Check your residence, absences and evidence before you pay the Home Office fee.
Start the eligibility checkContact usThe government has announced a new Earned Settlement system. Under the proposals the default wait for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would be 10 years, with shorter or longer pathways depending on your route, earnings, record and use of public funds. Time on some routes, such as Student, Graduate and Youth Mobility, would not count. No start date has been published, and the current rules apply until the new rules are in force. Contact us to look at your position.
Check your positionWhat ILR is, and who it is for
ILR removes the time limit on your stay and the need to extend your visa. It is the usual step before applying for British citizenship. Which route you came on decides how long you must wait and what you must show. Under the current rules, common routes to ILR include:
Partner or spouse (Appendix FM), normally five years;
Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker, normally five years;
Global Talent, in as little as three or five years depending on the endorsement;
Long residence, ten years of continuous lawful residence (the proposals would close this route);
Other categories, such as BNO status holders and some Innovator Founders.
The government has announced proposed Earned Settlement changes, explained below. No start date has been published, and the current rules apply until the new rules are in force. We confirm which rules apply to you at initial advice.
Core requirements
Whatever your route, almost every ILR application tests the same things.
Continuous residence. You must have lived in the UK for the qualifying period without breaking it. In most cases, absences must stay within 180 days in any rolling 12-month period.
Valid leave for the whole period. Gaps, overstays or periods on the wrong category can break the chain. Some are forgivable; some are not.
Life in the UK test. Most applicants must pass it. The test fee is separate.
English language. Usually level B1, unless an exemption or earlier qualification applies. The government proposes B2 in all four components for settlement.
Route-specific conditions. For example, a Skilled Worker must still be doing the sponsored job and being paid at the required rate; a partner must still be in a genuine relationship and meet the financial requirement; a Global Talent applicant must meet the endorsement conditions.
Good character and suitability. Criminal record, immigration offences and failure to comply with conditions are checked.
Proposed extra requirements under Earned Settlement
If the proposals take effect, adults would also have to show no outstanding government debt (including NHS, tax, National Insurance and Home Office litigation debt) and no specified public funds in the five years before applying, or complete 20 years on a qualifying route.
What the government has proposed
The government has published its response to the consultation on settlement, "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement". It sets out an Earned Settlement system. The main points are:
The default wait for ILR becomes 10 years, not 5;
You may qualify sooner: in 3 years (high earners or the Highest Talent Group), or in 5 years (higher earners, certain public service occupations, or a recognised British connection);
Adults would have to meet mandatory standards: no criminal record, no outstanding government debt, English at B2 in all four components, and the Life in the UK test;
Specified immigration breaches, or specified public funds accessed in the five years before applying, would mean a 20-year pathway;
Long Residence would close;
Children under 18 would be exempt from the income, debt, English and Life in the UK requirements, but not from the suitability and criminality checks.
No start date has been published and the detailed rules are not yet in the Immigration Rules. Further guidance is due before the new system takes effect. Until then the current rules apply. We keep this page under review.
| Proposed pathway | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| 3 years | Earnings of £125,141 or more in 3 of the last 4 years, or the Highest Talent Group |
| 5 years | Earnings of £50,271 or more in 3 of the last 5 years; an eligible public service occupation for 5 years; or a recognised British connection |
| 10 years (default) | Earnings of £12,571 or more in 5 of the 7 years before applying |
| 20 years | Specified immigration breaches, or specified public funds accessed in the previous 5 years |
Source: Government response to the consultation, "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement". These are proposals. No start date has been published.
Which routes would count, and which would not
Under the proposals, time on these routes would count towards settlement: Skilled Worker, T2 Minister of Religion, UK Ancestry, Global Talent, Scale-up, Innovator Founder, International Sportsperson, Family Partner, Family Partner/Parent and Stateless Person. Family and Private Life time also counts, but not for the 3 or 5-year pathways. Time on a Visitor, Student, Global Business Mobility, Temporary Worker, Youth Mobility, Seasonal Worker, Overseas Domestic Worker, Graduate or High Potential Individual visa would not count. This matters if you are planning to switch route.
Preparing now
Whichever rules apply, you can prepare. We help you:
Gather payslips, P60s, HMRC records and bank statements for the last seven years;
Check for any outstanding government debt;
Plan the English test (B2) and the Life in the UK test;
Review any public funds you have claimed;
Check your absences and your route history.
Dependants under the proposals
A partner who arrives with the main applicant would settle at the same time. A partner who joins later would complete the same qualifying period. Children under 18 are exempt from the income, debt, English and Life in the UK requirements. Young adults aged 18 to 24 would have to meet the adult mandatory requirements but not the individual earnings test. At 25 or over they must qualify independently or switch route.
Fees: how much does ILR cost?
People often search for ILR cost, ILR fees 2026 and ILR application cost. The Home Office fee is £3,226 per person. You do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for ILR. Add the costs below where relevant.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Home Office ILR fee | £3,226 per person |
| Life in the UK test | £50 per attempt |
| English language test (if needed) | Varies by provider |
| Priority or super priority service (in the UK) | Extra fee; check availability |
| Our initial advice | £60 to £125 |
| Our document check | £200 to £700 |
| Our application support | £400 to £1,050 for family, £500 to £1,100 for work |
Children apply with their own fee, and the ILR child fee is currently listed at the adult amount. A family of four could face a Home Office bill of over £12,000 for settlement alone, which is why checking eligibility before you pay matters.
Common reasons ILR applications fail
Too many days outside the UK. A single long trip or a pattern of shorter trips can breach the 180-day limit. Absence calculations need care, and the days of leaving and returning are treated in a specific way.
Gaps in leave. An application made one day late can create an overstay that affects settlement.
Missing documents. Payslips, P60s, bank statements and employer letters must match the requirements for your route. Employer letters have mandatory content.
English or Life in the UK test not completed.
Wrong route. Some people apply under the wrong category and lose the fee.
We read the rules for your route and your absence history, and tell you where the risks are before you submit.
How we help
We offer clear, agreed-scope support.
Initial advice. We check your route, dates and absences and tell you whether you are ready to apply.
Document check. We review your evidence against the requirements.
Full application support. We prepare the application, complete the forms and submit with you.
After the decision. We explain what comes next, including biometrics, the Biometric Residence Permit or eVisa position, and citizenship planning.
Two minutes online.
Your dates, route and risks.
Gaps and fixes.
Prepared and submitted with you.
Citizenship planning.
Applying for ILR from outside the UK
ILR is normally applied for from inside the UK, because you must be physically in the UK to give biometrics. We can still advise clients who live abroad part of the year, who are planning to return, or who are checking whether long absences have already damaged their position. If you are overseas and wondering whether you can still settle, we can assess your absence history and your options.
ILR for partners of British citizens
If you are on the partner route, ILR currently comes after five years, after the entry clearance period and one extension. You must show the relationship is continuing, the financial requirement is met, and the English and Life in the UK requirements are satisfied. Under the proposals, partners of British citizens keep a five-year pathway, with the new mandatory standards. See partner visa help for the earlier stages and the cost guide for the total route cost.
ILR after the Skilled Worker route
Skilled Worker holders currently apply after five years if they are still in the sponsored job and paid at or above the required level. Under the proposals the default would be 10 years, with 3 and 5 year pathways. Employer letters must contain specific details; see our guide to the mandatory content of an ILR employer letter. We also cover Skilled Worker visa to ILR and redundancy before ILR.
What we do not do
If your application is refused, we explain the available routes, including administrative review where it applies. We do not guarantee outcomes or decision times.
How much does an ILR application cost?
The Home Office fee is £3,226 per person, plus the Life in the UK test fee. Our fee is separate.
How long does ILR take?
Processing times change. The Home Office publishes current times on GOV.UK. A priority service is sometimes available for an extra fee.
Can I apply for ILR if I have been outside the UK a lot?
It depends on your route and the total days abroad in any 12-month period. We can calculate this for you.
Do I need a solicitor for ILR?
No. You can apply yourself or with a regulated adviser or solicitor. Read solicitor or IAA adviser.
Is ILR the same as citizenship?
No. ILR is permanent permission to stay. Citizenship is a separate application. See British citizenship help.
Can you help if my spouse visa is ending soon?
Yes, but check timing first; you may need an extension rather than ILR.
Will the new ILR rules apply to me if I am already in the UK?
The proposals include transitional arrangements for some groups, such as care workers who arrived before May 2025. Applications are generally decided under the rules in force at the decision date unless transitional provisions say otherwise. Further guidance is due before implementation. Contact us to review your position.
When will the new ILR rules start?
No date has been published. The current rules apply until the new rules are in force.
Can I still apply under the current rules?
Yes, if you meet them. If you are close to your qualifying period, a document check can show whether you are ready to apply.
This page is general information, not advice on your case. Rules and fees change; always check GOV.UK.
Check whether you are ready for ILR before you pay the fee. Start the eligibility check or contact us.
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Bill Zahr
Principal Lawyer & Managing Director
Bill Zahr (LLB Hons) leads Noble Rose Immigration Service with a methodical, "law-first" approach. Guided by the ethos ‘Navigare per Legem’, Bill combines rigorous legal expertise with genuine empathy to navigate complex UK immigration cases. Formerly of a top-tier UK firm, he ensures every client receives transparent, elite, and personalised care.
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Client Relations Manager & Immigration Paralegal
Renzel Carlos (LLB Hons, First Class) is the primary liaison at Noble Rose Immigration Service. Currently undertaking the Bar Vocational Studies (BVS) programme, she combines a meticulous legal foundation with deep frontline experience. Renzel is dedicated to guiding clients through the emotional complexities of immigration with high-level professionalism, precision, and compassionate care.
