What settlement requires

Indefinite Leave to Remain is permanent settlement in the UK. This guide explains every requirement you must meet to qualify.

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

Most routes require 5 years of continuous residence in the UK.
You must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
You must pass the Life in the UK test (£50) and prove B1 English.
The specific requirements depend on which visa route you are on.
After ILR, you can apply for British citizenship after 12 months.

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) gives you the right to live and work in the UK permanently. To qualify, you typically need 5 years of continuous residence on a qualifying visa, plus you must pass the Life in the UK test, prove B1 English, and meet specific requirements for your visa route. This guide covers everything.

What Is ILR?

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is permanent settlement in the UK, as explained on the official GOV.UK ILR page. Once granted, you can live, work, and study in the UK without any visa restrictions. You can also use ILR as a stepping stone to British citizenship.

General Requirements (All Routes)

Regardless of which visa route you are on, the following general requirements apply to most ILR applications:

Continuous Residence

You must have lived in the UK continuously for the required period (usually 5 years). "Continuous" means you must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month rolling period.

Single absences of more than 180 days will break your continuous residence, and you may need to restart the clock. There are limited exceptions for compassionate reasons (such as serious illness abroad), but these are granted on a case-by-case basis.

Life in the UK Test

You must pass the Life in the UK test before applying. You can book the test on GOV.UK. The test costs £50 and covers British history, traditions, and government. You need 18 out of 24 correct answers (75%).

English Language at B1

You must prove English at B1 level (intermediate) through an approved test, a UK degree, or nationality of a majority English-speaking country. From 26 March 2027 the standard rises to B2 (upper intermediate) on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up, Global Talent and Long Residence routes. See our English language tests guide.

No Breach of Immigration Conditions

You must not have breached any conditions of your visa during the qualifying period. This includes working illegally, overstaying, or failing to report to the Home Office when required.

Requirements by Visa Route

Spouse Visa Route

If you are on a Spouse Visa, you can apply for ILR after 5 years. You must:

Have held a Spouse Visa for 5 continuous years.
Still be in a genuine relationship with your sponsor.
Meet the financial requirement (£29,000 per year or equivalent in savings).
Pass the Life in the UK test and prove B1 English.
Not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.

Skilled Worker Route

If you are on a Skilled Worker visa, you can apply for ILR after 5 years. You must:

Still be employed in a role that qualifies for Skilled Worker sponsorship.
Be earning at least the salary threshold for your role.
Have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer.
Pass the Life in the UK test and prove B1 English.
Meet the continuous residence requirement.

Other Routes

Other visa routes that can lead to ILR include:

Global Talent visa: ILR after 3 or 5 years depending on the endorsement.
Ancestry visa: ILR after 5 years.
Long residence: ILR after 10 years of continuous lawful residence on any visa combination.

Absences from the UK

The 180-day rule is one of the most common reasons ILR applications fail. Here are important points:

The 180-day limit applies to each 12-month rolling period, not each calendar year.
All absences count, including holidays, business trips, and family emergencies.
Track your absences carefully using your passport stamps and travel records.
If you exceeded 180 days due to exceptional circumstances (such as a medical emergency), you may still be able to apply, but you will need to provide evidence.

Costs

The ILR application fee is £3,226 for each person applying. There is no fee at all for settlement after refugee status or humanitarian protection. You can check the latest fees in the visa fees table on GOV.UK. For a full breakdown of all costs, including the Life in the UK test, English language test, and optional solicitor fees, see our ILR cost breakdown guide.

One financial benefit of ILR is that you no longer pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Processing Time

A settlement decision usually comes within 6 months of your biometrics appointment. Priority processing (£500) aims for a decision within 5 working days, and super priority (£1,000) for the next working day. The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you complete the qualifying period. See our ILR processing time guide for details.

After ILR

Once you have ILR, you can:

Live and work in the UK permanently without visa restrictions.
Access public funds and benefits (subject to normal eligibility rules).
Apply for British citizenship after 12 months (in most cases).

Be aware that ILR can lapse if you stay outside the UK for more than 2 consecutive years. If you plan extended travel, consider applying for citizenship first, as citizenship cannot lapse.

For the full costs of the journey beyond ILR, see our citizenship cost breakdown and our UK visa fees guide.

Questions and answers

What are the requirements for ILR in 2026?

The main requirements are: 5 years of continuous residence on a qualifying visa (or 3 years for some routes), passing the Life in the UK test, proving B1 English, meeting continuous residence rules (no more than 180 days outside the UK per year), and not breaching visa conditions.

How long do I need to live in the UK before I can apply for ILR?

Most routes require 5 years of continuous residence. The Spouse Visa route requires 5 years. Some routes (such as the Global Talent visa) may allow faster settlement. Check the specific requirements for your visa type.

What counts as continuous residence for ILR?

Continuous residence means you must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the qualifying period. A single absence of more than 180 days can break your continuous residence.

Do I need to meet the financial requirement for ILR?

If you are applying through the Spouse Visa route, yes. You must still meet the income threshold at the time of your ILR application. If applying through a work route, you must show you are still employed and earning at or above the required salary.

What happens if I fail the Life in the UK test?

You can retake the test as many times as needed. Each attempt costs £50. You must pass the test before you submit your ILR application. You cannot apply for ILR without a valid test pass certificate.

Can I lose my ILR after it is granted?

Yes. ILR can lapse if you stay outside the UK for more than 2 consecutive years. It can also be revoked in rare circumstances, such as if it was obtained through fraud or if you are convicted of a serious criminal offence.

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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