How long do I need to have lived in the UK before applying for ILR?

The qualifying period depends on your visa route. Most routes require 5 years of continuous lawful residence. Global Talent Exceptional Talent endorsees may apply after 3 years. The long residence route requires 10 years of continuous lawful residence combining most qualifying visa types. The application may be submitted up to 28 days before the end of the qualifying period.

How many days can I spend outside the UK before applying for ILR?

For most sponsored routes including Skilled Worker you must not have exceeded 180 days of absence in any rolling 12-month period across the qualifying period. For Appendix FM family routes there is no fixed statutory absence limit but the UK must remain your primary home. For the 10-year long residence route the total absence limit across pre-April 2024 periods is 548 days.

What English language level is required for ILR?

The current ILR English language requirement is B1 CEFR. From 26 March 2027 this rises to B2 CEFR for most routes. English may be demonstrated through an approved SELT from Trinity College London or the IELTS SELT Consortium, a degree taught in English verified by Ecctis, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

What is the ILR application fee in 2026?

The ILR application fee is £3,226 per applicant from 8 April 2026. This applies to every applicant individually — dependants pay the full fee each. Priority service adds £500 and Super Priority adds £1,000, both subject to availability. The Immigration Health Surcharge is not payable on ILR applications.

Indefinite Leave to Remain

Am I eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

Written by Bill Zahr | Noble Rose Immigration Service | IAA Regulated Level 1 | Last updated June 2026

Overview

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as settlement, removes all immigration time limits, grants unrestricted employment rights, and is the mandatory prerequisite for British citizenship. Eligibility depends on completing the qualifying period on the applicable route, continuous residence, the Life in the UK Test, English language, and the Good Character requirement. This page covers the shared eligibility framework that applies across all ILR routes.

Core eligibility requirements

✓	You have completed the qualifying period on your current visa route 5 years for most routes, 3 years for Global Talent Exceptional Talent, 10 years for the long residence route
✓	You have not exceeded 180 days absence in any rolling 12-month period For Appendix FM family routes there is no fixed statutory limit but the UK must remain your primary home throughout
✓	You have passed the Life in the UK Test 24 multiple-choice questions with a 75% pass mark, the certificate must be obtained before the ILR application is submitted
✓	You meet the English language requirement at B1 CEFR, rising to B2 CEFR from 26 March 2027 Via an approved SELT, a degree taught in English, or nationality from a majority English-speaking country
✓	You satisfy the Good Character requirement under Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules No relevant criminal convictions, no deception findings, no outstanding NHS debt over £500, no HMRC tax discrepancies

You may be eligible if	You are not eligible if
✓ You have completed the required qualifying period on your visa route ✓ You have not exceeded the applicable absence limits ✓ You have passed the Life in the UK Test ✓ You can demonstrate English at B1 CEFR or above ✓ You have a clean immigration, criminal, and tax record	✗ You have not yet completed the qualifying period ✗ You have exceeded 180 days absence in a rolling 12-month period on a sponsored route ✗ You have not yet passed the Life in the UK Test ✗ You have an unspent criminal conviction or pending prosecution ✗ You have an outstanding NHS debt over £500 or a tax discrepancy between HMRC and Home Office records

Key facts at a glance

ILR fee

£3,226

per applicant from 8 April 2026

Standard processing

6 months

priority service available

Life in UK Test

£50

75% pass mark required

What you need to know

The 28-day application window: precision is essential

An ILR application may be submitted up to 28 days before the end of the qualifying period. Applying even one day before this window opens results in automatic refusal and forfeiture of the £3,226 application fee. Applying after your current leave expires renders you an overstayer, a serious immigration breach engaging Part Suitability and breaking continuous lawful residence. The qualifying date must be calculated precisely from the date of initial entry clearance grant, accounting only for the period from arrival in the UK.

B2 English for ILR from 26 March 2027

The current ILR English language requirement is B1 CEFR, speaking and listening. From 26 March 2027 this rises to B2 CEFR for most routes. Applicants planning to apply for ILR on or after that date should begin B2 preparation now. The B1 requirement remains in place for applications submitted before 26 March 2027. English may be demonstrated through a Secure English Language Test from Trinity College London or the IELTS SELT Consortium, a degree taught in English verified by Ecctis, or by being a national of a majority English-speaking country.

The HMRC tax discrepancy trap

Tax discrepancies between income declared to HMRC and income previously declared to the Home Office in visa applications are treated as a deception matter under Part Suitability SUI 6.1. This is a growing ground for ILR refusal, particularly for self-employed applicants and company directors whose SA302 figures differ from income claimed in previous visa applications. HMRC and Home Office records are cross-referenced at the settlement stage.

GBM routes do not lead to ILR: plan a transition early

None of the five Global Business Mobility sub-routes lead to ILR. Time on any GBM route does not count toward the 5-year Skilled Worker ILR qualifying period. Assignees on GBM routes who intend to settle permanently in the UK must plan a transition to the Skilled Worker route — the ILR clock begins from the date the Skilled Worker visa is granted, not from the start of GBM leave. This transition should be planned at least 18 months before the target ILR date.

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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.

Renzel Carlos

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.

Am I eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

Overview

Core eligibility requirements

Key facts at a glance

What you need to know

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