Quick answer
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR), also called settlement, is permanent permission to live in the UK. On most work and family routes you can apply after 5 years, if your time abroad is within the limits, you pass the Life in the UK test and you meet the English requirement. We check your dates, prepare your evidence and submit the application.
On this page
What we do for you
- Work out your qualifying date from your visa history, and confirm that your route leads to ILR
- Count your days outside the UK in each 12-month period of your qualifying time
- Confirm whether you need the Life in the UK test, and how you meet the English requirement
- Send you a list of the documents your route needs, and check each one against the Home Office guidance
- Complete the application for your route with a covering letter, and submit it
- Go through the decision with you, including when you could apply for British citizenship
Who can apply, and when
These are the qualifying periods in the Immigration Rules as of October 2026:
| Skilled Worker | 5 years |
|---|---|
| Partner on a family visa | 5 years, or 10 years on the 10-year partner route |
| Innovator Founder, and some Global Talent holders | 3 years (5 years for some Global Talent categories) |
| UK Ancestry | 5 years |
| British National (Overseas) | 5 years |
| Long residence | 10 years’ continuous lawful residence, which can combine different visas |
Some routes do not lead to ILR at all: time on a Global Business Mobility visa, for example, does not count. Your exact date depends on when your qualifying visa started and any time spent outside the UK.
What you need on most routes
- Continuous residence. No more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period, with limited exceptions.
- The Life in the UK test. Most applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass it.
- English. Speaking and listening at level B1 on most routes. Under-18s, people aged 65 or over and nationals of majority English-speaking countries are exempt.
- Your route’s own requirements. Each route adds conditions of its own, so check yours before you book the test.
Planned changes. The government has proposed making 10 years the standard qualifying period for ILR, with shorter periods for some people and a 5-year route kept for partners, parents and children of British citizens. It has said the new rules would apply to people already in the UK. As of October 2026 the outcome has not been published and the qualifying periods have not changed. If you are close to qualifying, check your dates now.
What it costs
| Our legal fee: Indefinite Leave to Remain | Typically £1,500 – £2,200, excluding VAT |
|---|---|
| VAT | Where VAT applies it is charged at 20%. Whether it applies depends on your residence and immigration status, and we confirm it in your quotation. |
What our fee includes
- An initial meeting, advice on your route and a document checklist
- Reviewing your documents and evidence
- Preparing the application and the written arguments that support it
- Submitting the application
- Advising on the decision
Not included: Home Office fees, biometric or priority-service charges, the Life in the UK test and English test fees, translation, interpreter, expert or barrister fees, appeals or reviews unless specifically included, and extra work caused by incomplete information, further-evidence requests or interviews.
The figure for your case depends on how complex it is, how much evidence there is, any earlier refusals and how urgent it is. You get a written quote before you instruct us. All our published immigration fee ranges are on our fees page.
Set by the government, paid separately: the Home Office application fee, and £50 for the Life in the UK test (GOV.UK, checked 8 October 2026). Home Office fees change, so check the current Home Office fee tables. We confirm every third-party cost and get your approval before it is paid.
How it works, and how long it takes
Getting your application ready typically takes 2 to 6 weeks from the day we have your documents. After that, the timing is the Home Office's.
- Your qualifying date
You send us your visa history and travel dates. We work out the earliest date you can apply and count your days abroad.
- Your tests
If you need them, you book the Life in the UK test and an English test. A pass you already hold may still count.
- Your documents
We send you a list for your route and check each document against the Home Office guidance.
- Your application
We complete the application for your route with a covering letter and submit it once you have checked it. You then confirm your identity, usually at an appointment.
- The decision
The Home Office decides. Once you have ILR, we can tell you when you could apply for British citizenship. If you are refused, the letter states your options and the deadline.
Typical Home Office processing time (Home Office estimate, not guaranteed): See the Home Office’s current processing times for applications made inside the UK.
Who you will work with
Oliverta Mediu
Partner — Immigration & Family
Immigration work is carried out by our team of solicitors, legal advisers and paralegals, supervised by Partner Oliverta Mediu. Oliverta wrote our guide to ILR.
Where we act
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Leicester office 3rd Floor, St George's House, 6 St George's Way, Leicester LE1 1QZ 0116 393 0334
Immigration in Leicester
What clients say
Firm-wide reviews across all our services.
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Regulated by the SRA SRA No. 605949, view our record
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CQS accredited Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme
Questions people ask
What is indefinite leave to remain?
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR), also called settlement, is permanent permission to live in the UK. There is no time limit on your stay: you can live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you are eligible. It is not citizenship and it does not give you a British passport.
How long do I need to be in the UK before I can apply?
Under the Immigration Rules as of October 2026: 5 years on most work and family routes, including Skilled Worker, UK Ancestry and British National (Overseas); 5 years on the partner route, or 10 years on the 10-year partner route; 3 years for Innovator Founder and some Global Talent holders (5 years for others); and 10 years’ continuous lawful residence on the long residence route. Some routes, such as Global Business Mobility, do not lead to ILR at all.
How many days can I spend outside the UK?
On most routes you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. There are limited exceptions, for example a humanitarian crisis, travel disruption or compelling personal circumstances. The 12-month periods roll, so one long trip can matter years later. Write down the dates of each trip as you go.
Do I need the Life in the UK test and an English test?
Most applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK test. Most routes need English speaking and listening at level B1. You are exempt from the English requirement if you are under 18, 65 or over, or a national of a majority English-speaking country.
Will the planned 10-year rule affect me?
Possibly, if you do not yet have ILR. The government has proposed making 10 years the standard qualifying period, with shorter periods for some people and a 5-year route kept for partners, parents and children of British citizens. It has said the new rules would apply to people already in the UK. As of October 2026 the consultation outcome has not been published and the qualifying periods have not changed. If you are close to qualifying, check your dates now.
Can ILR be taken away?
Yes, in limited cases. ILR lapses if you spend more than two years in a row outside the UK. The Home Office can also revoke it if it was obtained by deception or you are liable to deportation. The government has said its planned settlement changes will not remove ILR from people who already hold it.
What happens if my application is refused?
It depends on your route. A refusal on a work route usually comes with an administrative review, which you must ask for within 14 days of the decision. A refusal on a family or long residence route may be treated as a human rights claim, with a right of appeal to the tribunal, also within 14 days. Your refusal letter says which applies. Our refusals and appeals page explains each option.
Helpful guides
Want us to check your dates before you apply?
This page is general information about UK immigration law as of October 2026, not advice on your application. The rules change often.