No time limit stamps in a passport

What Is a No Time Limit Stamp?

A No Time Limit (NTL) stamp is a physical endorsement in your passport placed by UK Border Force or the Home Office. It typically reads "Given leave to enter the United Kingdom for an indefinite period" or "There is at present no time limit on the holder's stay in the United Kingdom."

NTL stamps were the primary way of evidencing ILR before biometric residence permits (BRPs) were introduced. BRPs have in turn been replaced by eVisas, so understanding how your NTL stamp interacts with the digital system is now important. Many people who received ILR before biometric cards were issued have NTL stamps as their only proof of status, and GOV.UK says they can still use that physical document.

NTL Stamps, BRPs and eVisas

• eVisa. The current form of evidence for ILR: a digital record of your identity and status held in a UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. There is no fee to set up the account or access your eVisa.
• BRP (Biometric Residence Permit). A card with your photograph and biometric data, issued until 2024. GOV.UK states that all BRPs have now expired and been replaced by eVisas. An expired BRP can still be used for limited purposes, such as creating a UKVI account, for 24 months after the expiry date printed on the card or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first. The underlying ILR status does not expire.
• NTL stamp. An older form of evidence, placed directly in the passport. No photograph or biometric data. The underlying ILR status continues even if the passport expires.

If you had a BRP, your eVisa is now your primary evidence. If you only have a NTL stamp, it remains evidence of your ILR status, and the No Time Limit application described below moves that status onto an eVisa. You can view your eVisa and get a share code through the GOV.UK view and prove your immigration status service.

Renewing Your Passport

When you renew your passport, the NTL stamp in your old passport is not transferred, and the Home Office no longer places NTL stamps or issues BRPs. The published route is:

• No Time Limit (NTL) application. If your proof of settlement is a stamp or vignette (sticker) with no expiry date, apply to the Home Office to have your status confirmed as an eVisa. GOV.UK describes the NTL application as free and says it can take up to 6 months to process. Getting an eVisa does not change your immigration status, and you can still use your physical document while you wait. Apply through the GOV.UK page on getting an eVisa if you have settlement.
• Keep your old passport. Keep your old passport (with the NTL stamp) alongside your new passport as evidence of your status until your eVisa is in place, and afterwards as a record.
• Once you have an eVisa. Add your new passport details to your UKVI account so that the eVisa is linked to the document you travel on. Nothing needs stamping.

Proving Your Status to Employers and Landlords

Employers and landlords need to verify your right to work and right to rent. With a NTL stamp:

• Once you have an eVisa, give the employer or landlord a share code from the online service. A share code is valid for 90 days and you can generate a new one at any time.
• Until then, GOV.UK says you can still use your physical document: show your passport with the NTL stamp. Employers cannot reject you only because you offer an eligible immigration document instead of a share code.
• See our guide to employment rights for visa holders for how right to work checks are done.

Lost or Damaged NTL Stamp

If your passport containing the NTL stamp is lost, stolen, or damaged, the No Time Limit application is also the route to new evidence. Home Office guidance says people whose indefinite leave is in a passport that is lost, stolen or expired, or who have no proof of it at all, can have their status confirmed as an eVisa by making a NTL application. The Home Office checks its records before issuing the eVisa, which is one reason the application can take up to 6 months.

Applying for Citizenship

A NTL stamp is accepted as evidence of ILR when applying for British citizenship. Include your passport with the NTL stamp in your application. You will also need to pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English language requirement. Ensure you have met the residency requirements and have held ILR for at least 12 months (the 12-month wait does not apply if you are married to a British citizen).

Next Steps

If you have a NTL stamp and are renewing your passport, keep your old passport safely. The free No Time Limit application is the published way to get modern evidence of your status as an eVisa; our guide to visa fees covers the charges for other applications. For official guidance, visit the GOV.UK eVisa page and the GOV.UK prove your right to work page.

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