What is ILR? Indefinite Leave to Remain Explained (2026)

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

Indefinite leave to remain, or ILR, is the UK's form of permanent residency. When you are granted indefinite leave to remain, you have the right to live and work in the UK for as long as you choose, with no time limit on your stay and no need to renew a visa.

Indefinite leave to remain is sometimes called settled status or permanent residence. These terms are often used interchangeably in everyday conversation. Technically, "settled status" is the term used for EU citizens who secured their rights under the EU Settlement Scheme, while indefinite leave to remain is the formal immigration status granted to non-EU nationals. But the practical effect is the same: you are permanently settled in the UK.

What rights does ILR give you?

Once you hold indefinite leave to remain, your life in the UK becomes significantly less restricted. The key rights that come with ILR include:

• Right to work: You can work for any employer, become self-employed, start a business, or change careers entirely. There are no sponsorship requirements and no salary thresholds to maintain.
• Right to study: You can enrol at any UK educational institution on any course. You may also qualify for home fee status and student finance for university.
• Access to public funds: ILR holders are no longer subject to the public funds restriction. You can claim Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and other means-tested benefits if you qualify financially.
• Free NHS healthcare: You are no longer required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. You have full access to the NHS on the same basis as a British citizen.
• Path to British citizenship: Indefinite leave to remain is a prerequisite for naturalising as a British citizen. After holding ILR for 12 months (1 year), you can apply for citizenship.
• Family reunification: As an ILR holder, it is generally easier to sponsor close family members to join you in the UK.

The Home Office issues indefinite leave to remain by stamping your passport or, increasingly, updating your digital immigration status. It is recorded on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if you receive one, or in the Home Office's digital systems for those who apply online.

Who can apply for ILR?

To apply for indefinite leave to remain, you must have been living in the UK on a qualifying visa for a set period, usually 5 years. You cannot simply have been in the UK for 5 years on any visa; you must have been on a visa category that leads to settlement, and you must have met the conditions of that visa throughout.

In addition to the residency period, most applicants for indefinite leave to remain must meet the following core requirements:

• Continuous residence: You must not have broken your lawful continuous residence in the UK. This means no gaps in your visa status and no single absence of more than 6 months.
• Absence limit: You must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period.
• English language: Most applicants must demonstrate English language ability at CEFR level B1 or above. Family route applicants follow a different pathway, starting at A1 and progressing.
• Life in the UK test: You must pass the official Life in the UK test, a 24-question multiple-choice exam covering British history, values, and everyday life.
• Good character: You must not have serious criminal convictions, and the Home Office must be satisfied that you are of good character.
• Route-specific requirements: Depending on your visa type, you may also need to meet salary thresholds, sponsorship requirements, or relationship requirements.

Not all of these requirements apply to every route. For example, the good character and absence requirements are universal, but the salary threshold only applies to work routes. Check the specific requirements for your visa category below.

Routes to ILR: how to get permanent residency in the UK

There are several different routes to indefinite leave to remain, each tied to a specific visa category. The qualifying period, requirements, and application process vary depending on which route you are on. Below is an overview of all the main routes to indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

Skilled Worker visa (5 years)

The Skilled Worker visa is the most common route to indefinite leave to remain in the UK. After 5 years of continuous residence on a Skilled Worker visa (or the predecessor Tier 2 General visa), you can apply for ILR using the SET(O) form. You must meet the salary threshold for your occupation at the time of your ILR application, not just when your visa was first granted. See our full Skilled Worker to ILR guide for a step-by-step timeline and all requirements.

Spouse/Partner visa (5 years)

If you came to the UK to join a British citizen or settled person as their spouse or partner, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years on the family route. The 5 years is typically split into two 2.5-year visa grants (an initial entry clearance and a further leave to remain). You must still be in a genuine relationship at the time of your ILR application. See our Spouse Visa to ILR guide for full details.

Health and Care Worker visa (5 years)

Health and Care Worker visa holders follow a similar path to Skilled Workers but benefit from some important differences, including exemption from the NHS Immigration Health Surcharge and lower salary thresholds for certain care roles. After 5 years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain via the SET(O) form. See our Health and Care Worker to ILR guide for details specific to NHS and care sector workers.

Global Talent visa (3 years)

The Global Talent visa is a fast-track route to indefinite leave to remain for internationally recognised leaders and emerging leaders in science, engineering, digital technology, arts and culture, and academia. Those endorsed as "exceptional talent" can apply for ILR after just 3 years. Those endorsed as "exceptional promise" must wait 5 years. See our Global Talent to ILR guide for the full breakdown.

Long Residence (10 years)

If you have lived in the UK continuously and lawfully for 10 years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain via the Long Residence route, regardless of what visa types you held during that time (as long as each visa was a qualifying category). This route is useful for people who have mixed visa histories. See our Long Residence Route guide for the specific rules and absence limits that apply.

Ancestry visa (5 years)

Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent can come to the UK on a UK Ancestry visa. After 5 years of continuous residence, they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. The Ancestry visa is a relatively straightforward route with fewer restrictions than work routes, as there is no sponsorship requirement and no salary threshold for the ILR application.

Innovator Founder visa (3 years)

The Innovator Founder visa is for experienced entrepreneurs setting up innovative businesses in the UK. After 3 years, visa holders can apply for indefinite leave to remain if their business has met the required milestones and they have endorsement from an approved endorsing body. The qualifying period is shorter than most other routes, making this attractive for established entrepreneurs.

Other routes to ILR

There are several other routes to indefinite leave to remain for people in specific circumstances, including:

• Refugee status: Refugees and those granted humanitarian protection can apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years of continuous residence.
• Domestic violence route: Victims of domestic violence who entered the UK as a spouse or partner of a British citizen or settled person can apply for indefinite leave to remain immediately, without completing the 5-year qualifying period.
• Returning residents: Former ILR holders who have lost their status through an extended absence can apply to return as a Returning Resident.
• Armed Forces: Members of the armed forces and their family members have specific routes to ILR with different qualifying periods.
• Turkish nationals: Turkish nationals with rights under the ECAA (European Community Association Agreement) have specific settlement routes.

Summary table: routes to ILR

ILR requirements: what you need to qualify

Regardless of which route you are on, there is a core set of requirements that almost all applicants for indefinite leave to remain must meet. Understanding these requirements early gives you time to prepare and avoid the pitfalls that lead to refusals.

Continuous residence period

Your qualifying period must be continuous. This means no gaps in your visa status throughout the qualifying period. If your visa expires and you allow it to lapse without applying for an extension, you break your continuous residence and your qualifying period may reset. A single absence from the UK of more than 6 months can also break your continuous residence, even if your visa is still valid.

Absence rule (180 days)

One of the most important requirements for indefinite leave to remain is the absence limit. 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 fixed calendar years.

This rule catches many applicants by surprise. A long holiday, combined with a work trip earlier or later in the same rolling window, can push your total over 180 days. We strongly recommend using our ILR Absence Calculator to track your absence days accurately from the start of your qualifying period. For a full explanation of how the absence rule works, see our guide to ILR absence rules.

English language

Most applicants must demonstrate English language ability. The required level depends on your route:

• Work routes (Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, etc.): B1 level on the CEFR scale. If you already met the English language requirement when your visa was granted, you do not normally need to prove it again for ILR.
• Family routes (spouse/partner): The requirement progresses through A1 (initial visa), A2 (extension), and B1 (ILR). Each stage requires a new test if you are not exempt.
• Exemptions: Nationals of majority English-speaking countries and people over 65 are generally exempt. Those with a degree taught in English may also be exempt.

Life in the UK test

The Life in the UK test is a mandatory requirement for indefinite leave to remain for most applicants. The test has 24 questions and you must score 75% (18 correct) to pass. It covers British history, culture, values, and everyday life. The test must be taken at an approved test centre. Most people take it in the year before they plan to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

The test costs £50 per attempt. There is no limit on how many times you can take it, but failing repeatedly delays your application. Our Life in the UK Test guide covers what to study, how to book, and free practice resources.

Good character

The Home Office assesses whether you are of good character before granting indefinite leave to remain. This is a broad assessment that includes your criminal record, immigration compliance, tax compliance, and general conduct. Serious criminal convictions can lead to automatic refusal. Even minor matters can be relevant if they suggest a pattern of disregarding UK law.

No criminal convictions

You must disclose any criminal convictions, including those from outside the UK. The rules on which convictions are disqualifying and which can be overlooked depend on the sentence length and the nature of the offence. If you have any convictions, seek legal advice before applying for indefinite leave to remain.

Salary requirements (work routes)

If you are applying on a work route such as the Skilled Worker visa, you must still be meeting the salary requirements at the time of your ILR application. For Skilled Workers, this means your salary must meet the going rate for your Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code as currently set in the Immigration Rules. This requirement is assessed at the point of your ILR application, not at the time your original visa was granted. See our ILR salary requirement guide for the current thresholds and transitional arrangements.

How much does ILR cost?

Applying for indefinite leave to remain is a significant financial commitment. The main application fee alone is £2,885, and there are several additional costs on top. Here is a summary of what to budget for.

For a straightforward self-filed application, expect to pay around £2,955 (application fee, biometrics, and Life in the UK test). With priority processing and a lawyer, the total can exceed £5,000. For a full breakdown of every cost involved in an indefinite leave to remain application, see our dedicated ILR costs guide. You can also use our UK Visa Cost Calculator to get a personalised cost estimate based on your situation.

How long does ILR take?

The Home Office offers three processing tiers for indefinite leave to remain applications, with significantly different waiting times and costs.

• Standard processing: 6-8 weeks. This is the default processing time and is included in the standard application fee with no additional charge. It is the right choice if your current visa has plenty of time remaining when you apply.
• Priority processing: 5 working days. Costs an additional £500. Suitable if you need a faster decision, for example if you have a job offer that requires settled status, or if your visa is expiring relatively soon.
• Super priority processing: Decision by the end of the next working day. Costs an additional £800. Suitable for urgent situations. Note that availability for super priority can be limited and is not always guaranteed.

The 28-day early application rule

You do not have to wait until the exact anniversary of your visa start date. The Immigration Rules allow you to submit your indefinite leave to remain application up to 28 days before you complete the qualifying period. This means you can get your application into the system, attend your biometrics appointment, and upload your documents while your qualifying period clock is still ticking.

To find your exact earliest application date, use our ILR Eligibility Calculator. Enter your visa start date and qualifying period length, and the calculator will tell you precisely when you become eligible to apply.

ILR vs British citizenship: what is the difference?

Indefinite leave to remain and British citizenship are often confused, but they are very different statuses with different rights, costs, and implications. Here is a clear comparison.

The main practical difference is permanence. Indefinite leave to remain is permanent in practice as long as you maintain ties to the UK, but it can be lost if you move abroad for more than 2 consecutive years. British citizenship, once granted, is yours for life in almost all circumstances. It cannot be revoked simply because you live abroad.

For most people on a work or family route, the logical sequence is: visa to indefinite leave to remain (5 years) then citizenship (1 year later, at the 6-year mark). See our ILR vs citizenship guide for a detailed comparison to help you decide when and whether to pursue citizenship.

Can you lose ILR?

Yes. Indefinite leave to remain is not unconditional. There are circumstances in which your indefinite leave to remain can lapse or be revoked.

Two years abroad

The most common way to lose indefinite leave to remain is by spending more than 2 continuous years outside the UK. If you leave the UK and do not return within 2 years, your indefinite leave to remain lapses automatically. There is no official warning or notification. You would discover the problem only when you tried to return to the UK and were refused entry (or flagged at the border).

If your indefinite leave to remain lapses due to a long absence, you can apply for a Returning Resident visa. However, the Home Office will consider whether you have strong ties to the UK and compelling reasons for the long absence. Approval is not guaranteed.

Revocation for serious offences

The Home Office can revoke indefinite leave to remain if you are convicted of a serious criminal offence, are found to have obtained your ILR through fraud or deception, or are considered a threat to national security or public order. These cases are relatively rare but represent a real risk for those with serious criminal records.

ILR is more stable than a visa

It is worth putting these risks in context. While indefinite leave to remain can technically be lost, the vast majority of ILR holders live their lives in the UK without any issue. The 2-year absence rule mainly affects people who take extended assignments abroad or who return to their home countries for extended periods. If you are settled in the UK and travelling normally, there is no risk to your indefinite leave to remain status.

ILR rule changes in 2026

The UK government has signalled significant reforms to the settlement system in 2026 under the banner of "Earned Settlement." These reforms, if implemented, could change how indefinite leave to remain is granted, potentially extending the qualifying period for some routes from 5 years to 10 years.

The proposed Earned Settlement system would move away from fixed qualifying periods and towards a points-based assessment of a person's contribution to the UK. Points would be awarded for factors such as salary level, tax contributions, voluntary work, and civic participation. Those who accumulate enough points could potentially qualify for indefinite leave to remain earlier; those who do not contribute as highly could face a longer wait.

As of March 2026, the reforms have been announced but full legislative implementation is still pending. The Home Office has indicated that transitional arrangements will protect people who are already on route to indefinite leave to remain under the current rules. If you are close to your qualifying period, you are unlikely to be affected by the most significant changes.

However, if you are in the early stages of your visa, you should monitor developments carefully. See our dedicated Earned Settlement Changes guide for the most up-to-date information on what the reforms mean and who is affected.

How ILR Tracker helps

Applying for indefinite leave to remain involves tracking dozens of variables over multiple years: every trip abroad, every payslip, every visa extension, every change of employer. ILR Tracker was built specifically to help people on the path to indefinite leave to remain stay on top of it all, from day one of their visa to the day their ILR is granted.

Eligibility calculator

Find out exactly when you become eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain. Our ILR Eligibility Calculator takes your visa start date and route and calculates your qualifying period end date, your earliest application date (28 days before), and how long you have to wait.

Absence calculator

Log every trip abroad and our ILR Absence Calculator automatically checks every rolling 12-month window across your qualifying period. You see exactly which windows are safe, which are at risk, and how many travel days you have left before your next planned trip would breach the 180-day limit.

Cost calculator

Get a personalised breakdown of every cost involved in your indefinite leave to remain application with our UK Visa Cost Calculator. Enter your route, whether you need priority processing, and how many dependants are applying alongside you, and the calculator shows you a total including all fees.

Document checklist

Track your application readiness with the ILR Document Checklist. See exactly which documents you need for your specific route, tick them off as you gather them, and get a readiness score showing whether you are ready to apply.

All of these tools are free to use. No account required to get started.