What Is Indefinite Leave to Remain?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is the immigration status that grants you permanent residence in the United Kingdom. Once you hold ILR — also known as settled status — you can live and work in the UK without any time restrictions, access public funds and benefits, and apply for British citizenship after meeting additional requirements.
ILR is not the same as British citizenship. You remain a citizen of your home country, but you have the right to stay in the UK permanently. However, ILR can lapse if you spend more than two continuous years outside the UK, so it is important to understand the conditions attached to your status.
Eligibility Routes
There is no single path to ILR. Your eligibility depends on the visa route you currently hold and how long you have lived in the UK.
Five-Year Routes
Most applicants qualify for ILR after five continuous years on an eligible visa. The main five-year routes include:
- Skilled Worker visa — after five years of continuous employment with a licensed sponsor
- Spouse or partner visa — after five years living with your British or settled partner (or two years and nine months if you applied before certain rule changes)
- Family visa — after five years for parents or adult dependants of settled persons
- Ancestry visa — after five years of continuous residence as a Commonwealth citizen with a UK-born grandparent
- Innovator Founder visa — after three years if endorsed, or five years on the standard route
Other Routes
- Long Residence — after ten continuous years of lawful residence in the UK on any visa combination
- Domestic violence provisions — available to partners on family visas who have experienced domestic abuse, with no minimum residence period
- Bereaved partners — if your sponsoring partner has died during the probationary period
Each route carries its own specific requirements, so check the detailed guidance for your visa type before applying.
Continuous Residence Requirement
For most ILR routes, you must demonstrate continuous residence in the UK for the qualifying period. This means you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period during your qualifying years.
Absences beyond 180 days can break your continuous residence, forcing you to restart the qualifying period. There are limited exceptions for serious illness, compassionate circumstances, or certain work-related travel, but these must be well documented.
Keep a careful record of all your travel dates. The Home Office will check your passport stamps and may request additional evidence of your presence in the UK.
Life in the UK Test
All ILR applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK test. The test consists of 24 multiple-choice questions covering British traditions, history, values, and everyday life. You need to score at least 75% (18 out of 24) to pass.
The test costs £50 and can be booked at approved test centres across the UK. You can retake it as many times as needed, but you must wait at least seven days between attempts. Study the official handbook — most questions are drawn directly from it.
English Language Requirement
You must prove your English language ability at CELT level B1 or above in speaking and listening. Accepted evidence includes:
- A passing score on an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as IELTS for UKVI or Trinity College London ISE
- A degree taught in English from a recognised institution
- Nationality of a majority English-speaking country
Applicants aged 65 or over, or those with a long-term physical or mental condition, may be exempt from this requirement.
Application Process
ILR applications are submitted online through the UK Visas and Immigration portal. After completing the online form and paying the fee, you will need to attend a biometric appointment to provide your fingerprints and photograph.
Documents You Will Need
- Valid passport or travel document
- Proof of continuous residence (travel history, payslips, bank statements, utility bills)
- Evidence of meeting the English language requirement
- Life in the UK test pass certificate
- Proof of relationship (for family routes) or employment (for work routes)
- Financial evidence if required by your specific route
Submit your application no earlier than 28 days before you complete your qualifying period.
Fees
The current ILR application fee is £2,885 per applicant. This does not include the cost of biometric enrolment (£19.20), the Life in the UK test (£50), or any English language test fees.
If you are applying as a family, each dependant must submit a separate application and pay the full fee. There are no fee waivers for standard ILR applications, though limited exceptions exist for destitution cases and domestic violence applications.
Processing Times
Standard ILR applications are typically processed within six months when submitted by post or online without a priority service. Processing times can vary depending on the complexity of your case and current Home Office workloads.
Priority Services
- Priority service — decision within approximately 5 working days for an additional fee of around £500
- Super priority service — decision by the end of the next working day for an additional fee of around £1,000
Priority services are subject to availability and may not be offered for all routes at all times. Check the current availability when you submit your application.
After ILR — Path to British Citizenship
Once you hold ILR, you can apply for British citizenship through naturalisation after 12 months. The requirements include:
- You must have held ILR for at least 12 months at the time of your citizenship application
- You must not have spent more than 450 days outside the UK in the five years before your application
- You must not have spent more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12 months before your application
- You must meet the good character requirement
- You must pass the Life in the UK test (your ILR pass counts) and meet the English language requirement
British citizenship grants you a UK passport, the right to vote, and permanent security of status that cannot lapse through absence. The naturalisation fee is currently £1,630.
ILR is a significant milestone in your UK immigration journey. Plan ahead, keep thorough records, and ensure you meet all requirements well before your application date.