Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is also commonly referred to as ‘Permanent Residence’ or ‘settlement’. If you are a foreign national and you are granted Indefinite Leave to Remain, you will have permission to live and work in the UK without restriction.
UK visa categories that can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain include:
Different routes have different qualifying periods. Most lead to settlement after five years, but some, such as Global Talent and Innovator Founder, can qualify after three years, while the long residence route requires ten years.
Indefinite Leave to Remain Requirements
To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain you must satisfy the following criteria:
- Complete the required period of continuous residence in the UK (five years on most routes) on a qualifying visa, and meet any income or other requirements that apply to your route.
- Stay within the absence limit. For most routes you must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying years. This is one of the most common reasons applications are refused, so keep a detailed record of every trip in and out of the UK.
- Pass the Life in the UK test – a 45-minute, 24-question test on British history, culture and government, sat by foreign nationals applying for settlement or naturalisation.
- Meet the English language requirement, currently CEFR level B1, unless you are exempt (for example, nationals of certain majority English-speaking countries, or those with a degree taught in English). Note that this standard is due to rise to level B2 from 26 March 2027.
When can you apply for ILR?
You can apply up to 28 days before you complete your qualifying period. Applying earlier than this will usually lead to a refusal, so timing matters. Your qualifying period normally begins on the start date of your visa, not the date you first entered the UK, which can catch people out.
How much does ILR cost?
The standard ILR application fee is £3,226 per person (from 8 April 2026). Each family member applying must pay the full fee separately – there are no reduced rates for children. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge to pay on an ILR application.
If you need a faster decision, you can pay for the priority service (an extra £500, giving a total of £3,726) or the super priority service (an extra £1,000, giving a total of £4,226), subject to availability. You should also budget for the Life in the UK test (£50) and an English language test if one is required.
How long is Indefinite Leave to Remain valid for?
There is no time limit on Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. Once granted, your permanent residence status continues for as long as you live in the UK. However, it is important to note that you should not spend a continuous period of more than two years outside the UK, as this may lead to the loss of your ILR.
Indefinite Leave to Remain and the pathway to British Citizenship
You may be eligible to apply for British Citizenship 12 months after being granted Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you are married to a British citizen, you may be able to apply as soon as you have ILR.
Many people choose to apply for citizenship once they are eligible, because British citizenship cannot be lost through absence from the UK in the way that ILR can. It is the most secure way to protect your status.
Loss of Indefinite Leave to Remain
There are a number of circumstances that may cause you to lose your Indefinite Leave to Remain status. For example, if you leave the UK and upon return are granted leave to enter the UK other than for an indefinite period. This may occur because you mistakenly seek to enter as a visitor, or the immigration officer believes that you do not intend to reside in the UK.
Indefinite Leave to Remain may also be revoked if you commit an offence that could lead to you being deported from the UK, or for reasons of national security.
You may also lose ILR status by leaving the UK for a continuous period of more than two years, though in some circumstances you may be able to return on a Returning Resident visa. Please note that British Overseas citizens, British subjects and British protected persons do not lose their Indefinite Leave to Remain status no matter how long they stay outside the UK.
Changes to the settlement rules
Please note that the government has consulted on plans to reform settlement through a new ‘earned settlement’ system, which could extend the qualifying period from five to ten years for some routes. As of now this is not in force, and the existing qualifying periods still apply. We will advise you on the current position when you apply.