UK Indefinite Leave to Remain: The Complete Application Guide

UK Indefinite Leave to Remain is the standard route to settlement for most non-EU migrants. The eligibility, documents, and decision process vary by the visa route the applicant has held. This article walks through the main ILR routes and the standard requirements that apply across most of them.

Main ILR routes

The most common ILR routes are: 5-year Skilled Worker, 5-year Spouse/Partner, 5-year Global Talent, 5-year Tier 1 (legacy categories), 10-year Long Residence, and various specialist routes (refugee, victim of domestic abuse, bereaved partner). Each has its own qualifying period and specific evidence requirements.

Standard requirements

Most ILR applications require: qualifying continuous residence on the relevant route, passing the Life in the UK Test, meeting the CEFR B1 English language requirement, meeting the good character requirement, and meeting the absence limits.

Documents typically required

Passport, biometric residence permit, evidence of qualifying residence (employment, marriage, etc.), Life in the UK Test certificate, English language evidence, any documents required by the specific route, and passport-style photographs.

Fees and premium services

Standard fee for ILR is several thousand pounds per applicant. Priority service and super-priority service add fees but produce a faster decision. The Immigration Health Surcharge does not apply to ILR (it is for limited leave applications). Current fees are on the GOV.UK fee page.

Decision process

Standard processing is up to 6 months. Priority service typically returns a decision within 5 working days; super-priority service returns it within 24 hours. Biometric enrolment is required as part of the application and is booked separately.

Main ILR routes in detail

The most common ILR routes are: 5-year Skilled Worker route (for those completing 5 years on the Skilled Worker visa with the same sponsor or compatible switches); 5-year Spouse/Partner route (for those completing 5 years on the family visa with a British or settled partner); 5-year Global Talent route; 5-year Innovator Founder route; 10-year Long Residence route (for those who accumulated 10 years of continuous lawful residence on any combination of qualifying visas); refugee route (after 5 years on refugee leave); various specialist routes (such as domestic violence concession, bereaved partner).

Each route has its own qualifying period and specific evidence requirements. The 5-year routes typically require continuous lawful residence on the relevant route; switches between compatible routes are typically permitted without breaking continuity but specific switch rules apply.

For Skilled Worker ILR, the applicant must still meet the route-specific criteria at the time of ILR application: salary threshold (depends on the SOC code and skill level); continuous sponsorship by an authorised sponsor; English language requirement; and the standard ILR criteria.

For Spouse/Partner ILR, the applicant must still be in a subsisting relationship with the British or settled partner at the time of ILR application. The financial requirement at ILR is different from the initial visa requirement; the current rules should be checked on GOV.UK.

Standard requirements in detail

The Life in the UK Test is a 24-question multiple choice test based on the official handbook. The pass mark is 75% (18 out of 24). The test fee is currently around GBP 50. The pass certificate is valid indefinitely for both ILR and citizenship purposes.

The English language requirement is CEFR B1 (intermediate). Most applicants must provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) certificate from an approved provider, or evidence of an English-taught degree (subject to UK ENIC equivalence statement in some cases), or evidence of nationality of a majority English-speaking country.

The good character requirement covers criminal history, immigration breaches, tax non-compliance, and other matters. Custodial sentences of 12 months or more typically result in refusal. Tax under-declaration has been a recurring good character issue, particularly for Tier 1 General applicants.

Absence limits: most 5-year routes apply a 180-day maximum absence in any rolling 12-month period; 10-year Long Residence applies a 548-day total with no single absence over 184 days. Exceeding the limits typically breaks continuous residence.

Continuous lawful residence requires no breaks in visa coverage. Brief overstays (typically up to 14 days) may be disregarded under specific provisions; longer breaks typically break continuous residence.

Documents typically required

Identity documents: current passport plus any previous passports covering the qualifying period; biometric residence permit; two passport-style photographs (if required by the application form).

Test certificates: Life in the UK Test pass certificate; English language SELT certificate (unless exempt).

Route-specific evidence (varies by route): for Skilled Worker, continuous employment evidence including sponsor letter, salary evidence (payslips, P60s), HMRC tax records; for Spouse/Partner, marriage certificate, cohabitation evidence (utility bills, joint bank statements, photographs), financial requirement evidence; for Long Residence, detailed travel history and all relevant visa documents from the qualifying 10 years.

Financial evidence (where required by the route): recent payslips, P60s, tax return summaries, bank statements showing salary credits, savings evidence if relying on savings to meet financial requirements.

The specific document checklist varies by route; the GOV.UK page for each route includes a checklist. Specialist immigration solicitors typically prepare detailed document bundles for complex applications.

Fees and premium services in detail

Standard fee for ILR is GBP 3,029 per main applicant (April 2024). Dependants pay similar amounts; a family of 4 (2 adults + 2 children) can therefore face fees of over GBP 12,000 for ILR alone.

Priority service (typically 5 working days from biometric enrolment) costs around GBP 500 additional per applicant. Super-priority service (typically 24 hours) costs around GBP 1,000 additional per applicant. Not all routes offer priority service.

The Immigration Health Surcharge does not apply to ILR (it is for limited leave applications). The IHS payment ends when ILR is granted; visa holders previously paying IHS no longer pay this once ILR is in place.

Current fees are on the GOV.UK fees page. The fees are revised periodically; planning the application around expected fee changes can be relevant for large family applications.

Some applicants are eligible for fee waivers in cases of demonstrable destitution. The fee waiver criteria are strict; specialist legal advice is typically needed for fee waiver applications.

Decision process and timelines

Standard processing is up to 6 months from biometric enrolment. The Home Office may request additional information; the timeline pauses during the response period. Most straightforward applications are decided within 3 months.

Priority service typically returns a decision within 5 working days; super-priority service returns it within 24 hours. The priority services are subject to Home Office capacity and are not guaranteed to be available on every application.

Biometric enrolment is required as part of the application and is booked separately at a UKVCAS service point. The biometric enrolment captures fingerprints and a photograph; some appointments include document scanning.

If granted, ILR is recorded on the biometric residence permit (or eVisa from 2024). The new BRP is dispatched within a few weeks of the decision.

If refused, the applicant typically has rights of administrative review (for most ILR refusals) or appeal (for refusals on human rights grounds). The refusal letter explains the grounds and the next steps available.

eVisa transition and BRP retirement

The Home Office has been transitioning from biometric residence permits (BRPs) to digital eVisas during 2024 and 2025. The change affects ILR holders' status documentation: existing BRPs continue to be valid until their expiry date; new ILR grants are typically issued as eVisas rather than BRPs.

For ILR holders with BRPs expiring or already expired, registering for an eVisa via the GOV.UK 'Get access to your eVisa' service updates the digital status record. The registration requires the BRP details, passport details, and a UK Visas and Immigration online account.

The eVisa is checked via share codes generated from the GOV.UK system. Employers, landlords, and other parties needing to verify status request a share code from the eVisa holder; the share code provides time-limited digital access to the status confirmation.

Worked example: a Skilled Worker visa holder granted ILR in 2026 receives the grant confirmation electronically. The applicant registers for an eVisa via GOV.UK; the digital status is recorded. When applying for a new job, the applicant provides the employer with a share code; the employer enters the code on GOV.UK to verify the ILR status; the verification confirms the indefinite right to work in the UK.

For applicants travelling internationally with eVisa-recorded ILR, the situation requires more planning than with a physical BRP. The eVisa is linked to the passport; the passport at travel must be the one linked to the eVisa. Updates to the linked passport must be made via the GOV.UK eVisa update service.

The practical takeaway: register for eVisa promptly after ILR grant; use share codes for third-party verification; keep the linked passport details current; carry digital evidence of ILR (such as the grant letter and digital status screenshot) when travelling internationally.

Post-grant administrative steps and the road to citizenship

Once ILR is granted, several administrative steps complete the transition to permanent status. First, the IHS payment stops; visa holders previously paying GBP 1,035 per year per person no longer pay. For a family of four, this is GBP 4,140 per year of saving.

Second, the right to work check changes. The eVisa or BRP now shows indefinite right to work. Employers' standard right to work checks (via the GOV.UK service or by inspection of the document) confirm the unrestricted status.

Third, access to benefits and public funds changes. The 'no recourse to public funds' restriction that applies to many temporary visas is removed. ILR holders can apply for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and other means-tested benefits subject to standard eligibility.

Fourth, the 12-month countdown to citizenship eligibility begins (for the standard route; spouse of British citizen route allows immediate citizenship application). The countdown determines the earliest naturalisation application date.

For ILR holders intending to naturalise, the year between ILR and citizenship application is useful for: gathering naturalisation documentation; ensuring tax compliance; identifying suitable referees; budgeting for the GBP 1,580 naturalisation fee plus GBP 88.50 for the first British passport after the ceremony.

Specialist immigration legal advice: when to engage

For straightforward ILR cases (clean immigration history, simple route, no good character concerns), self-prepared applications using GOV.UK guidance are typically manageable. The Home Office's processes support direct applicants.

For complex cases, specialist immigration legal advice is typically valuable. Common situations where specialist advice helps: previous immigration breaches or refusals; significant absences from the UK; tax compliance concerns or Tier 1 General legacy issues; criminal history; complex family structures; non-standard documents.

Solicitors specialising in immigration (regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority) and OISC-registered immigration advisers are the two main professional routes. Costs vary: simple application support typically GBP 500 to GBP 1,500; complex applications GBP 2,000 to GBP 5,000+; tribunal representation higher.

Right-to-work and right-to-rent verification after ILR

After ILR is granted, the holder generates share codes from the GOV.UK eVisa service to prove status to employers, landlords, and other parties. The share code is time-limited (typically 30 days) and provides digital verification of the indefinite right to work or right to rent.

Disclaimer

This article provides general information based on rules and figures published by UK government and regulator sources as of May 2026. It is not personal financial, legal, immigration or tax advice. Rules, fees and figures change and individual circumstances vary. Readers should check primary sources or consult a qualified, regulated adviser before acting on any information here.

Frequently asked questions

Can the application be made from outside the UK?

Most ILR applications must be made from inside the UK. Some specific routes (such as Returning Resident visas after ILR has lapsed) are applied for from abroad. For ILR applications, the applicant must be physically present in the UK at the time of application and typically through the decision process.

Does the applicant need to be in the UK when the decision is made?

Yes, typically. Leaving the UK while a settlement application is pending can result in the application being treated as withdrawn. Specialist immigration advice should be sought before any travel during the application period; some travel may be permitted in specific circumstances.

Can dependants apply at the same time?

Yes. Dependants can typically apply alongside the main applicant, with their own fees and biometric appointments. The dependants' applications are linked to the main applicant; if the main application is approved, the dependants' applications typically follow. Spouse and children are typical dependants for ILR purposes.

What if the Life in the UK Test is not passed in time?

The application can be delayed until the test is passed. Submitting without the test certificate typically leads to refusal. The applicant should take the test well in advance of the planned application date to allow for retakes if needed.

Is there a refund if the application is refused?

Most of the application fee is not refundable. The Immigration Health Surcharge (where paid) is refundable on refusal of related applications; for ILR, the IHS does not apply. The biometric enrolment fee and ceremony fee (for citizenship) may be refundable depending on the application stage. The processing fee (the largest portion) is typically not refunded.

How does the new eVisa system affect ILR?

From 2024, the Home Office is transitioning from biometric residence permits to digital eVisas. ILR holders need to register for an eVisa via the GOV.UK 'Get access to your eVisa' service. The eVisa provides the same evidence of immigration status as the BRP did; the digital format is intended to be more secure and easier to verify.

Can ILR be applied for early?

Most ILR applications can be made within 28 days before the qualifying date (such as 28 days before the 5-year qualifying date on a 5-year route). Applying earlier than this typically results in refusal because the qualifying period has not yet been met. The 28-day early window allows for application processing time without breaking the qualifying period.

Frequently asked questions

Can the application be made from outside the UK?

Most ILR applications must be made from inside the UK. Some specific routes (such as Returning Resident visas after ILR has lapsed) are applied for from abroad. For ILR applications, the applicant must be physically present in the UK at the time of application and typically through the decision process.

Does the applicant need to be in the UK when the decision is made?

Yes, typically. Leaving the UK while a settlement application is pending can result in the application being treated as withdrawn. Specialist immigration advice should be sought before any travel during the application period; some travel may be permitted in specific circumstances.

Can dependants apply at the same time?

Yes. Dependants can typically apply alongside the main applicant, with their own fees and biometric appointments. The dependants' applications are linked to the main applicant; if the main application is approved, the dependants' applications typically follow. Spouse and children are typical dependants for ILR purposes.

What if the Life in the UK Test is not passed in time?

The application can be delayed until the test is passed. Submitting without the test certificate typically leads to refusal. The applicant should take the test well in advance of the planned application date to allow for retakes if needed.

Is there a refund if the application is refused?

Most of the application fee is not refundable. The Immigration Health Surcharge (where paid) is refundable on refusal of related applications; for ILR, the IHS does not apply. The biometric enrolment fee and ceremony fee (for citizenship) may be refundable depending on the application stage. The processing fee (the largest portion) is typically not refunded.

How does the new eVisa system affect ILR?

From 2024, the Home Office is transitioning from biometric residence permits to digital eVisas. ILR holders need to register for an eVisa via the GOV.UK 'Get access to your eVisa' service. The eVisa provides the same evidence of immigration status as the BRP did; the digital format is intended to be more secure and easier to verify.

Can ILR be applied for early?

Most ILR applications can be made within 28 days before the qualifying date (such as 28 days before the 5-year qualifying date on a 5-year route). Applying earlier than this typically results in refusal because the qualifying period has not yet been met. The 28-day early window allows for application processing time without breaking the qualifying period.