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Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as UK settlement, is the immigration status that grants you permanent residency in the United Kingdom. Once ILR is obtained, all time restrictions on your stay are removed. You can live, work, and study in the UK without limitation and enjoy access to healthcare through the NHS, education, and certain benefits (subject to eligibility).
ILR is also the gateway to British citizenship. In most cases, after holding ILR for at least 12 months, you can apply to naturalise as a British citizen. Unlike temporary visas or Pre-Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, ILR provides long-term stability and secures your future in the UK.
Many applicants qualify for ILR through family routes. If you are the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, child, or dependent relative of a person who is settled in the UK (either with ILR or British citizenship), you may be eligible.
Several UK visa categories provide a direct path to settlement.
Applicants who have legally lived in the UK for ten years on any combination of visas can apply for ILR under the long residence route. To qualify, the residence must have been lawful and continuous. Absences from the UK are closely examined. For time before 11 April 2024, applicants must not exceed 184 days per trip or 548 days in total. For time after 11 April 2024, you must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period.
Those granted refugee status can apply for ILR after five years in the UK. Those granted humanitarian protection usually require 10 years before ILR. In rare legacy cases granted before 2017, ILR may have been possible after 5 years. These routes reflect the UK’s obligations to protect vulnerable individuals while offering long-term security.
Regardless of the visa path, certain requirements apply to all ILR applications:
Absences are now assessed differently depending on when they occurred:
This updated approach provides flexibility but requires careful record-keeping
Children under 18 can be included in a parent’s ILR application if they are living in the UK with valid dependant status. Applicants must provide birth certificates and evidence of dependency.
Children over 18 must usually apply in their own right, meeting English and Life in the UK test requirements. They cannot normally be added to a parent’s 10-year long residence application.
Since 11 April 2024, new financial thresholds apply:
Alternative evidence can include savings of at least £88,500 held for six months, rental income, dividends, or pensions
Applicants must remain in the UK until a decision is made.
After holding ILR for 12 months, most applicants can apply for naturalisation if they meet residency, good character, and English requirements.
EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who were resident in the UK before 31 December 2020 may hold Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme, which carries the same benefits as ILR. Unlike ILR, EUSS applications are free of charge.
At LawSentis, we recognise that ILR is not just an administrative step—it is a life-changing milestone. Our IAA-regulated advisers provide:
Our goal is to ensure your ILR application is strong, complete, and compliant with the latest immigration rules. With decades of combined experience, we help individuals and families secure settlement and prepare for the next step towards British citizenship
Have questions or need more information? Our team is here to help.
Expert guidance on visas, settlement, citizenship, and asylum — just a message away.