UK Permanent Residency: How to Get It (2026)

What is UK permanent residency?

In the UK, permanent residency is officially called Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Unlike many other countries that issue a document labelled a "permanent residence card" or "permanent resident visa", the UK uses the term Indefinite Leave to Remain for this immigration status.

If you have been searching for information about UK permanent residency, you are looking for ILR. The two terms mean exactly the same thing: the right to live and work in the UK permanently, without any immigration restrictions. Indefinite Leave to Remain gives you the right to stay in the UK indefinitely, work for any employer, access public funds, and travel in and out of the UK without needing to renew a visa.

Permanent residency in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain) is one of the most significant milestones in your immigration journey. It removes the dependency on an employer or sponsor, ends the cycle of visa renewals, and opens the door to British citizenship. Most people who spend 5 or more years in the UK on a qualifying visa will eventually apply for UK permanent residency through the Indefinite Leave to Remain route.

For a detailed explanation of everything ILR entails, see our complete guide to what ILR is.

Who can get UK permanent residency?

To qualify for UK permanent residency through Indefinite Leave to Remain, you must be living in the UK on a qualifying visa. The most common routes to permanent residency are listed below. Each route has a minimum qualifying period before you can apply.

Each of these visa routes leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain, which is the UK form of permanent residency. The route you take determines the qualifying period and some of the specific requirements you must meet at the time of your application.

For a full breakdown of the rules for each route, see our guide to UK ILR rules.

UK permanent residency requirements

To be granted UK permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain), you must meet a set of core requirements at the time of your application. These apply to most visa routes, with some route-specific variations.

Qualifying residence period

You must have completed the qualifying residence period for your visa route. For most work and family visas, this is 5 years of continuous residence in the UK. During this period, your visa must have remained valid and you must have complied with the conditions of your leave.

Maximum 180 days absence in any 12-month period

One of the most important permanent residency requirements is the absence rule. You must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period. This is assessed across every possible 12-month window, not just a fixed calendar year. Exceeding this limit is one of the most common reasons permanent residency applications are refused.

English language at B1 level

For work routes (including Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker), you must demonstrate English language ability at CEFR level B1 or above. For most applicants, this requirement was already met when the original visa was granted. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries are exempt.

Life in the UK test

All permanent residency (ILR) applicants must pass the Life in the UK test, unless they are exempt due to age (under 18 or over 65) or a long-term physical or mental condition. The test consists of 24 multiple-choice questions about British values, history, and everyday life, with a pass mark of 75%.

Good character requirement

You must meet the good character requirement for UK permanent residency. This means no unspent criminal convictions, no history of immigration breaches, and no involvement in activities that are considered incompatible with permanent residency in the UK.

Salary and financial requirements

Depending on your visa route, you may need to meet specific salary or financial thresholds at the time of your permanent residency application. For Skilled Worker visa holders, your salary must meet the going rate for your occupation code at the date of your ILR application.

Use the ILR Eligibility Calculator to check whether you currently meet the requirements for UK permanent residency.

How long does UK permanent residency take?

When people ask how long permanent residency in the UK takes, they often mean two different things. We will answer both.

How long before you can apply for permanent residency?

For most visa holders, you must complete 5 years of continuous residence in the UK before you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent residency). The clock starts from your visa start date, not the date you first entered the UK.

Some routes are faster. Global Talent visa holders with Exceptional Talent endorsement can apply for permanent residency after 3 years. Innovator Founder visa holders can also apply after 3 years if they have met the business requirements. The 10-year Long Residence route is available to people who have lived in the UK continuously for a decade on various visa types.

You can submit your permanent residency (ILR) application up to 28 days before you complete the qualifying period. This means you do not have to wait until the exact anniversary date.

How long does the ILR application itself take?

Once you have submitted your permanent residency application, the standard processing time is approximately 6 to 8 weeks. If you need a faster decision, two priority services are available:

• Priority service: decision within 5 working days (additional fee applies)
• Super priority service: decision by the end of the next working day (higher additional fee)

For full details on processing times and what affects them, see our guide to ILR processing times.

How much does UK permanent residency cost?

Applying for UK permanent residency through Indefinite Leave to Remain is not cheap. Here is a breakdown of the fees you should expect to pay.

The total cost for a standard permanent residency application (ILR) is approximately £2,955 including the application fee, biometrics, and Life in the UK test. With optional priority processing, the total rises to around £3,455 or more. These fees are per person, so families applying for permanent residency together will pay the full fee for each applicant.

For a complete breakdown of all costs involved in getting permanent residency in the UK, including what each fee covers and whether your employer can pay, see our guide to ILR costs. You can also use our UK Visa Cost Calculator to get a personalised total.

UK permanent residency vs British citizenship

Many people who apply for UK permanent residency eventually consider whether to go further and apply for British citizenship. The two statuses are different in important ways. Indefinite Leave to Remain gives you permanent residency in the UK, but it is not the same as becoming a British citizen.

Many people choose to apply for British citizenship after holding UK permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain) for 12 months. The main advantage of citizenship over permanent residency is the British passport and the fact that citizenship cannot be lost by living outside the UK.

For a detailed comparison, see our guide to ILR vs British citizenship. For the full citizenship pathway, see our guide to British citizenship after ILR.

UK permanent residency for EU citizens

EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens who were living in the UK before Brexit (before 1 January 2021) have a different route to permanent residency. They can apply through the EU Settlement Scheme for Settled Status, which is the EU equivalent of Indefinite Leave to Remain.

EU Settled Status gives the holder the same rights as someone with Indefinite Leave to Remain. It is not technically called permanent residency or ILR, but it functions in the same way: the right to live and work in the UK permanently without immigration restrictions. People with Settled Status can also apply for British citizenship after 12 months, just like ILR holders.

If you are an EU citizen who arrived in the UK after 1 January 2021, the EU Settlement Scheme is no longer open to you. You would need to apply for a standard visa (such as a Skilled Worker visa) and follow the standard route to Indefinite Leave to Remain, just like non-EU nationals.

If you are an EU citizen who was in the UK before 31 December 2020 but has not yet applied for Settled Status, you should seek urgent immigration advice. The deadline for late applications to the EU Settlement Scheme passed on 30 June 2021 for most applicants, though the scheme remains open for those with reasonable grounds for a late application.

The 2026 rule changes

The UK government has proposed significant reforms to the permanent residency (ILR) system under an "Earned Settlement" framework. These changes could affect how long you need to live in the UK before qualifying for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Under the proposed reforms, the qualifying period for permanent residency could increase from 5 years to 10 years for some visa routes, with a points-based system determining how quickly you accumulate the required points. The reforms are intended to reward contributions to the UK such as employment, tax payments, and community involvement.

The earned settlement changes are still being finalised. Transitional arrangements are expected for people who are already on their way to permanent residency under the existing 5-year rules. If you are close to completing your qualifying period, it is important to understand how the changes may affect your timeline.

For the latest information on how the 2026 rule changes could affect your permanent residency application, see our guide to the new ILR rules for Skilled Worker visa holders.

How ILR Tracker helps

Getting UK permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain) is a multi-year journey with strict requirements and real consequences for getting things wrong. ILR Tracker was built specifically to help people on the path to permanent residency in the UK stay on track.

ILR Eligibility Calculator

Not sure when you can apply for UK permanent residency? Enter your visa start date and trip history into the ILR Eligibility Calculator and it will tell you your exact earliest application date, accounting for the 28-day early window.

Absence calculator with rolling windows

The 180-day absence rule is the most common reason permanent residency applications are refused. Our absence calculator checks every rolling 12-month window across your qualifying period and shows you exactly how many safe travel days you have remaining before you risk breaching the limit.

Cost calculator

The total cost of UK permanent residency can surprise people who have not planned ahead. Use our UK Visa Cost Calculator to get a personalised breakdown of every fee involved in your Indefinite Leave to Remain application.

Guides for every route to permanent residency

Whether you are on a Skilled Worker visa, a Spouse Visa, a Health and Care Worker visa, or the Global Talent visa, we have a detailed guide covering your specific route to permanent residency in the UK. Every guide is kept up to date with the latest rules and covers the exact requirements, documents, and timeline for your situation.

Start with our step-by-step guide to getting ILR for a complete overview of the UK permanent residency application process.