Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

Indefinite Leave to Remain, also called "settlement," is the UK immigration status that removes all time limits and work/study restrictions on staying in the country — effectively the UK's version of permanent residency, and usually the last step before applying for British citizenship. The qualifying period before someone can apply varies by route: typically 5 years of lawful residence on a Skilled Worker or family (spouse/partner) visa, as little as 2-3 years on some Tier 1, Innovator Founder or Global Talent routes, or 10 years under the long-residence route for people who have lived in the UK continuously regardless of visa category. Applicants generally must show continuous residence — under current Home Office rules, no more than 180 days absent from the UK in any rolling 12-month period — and must usually pass the Life in the UK test and meet an English language requirement (typically at least level B1), unless a prior visa grant or an exemption already covers it. Qualifying periods, absence limits and language thresholds change periodically, so always confirm the current requirements for your specific route on gov.uk before applying.