Settlement (indefinite leave to remain)

What Is Indefinite Leave to Remain?

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is the UK government's term for permanent residency. When you have ILR, you can live in the UK for as long as you want, work in any job, study at any institution, and access public services including the NHS without paying the Immigration Health Surcharge.

ILR is also called "settlement" or "settled status." It is different from EU Settled Status (which is a separate scheme for EU nationals), though the rights are broadly similar.

Many people see ILR as the final destination, but for most it is a stepping stone to British citizenship. While ILR gives you almost all the same rights as a citizen, there are important differences. ILR can be lost if you leave the UK for more than 2 years. British citizenship cannot be lost this way.

Understanding the full requirements early in your UK journey helps you plan your timeline and avoid costly mistakes.

Earned Settlement: What Was Announced on 2 November 2026

On 2 November 2026 the government published its response to the earned settlement consultation (CP 1707). It sets out how settlement will work in future. It is announced policy, not yet law. No change has been made to the Immigration Rules, and the rest of this guide describes the rules in force today. The Home Secretary told the House of Commons that the changes "will begin to be laid from the December immigration rules" and "will be implemented over the course of 2027".

The response sets out four qualifying periods (Table 1, page 42):

The 3, 5 and 10-year paths all exclude anyone who used public funds in the 5 years before applying or committed a qualifying immigration breach. Every path also requires English at B2, the Life in the UK test, no criminal record as an adult and no unpaid government debt. English and the Life in the UK test keep their existing exemptions for children, people aged 65 and over, and people with a physical or mental condition.

The response describes the £12,571 minimum in two ways. Chapter 2 says "at least three years" (page 11); page 12 and Table 1 say 5 of the previous 7 years for the 10-year path. The response does not reconcile the two.

Two points from the response matter to people already in the UK:

• The long residence route will close (page 19), and time on temporary routes such as Student and Graduate will not count towards settlement (page 20). No closure date has been published.
• There is no general protection for people already here. The response says that, "unless transitional provisions are made, applications are ordinarily considered under the Immigration Rules in force at the date of settlement decision" (page 37). It makes targeted arrangements for some care workers and some health and education workers who came before the May 2025 white paper.

Our earned settlement guide covers the whole decision, including partners and children and which visas count.

Routes to ILR Under the Current Rules

There are several routes to ILR under the Immigration Rules in force today. Which one applies depends on the visa held.

The 5-Year Route

Most work and family visas lead to ILR after 5 years of continuous residence. This includes the Spouse Visa, Skilled Worker Visa, Innovator Founder Visa (3 years), and several other routes. You must have been on a qualifying visa for the full 5-year period and meet all requirements at the time of application.

Read our ILR after 5 years guide for a detailed breakdown of which visas qualify and what "continuous residence" means in practice.

The 10-Year Long Residence Route

The 10-year long residence route leads to settlement for people who have lived in the UK lawfully for 10 continuous years on most combinations of visas, including visas that do not lead to settlement on their own. Time as a visitor, on a short-term study visa, as a Seasonal Worker, on a Ukraine scheme, on immigration bail or while overstaying does not count.

Continuous residence on this route means no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. GOV.UK says an absence that started before 11 April 2024 is measured by the older test instead: a single absence of more than 184 days that began before 11 April 2024, or more than 548 days in total reached before that date, breaks continuous residence. See our guide to the 10-year rule.

On 2 November 2026 the government announced that this route will close under earned settlement, as set out above. It is open under the rules in force today, and no closure date has been published.

Other Routes

• Bereaved partner: If your British or settled partner has died, you may be eligible for immediate ILR
• Domestic violence: If your relationship has broken down due to domestic abuse, you may be able to apply for ILR early
• Retired persons of independent means: A limited route for those who held this visa before it was closed

Eligibility Requirements

Regardless of which route you use, you must meet certain standard requirements. Here are the main ones, with links to detailed guides.

Continuous Residence

You must demonstrate continuous residence in the UK. For the 5-year route, this means you have not been absent for more than 180 days in any single 12-month period. The rules on travel and absences are strict, and breaking them can reset your qualifying period.

English Language

You must prove your English at CEFR B1 level (intermediate). This is higher than the A1 or A2 level required for some initial visa applications. You can prove this through:

• A SELT test from an approved provider (Trinity College London or IELTS for UKVI)
• A degree taught or researched in English (verified through ECCTIS/UK ENIC)
• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country

From 26 March 2027 the settlement standard rises from B1 to CEFR B2 (upper intermediate) on the Skilled Worker, Scale-up, Global Talent and Long Residence routes. This was set out in the statement of changes to the Immigration Rules published on 5 March 2026, so it is a dated change rather than a proposal.

Life in the UK Test

You must pass the Life in the UK test before you apply. There is no expiry on a pass, so a pass from years ago still counts.

No Criminal Convictions or Immigration Breaches

The Home Office checks your character and immigration history. Unspent criminal convictions, immigration offences, or deception can lead to refusal. Declare everything honestly on your application.

Costs and Fees

ILR is one of the most expensive immigration applications. Here is the cost breakdown for 2026. See our ILR cost breakdown guide for more detail.

• ILR application fee: £3,226 per person. No fee at all after refugee status or humanitarian protection
• Life in the UK test: £50 per attempt
• English language test (if needed): GOV.UK publishes no price; the test providers set their own fees
• Priority processing (optional): £500, for a decision usually within 5 working days
• Super priority processing (optional): £1,000, for a decision by the next working day

Before any English test, the total per person runs from £3,276 (the application fee and one Life in the UK test) to £4,276 with super priority. If a family applies, each person pays their own fee. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge on an ILR application, because settlement gives you NHS access without it.

Documents You Need

The documents required vary by route, but all ILR applications share common requirements. For a complete printable list, see our ILR documents checklist.

Standard Documents (All Routes)

• Current passport and any previous passports covering the qualifying period
• Your online immigration status (eVisa) in your UKVI account. Biometric residence permits stopped being issued at the end of 2024
• Life in the UK test pass certificate
• English language test certificate or proof of exemption

Route-Specific Documents

Spouse/Partner Route: Marriage certificate, evidence your relationship is continuing, proof you are still living together, financial evidence showing you meet the minimum income requirement.

Skilled Worker Route: Certificate of Sponsorship reference number, evidence of ongoing employment, proof your salary meets the required threshold.

10-Year Long Residence: Evidence of continuous lawful residence for the full 10-year period. This means every visa grant, every entry stamp, and evidence of your presence in the UK throughout.

How to Apply

The ILR application process is completed online through the GOV.UK website.

1. Check the published requirements. They cover continuous residence, the Life in the UK test, and English language.
2. Complete the online form. Go to GOV.UK and select the correct application for your route. The form asks about your personal details, immigration history, employment, and travel.
3. Pay the fee. Pay the £3,226 application fee online. Add priority or super priority processing if you want a faster decision.
4. Upload documents. Scan and upload all supporting documents through the online system.
5. Attend a biometric appointment. Book an appointment at a UKVCAS service point to provide your fingerprints and photograph.
6. Wait for a decision. Standard processing time is approximately 6 months. Priority is around 5 working days. Super priority is next working day.

After You Get ILR

Congratulations! Once you have ILR, your life in the UK changes in several important ways.

• No visa renewals. You never need to extend your visa again. Your status is permanent (as long as you do not leave the UK for more than 2 years).
• Full NHS access. You no longer need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
• No work restrictions. You can work in any job, including roles that were previously restricted.
• Access to public funds. You may now be eligible for benefits and public services that were previously unavailable to you.

Path to Citizenship

After holding ILR for at least 12 months, you can apply for British citizenship. Many people begin preparing for citizenship right away. The requirements include additional residence checks and a non-refundable application fee, so plan carefully.

Protecting Your ILR

ILR can be lost if you spend more than 2 continuous years outside the UK. If you plan to travel extensively, consider applying for citizenship first, as citizenship cannot be lost through absence. Read our ILR travel and absence rules guide to understand the limits.

Questions and answers