Indefinite Leave to Remain

You can apply for ILR if you have had the same type of British visa for five years or longer, though in some cases you can apply after just three. The initial stage before submitting an application for full British citizenship or naturalisation is Indefinite Leave to Remain, which permits immigrants from outside the UK to remain in the country without limitations. You can also apply for ILR if you have been lawfully resident in the UK for a continuous period of 10 years.

After fulfilling additional requirements, almost all other British visa routes—such as those who have had Tier 1 or skilled worker visas or spouse visas—are qualified to apply for ILR.

The following requirements must be satisfied in order to be eligible for ILR:

• You’ve had the same type of British visa for at least five years
• Evidence of meeting the B1 English language proficiency levels
• The Life in the UK exam must be passed
• You must not breach any immigration laws while you were in the UK, nor have a criminal record
• During any given year that you have lived in the UK, you are not permitted to have spent more than 180 days abroad

It is important to consult an immigration lawyer to find out if you qualify to apply and what documents you must submit with your ILR application as the requirements can be complex. If you wish to make an ILR application, please contact us via phone/email/online form or chat with us to discuss your case.

It is imperative that you get in touch with us right away via phone/email/online form or chat with us if you wish to appeal against a refusal decision.