What is Indefinite Leave to Remain?
Indefinite Leave to Remain, or ILR, is the right to apply for settlement in Britain if you have lived in the country for a certain period of time.
Who is suitable for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
- A spouse or unmarried partner of a UK citizen or person with UK settled status. The spouse or unmarried partner must have been in the UK for 2 years or more on a visa issued before 9 July 2012
- A spouse who has been UK on spouse visa for 5 years after 9 July 2012
- EEA national who has been in UK as qualified person for 5 years
- Persons with discretionary leave for 6 years before July 2012
- Persons with a Tier 1 Visa/UK Work Permit that have been in the UK over 5 years
- Persons with a UK Ancestry Visa if you have been in the UK over 5 years
- Persons who have been in the UK legally for 10 years or more
Common questions asked about Indefinite Leave to Remain
When will my Indefinite Leave to Remain expire?
Indefinite Leave to Remain does not expire, but you should not be absent from the UK for periods of 2 years or more because this could result in you losing ILR status.
Can I apply for Naturalisation with ILR status?
Yes! If your application for ILR status is accepted you could be eligible for British Naturalisation after 12 months.
Can I apply for ILR for my children?
Yes. You can apply for Indefinite Leave to remain on behalf of persons under the age of 18.
Can I lose my ILR status?
Yes. In the following circumstances you can lose your ILR status:
- Leaving the UK, yet upon your return you’re granted leave to enter the UK, but not for an indefinite period. This could happen because you enter the UK as a visitor or border patrol thinks you don’t plan to stay in the country
- By committing a criminal offence deemed serious enough to result in deportation or to protect national security
- By being out of the country for over 2 years. However, in this instance you could be eligible to reapply as returning resident. Also, UK citizens based overseas, British subjects and people under British protection retain their ILR status irrespective of time spent absent from the UK