How long settlement takes

Current Processing Times

ILR processing times in 2026 are:

• Standard processing: Usually within 6 months of your biometrics appointment. This is the published service standard on GOV.UK. Many decisions arrive well inside it.
• Priority: Decision usually within 5 working days. Cost: £500.
• Super priority: Decision by the next working day, or 2 working days if your appointment is at a weekend or on a bank holiday. Cost: £1,000.

These times apply to applications made inside the UK. Most ILR applications are made from inside the UK, since you need to have been living here on a qualifying visa for a set period (usually 5 years).

For the full costs of ILR including processing fees, see our ILR cost breakdown.

The ILR Application Timeline

Step 1: Submit Your Application Online

You submit your ILR application online through the GOV.UK settlement page. You pay the application fee (£3,226 per person) and any priority processing fee at this stage. The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you complete the qualifying period.

Step 2: Biometrics (within 1-2 weeks)

After submitting your application, you need to provide your biometrics. You can do this using the UK Immigration: ID Check app on your phone or by attending a UKVCAS centre. The processing clock starts from when your biometrics are received.

Step 3: Processing

The Home Office reviews your application. They check your residency record, verify your employment and financial information, confirm you have met the ILR requirements (including the Life in the UK test and English language requirement), and run security checks.

Step 4: Decision

You receive an email notification that a decision has been made. If approved, you will receive confirmation of your settled status. Biometric residence permits are no longer issued, so the grant is recorded as an online immigration status (eVisa) in your UKVI account.

Priority vs Standard: What Each One Buys

The three services differ in cost and in the time they aim for:

• Standard (no extra fee): A decision usually within 6 months of your biometrics appointment. Your existing leave continues while you wait, so you can keep living and working in the UK on the same terms.
• Priority (£500): A decision usually within 5 working days.
• Super priority (£1,000): A decision by the next working day, or 2 working days if your appointment is at a weekend or on a bank holiday.

Note that priority services are not always available. Check availability when you begin your application.

What Happens While You Wait

While your ILR application is being processed:

• Section 3C leave: If you applied before your current visa expired, your leave is automatically extended. You can continue to live and work in the UK on the same terms as your previous visa.
• Travel: It is generally advised not to leave the UK while your ILR application is pending. Leaving could affect your Section 3C leave and your application.
• Work: You can continue working as normal.
• NHS access: You continue to have NHS access through your existing IHS payment.

Delays and Escalation

If your ILR application takes longer than the stated processing time:

• Contact the Home Office: Use the online enquiry form on GOV.UK to ask for an update.
• Contact your MP: Your Member of Parliament can make enquiries with the Home Office on your behalf. This is often effective at speeding things up.
• Priority fee refund: If you paid for priority processing and the decision was not delivered within the stated timeframe, you may be entitled to a refund of the priority fee (not the application fee).

For help if your application is refused, see our visa refused guide.

After Your ILR Is Granted

Once you have ILR:

• You can live and work in the UK permanently without visa restrictions.
• You no longer pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
• You can apply for British citizenship after 12 months (if eligible). The citizenship process takes approximately 6 months.
• You should set up your eVisa to manage your new digital status. Keep your ILR status active by not leaving the UK for more than 2 consecutive years.

For a comparison of processing times across all visa types, see our guides on Spouse Visa processing and Skilled Worker processing.

Questions and answers