higher than the A1 or A2 levels required for some initial visas. From 26 March 2027 the standard rises to B2 on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up, Global Talent and Long Residence routes, which are covered by SET(O) and SET(LR).
  • Exceeding absence limits: Each form has specific absence limits. Calculate your absences carefully before applying.
  • Gaps in employment (for SET(O)): If you are on a Skilled Worker visa, you must be employed by your sponsor at the time of application.

For more detail on ILR requirements for your specific route, see our ILR requirements guide.

Questions and answers

What does SET stand for?

SET stands for 'Settlement'. The different letters after SET indicate which visa route the form is for. SET(O) is for 'Other' routes (including Skilled Worker), SET(M) is for 'Marriage/Partner' routes, and SET(LR) is for 'Long Residence'. Each form is used for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) applications.

Which form do I use for Skilled Worker ILR?

If you are applying for ILR on the Skilled Worker route, you use SET(O). This form covers most work-based visa routes. You apply after 5 years of continuous residence on the Skilled Worker visa.

Which form do I use for Spouse visa ILR?

If you are applying for ILR on the Spouse or Partner visa route, you use SET(M). This form is specifically for people who have been on the family route (spouse, partner, parent). You apply after 5 years on the route.

What is SET(LR) for?

SET(LR) is for people applying for ILR based on 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK, regardless of which visa route they have been on. This is known as the 'long residence' route. It is used when you do not qualify for ILR on a specific visa route but have 10 years of continuous lawful stay.

Can I use the wrong SET form?

Using the wrong form will likely result in your application being rejected (returned without being considered) and your fee being refunded. It will not count as a refusal, but it wastes time. Always check which form applies to your visa route before applying.

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.

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