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.
What Is ILR?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is the UK’s form of permanent residency. It allows you to:
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Live, work, and study in the UK without time restrictions
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Apply for benefits (if eligible)
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Travel in and out of the UK freely
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Be eligible to apply for British citizenship (after 12 months or immediately, depending on route)
ILR is a key step for individuals who want to make the UK their long-term home.
Who Can Apply for ILR?
You may be eligible to apply for ILR if you’ve lived in the UK under one of the following visas:
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Family Visas (after 5 years or 10 years route)
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Skilled Worker (usually after 5 years)
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Global Talent, Innovator, or Tier 1 visa (after 2-5 years)
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Long residence (10 years of lawful residence in the UK)
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Refugee or humanitarian protection (after 5 years)
You must meet certain residency, financial, and language requirements, depending on your visa type.
ILR General Requirements
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Minimum residency period (e.g. 5 or 10 years, depending on route)
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Continuous residence: You must not have spent too much time outside the UK
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English language requirement (B1 level or equivalent)
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Pass the Life in the UK Test
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No serious criminal convictions
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Valid visa at the time of application
Additional requirements vary based on the visa you hold — we can advise based on your specific circumstances.
Common questions asked about Indefinite Leave to Remain
Q: Can I lose my ILR status?
A: 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
Q: Can I apply for British citizenship after ILR?
A: In most cases, you can apply for citizenship 12 months after ILR, or immediately if married to a British citizen.
Q: What if I’ve been out of the UK a lot?
A: Absences over 180 days in any 12-month period may affect your eligibility. We’ll help review your travel history in detail.
Q: How long does the application take?
A: ILR applications usually take up to 6 months, but faster services are available (e.g. super priority decision in 24 hours).
Q: When will my Indefinite Leave to Remain expire?
A: 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.
Q: Can I apply for Naturalisation with ILR status?
A: Yes! If your application for ILR status is accepted you could be eligible for British Naturalisation after 12 months or immediately, depending on the route.
Q: Can I apply for ILR for my children?
A: Yes. You can apply for Indefinite Leave to remain on behalf of persons under the age of 18.
Start Your Journey
Whether you’re applying now or planning ahead, we’re here to help you confidently take your next step.
Book a free 15-minute consultation today.
Our Services
We help you understand and assist with your legal rights:
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Status check: Are you eligible for a different type of permission to stay, indefinite leave to remain or British citizenship?
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Application preparation & document review
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Switch to a different type of visa
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Dependant and family applications
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Setting up a UKVI account and eVisa