Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)/permanent residence is a valuable permission that grants you the right to settle in the UK permanently. With ILR, you can live, work, and study without any restrictions, and you have the freedom to enter and exit the UK multiple times. Moreover, as an ILR holder, you can access state benefits available to residents.
Various visa categories can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain, including:
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Spouse, Civil and Unmarried Partner visa: You can apply for ILR after completing a full two years of residency if you made the application before July 2012 or after completing a full five years of residency if you applied on/after the rule change in July 2012.
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Ancestry Visa: If you hold an Ancestry Visa, you can apply for ILR after completing five years of residency.
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Tier 2 Work-related visa: If you have been residing in the UK under a Tier 2 Work-related visa for five years, you may be eligible to apply for ILR.
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Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visas: These visa categories can also lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain.
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EEA Nationals (qualified persons) and their family members: Under the Immigration (EEA) Regulations 2016, you can apply for ILR after five years of continuous residence in the UK.
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Long residence: If you have legally resided in the UK for ten years, you may be eligible to apply for ILR.
Family visa application
Complete representation services for the family visa application. Entry clearance/leave to remain for individuals outside the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who wish to join their settled or British partners.
When applying for settlement, there are specific requirements you must meet, which include:
- passing the Life in the UK test;
- passing an English Language Test at level B1 CEFR or higher, unless exempted by a recognized test centre;
- providing evidence of completing the required residency period in the category that leads to settlement;
- meeting the salary threshold if applicable (e.g., Tier 2 visas);
- demonstrating the ongoing existence of relationships if required (e.g., for family-related visas);
- passing a criminal record check.
Indefinite Leave to Remain does not have a time limit, but you may risk losing it if you spend more than two years outside the UK. In most cases, ILR is the initial step towards naturalization as a British Citizen. To apply for British citizenship by naturalization, you must have held ILR or permanent residence (in EEA cases) for the last 12 months.
At Law Park, our team of expert immigration lawyers in London handles Indefinite Leave to Remain applications. We offer a friendly, reliable, efficient, and professional immigration service to assist you in preparing and submitting your ILR application. Our professionals will work closely with you to ensure a smooth and successful process.
Take the first step towards securing your settlement in the UK by entrusting your Indefinite Leave to Remain application to our dedicated team at Law Park. Contact us today to benefit from our exceptional immigration service.