UK indefinite leave to remain 2026: eligibility, fees and how to apply

Chandraketu Tripathi

Finance Editor, Kaeltripton

Published 10 May 2026

Last reviewed 10 May 2026

✓ Fact-checked

Expat Finance

TL;DR

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is the most common form of settled status in the UK, granting the right to live, work and study without immigration time limits or conditions. Most routes require five years of continuous residence, though some are shorter. The ILR application fee is £2,885 per person in 2025/26. Applicants must pass the Life in the UK test and meet an English language requirement. After 12 months of ILR, British citizenship by naturalisation is available.

Key facts (2026)

The standard ILR application fee is £2,885 per person, unchanged from 2024; Home Office fees are not refunded if an application is refused (Home Office fee schedule 2025/26).
Most qualifying routes require five years of continuous lawful residence in the UK; absences of more than 180 days in any 12-month period of the qualifying period can affect eligibility (Home Office ILR guidance).
Applicants must pass the Life in the UK test (£50 per attempt) and demonstrate English language ability at B1 CEFR level unless they are aged 65 or over or have a long-term physical or mental condition affecting their ability to meet the language requirement.
ILR does not expire while you remain in the UK; it can be lost if you spend more than two continuous years outside the UK, after which a new application (returning resident visa) is required (Home Office ILR rules).
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who applied for the EU Settlement Scheme received either settled status (equivalent to ILR) or pre-settled status; the EU Settlement Scheme closed to new applicants on 30 June 2021 for those who arrived before 31 December 2020 (Home Office EUSS guidance).

Qualifying routes to ILR

ILR is available through a range of UK visa routes once the qualifying residence period has been completed. The most common routes are the Skilled Worker visa (five years), the Family visa for spouses and partners of British citizens or settled persons (five years under the standard route or two years on the 10-year route), the BN(O) Status visa for Hong Kong nationals (five years), the Innovator Founder visa, and various historic work and investor routes. Each route has its own specific ILR eligibility requirements including the length and continuity of residence, the type of leave held throughout, and whether any criminal convictions would disqualify the applicant. Some routes have shorter qualifying periods: the Global Talent visa and some investor routes can lead to ILR in three years for applicants who meet enhanced contribution thresholds. Domestic violence victims on a family visa can apply for ILR immediately without meeting a time requirement under the destitution domestic violence concession.

The Life in the UK test

All ILR applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK test unless exempted. The test consists of 24 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official handbook 'Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents'. The pass mark is 75 percent (18 correct answers out of 24). The test takes up to 45 minutes and is taken at an approved test centre; appointments are booked online at the official Life in the UK test website at lifeintheuktestapplication.co.uk. Each attempt costs £50. There is no limit on the number of attempts. Results are available immediately and a pass notification letter is issued for use in the ILR application. The test covers British history from early times to the present, the structure of UK government, the legal system, and daily life in the UK.

English language requirement

Applicants for ILR must demonstrate English language ability at B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) or above. This can be shown through an approved English language test from a UKVI-approved provider (such as IELTS for UKVI, Trinity SELT or PTE Academic UKVI), a degree or academic qualification taught in English, or nationality in a majority English-speaking country listed in the Home Office guidance. Applicants who obtained their Skilled Worker visa or most other qualifying leave after 2007 by demonstrating English language ability at B1 or above may use the same evidence for the ILR application, provided the qualification has not expired. The English language requirement does not apply to applicants aged 65 or over, or those with a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents them from meeting the requirement.

Continuous residence and the absence rules

ILR requires continuous lawful residence in the UK for the qualifying period. The Home Office reviews absence records as part of the ILR assessment. The standard rule is that absences must not exceed 180 days in any 12-month period during the qualifying period, and must not exceed 540 days in total across the five-year qualifying period (with some variation by route). Exceedances can be overlooked in exceptional circumstances, such as illness, COVID-19 restrictions, or compassionate leave. All travel outside the UK during the qualifying period should be recorded with dates of departure and return. Applicants should download their travel history from the Home Office using a Subject Access Request if they do not have their own records, to ensure accuracy before applying.

What ILR allows you to do

ILR grants the right to live, work, study and use the NHS in the UK on the same basis as a British citizen, without immigration conditions or time limits. ILR holders can access public funds - including Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, Child Benefit and state pension entitlements they have accrued through National Insurance contributions. They can bring close family members to the UK as dependants. ILR does not confer a UK travel document; holders travel on their national passport. The two-year continuous absence rule means that extended periods of living abroad can result in the loss of ILR, which is a practical consideration for those who may want to live abroad for longer periods while maintaining UK rights. After 12 months of ILR, British citizenship by naturalisation is available subject to meeting the good character requirement.

The cost of an ILR application for a family

The financial scale of an ILR application for a family is significant. At £2,885 per person in 2025/26, a family of four applying simultaneously faces a combined Home Office fee of £11,540. Each applicant also pays £50 for the Life in the UK test (unless exempt). English language tests from UKVI-approved providers cost approximately £150 to £200 per person. Professional immigration adviser or solicitor fees for preparing the application can range from £500 to £2,000 per application depending on complexity. Biometric enrolment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre may carry a service charge. Total all-in costs for a family of four can exceed £15,000. Planning for these costs from the beginning of the five-year residence period, rather than only as the qualifying date approaches, significantly reduces the financial pressure.

Frequently asked questions

Can I lose my ILR if I live abroad?

Yes. ILR can be lost if you spend more than two continuous years outside the UK. The two-year clock starts from the date you leave the UK and is reset each time you return. If you lose ILR due to an extended absence, you will need to apply for a returning resident visa to re-enter the UK, which is not guaranteed to be granted. If you are considering spending extended periods abroad, British citizenship (which does not have an equivalent absence rule) provides much stronger protection of your UK rights.

Do I need to apply for ILR or is it automatic after five years?

ILR is never granted automatically; you must make a formal application and pay the applicable fee. The Home Office will not contact you when you become eligible. It is your responsibility to apply once you meet the eligibility criteria. Remaining in the UK beyond the expiry of your time-limited leave without applying for ILR or an extension puts you in breach of immigration rules; apply before your current leave expires.

What happens if my ILR application is refused?

If your ILR application is refused, the Home Office will issue a decision letter explaining the reasons. You may have a right of appeal depending on the basis of refusal and the human rights grounds involved. An immigration solicitor or adviser regulated by the OISC (Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner) should be consulted immediately after a refusal. The Home Office fee is not refunded on refusal; you would need to re-apply and pay again if you address the reasons for refusal and submit a new application.

Can I apply for ILR if I have had a criminal conviction?

A criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify you from ILR, but the Home Office assesses whether you meet the 'good character' requirement as part of every application. Serious criminal offences, particularly those resulting in custodial sentences, are likely to lead to refusal. Spent convictions under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 must still be declared in an ILR application; the Home Office is exempt from the Act's provisions for immigration purposes.

What is pre-settled status and how is it different from ILR?

Pre-settled status was granted to EU, EEA and Swiss nationals who applied to the EU Settlement Scheme but had not yet accumulated five years of continuous residence by the closing date. Pre-settled status allows the holder to remain in the UK and work but does not grant access to all public funds in the same way as settled status (ILR equivalent). Pre-settled status holders can apply for settled status once they have completed five years of continuous residence. The Home Office extended the validity of pre-settled status automatically to avoid inadvertent lapsing while holders accumulate qualifying residence.

How we verified this guide

All figures and rules in this guide were verified against primary government and regulator sources during May 2026.

Disclaimer: This guide is information only, not financial, legal or immigration advice. Rules and fees change. Always check the primary sources cited and take specialist advice before making any decisions.

Primary sources

Last reviewed: May 2026.