Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)

Eligibility

Continuous residence on qualifying visas, Life in the UK test, English, absences within limits, and route-specific requirements. The gov.uk Skilled Worker ILR page checked 31 Oct 2026 states 5 years – watch the Statement of Changes collection for any future rule changes.

Key facts (checked 31 Oct 2026)

What you can and cannot do, how long you can stay (official)

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you’ve been in the UK for 5 years on a qualifying visa. Check which visas count towards your time in the UK. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.

Do not wait until your current visa expires. If your visa expires before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, you’ll need to renew it first.

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

Fees and how long it takes

It costs £3,226 for each person applying. You can include your partner and children on the same application form, if they’re eligible.

You’ll each need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there’s no fee for this.

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months of providing your fingerprints and photo.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay an extra £500 to use the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra £1,000 to use the super priority service to get a decision:

• by the end of the next working day after providing your fingerprints and photo (known as ‘biometric information’) if your appointment is on a weekday
• 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

Source: GOV.UK – Overview

Full eligibility criteria (official)

Time in the UK

You must have lived in the UK for 5 years before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

There are rules for what counts towards the 5 years if you have:

• spent time outside the UK
• been a partner or child (a ‘dependant) on a visa
• had more than one visa

If you’ve spent time outside the UK

You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months.

If you think you’re affected by this rule, the Home Office has guidance about how to calculate your time in the UK (‘continuous residence’).

If you’ve been a partner or child (a ‘dependant’) on a visa

In the 5 years you’ve lived in the UK, you cannot include any time you’ve spent in the UK as a partner or child (a ‘dependant’) on a visa.

If you’ve had more than one visa

In the 5 years you’ve lived in the UK, you can include time you’ve had on any combination of the following visas:

• any Tier 1 visa - except Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
• Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker or Tier 2 (General)
• Scale-up Worker
• T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
• International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
• Innovator Founder
• Global Talent
• Representative of an Overseas Business

Source: GOV.UK – Time in the UK (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Salary requirements

You need to be paid at least a minimum salary if you hold a T2, Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa. How much you must be paid depends on your visa.

You’ll usually need to be paid at least whichever is the higher out of the following:

• £41,700 per year
• the ‘standard going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Example

Your salary is £42,000 per year, but the standard going rate for the job you’ll be doing is £45,000. You do not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa.

Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

When the salary requirements are different

The salary requirements are different if:

• you work in healthcare or education
• your job is on the Immigration Salary List
• you got a certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker (or equivalent) visa before 4 April 2024 and have held Skilled Worker visas since then
• you have an International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa
• you have a T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

If you work in healthcare or education

There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs, where the going rate is based on national pay scales. You must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

• £25,000 per year
• the ‘going rate’ based on national pay scales for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check your going rate in the table of national pay scales for either:

• eligible healthcare jobs - listed by NHS pay band and area of the UK
• eligible teaching and education leadership jobs - listed by role and area of the UK

Ask your employer if you’re not sure what your role or pay band is. These going rates apply whether you’re working in the public or private sector.

If your job in healthcare has different salary requirements

If you’re on a Health and Care Worker visa and your job is in one of the occupation codes with different salary requirements, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

• £31,300 per year
• £25,000 per year if your job is on the Immigration Salary List (or it was at the time you applied)
• the ‘lower going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

If your job is on the Immigration Salary List

If you do not meet the usual salary requirements, and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible.

If you’re on a Skilled Worker visa and your job is on the Immigration Salary List (or it was at the time you applied), you must be paid at least either:

• £33,400 per year
• the ‘standard going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

If you got a certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker (or equivalent) visa before 4 April 2024

If you have continually held one or more Skilled Worker visas since then, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

• £31,300 per year
• £25,000 per year if your job is on the Immigration Salary List, (or it was at the time you applied)
• the ‘lower going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

There are also different salary requirements if you were sponsored for a Tier 2 (General) visa in one of the following occupation codes:

• 2111 Chemical scientists
• 2112 Biological scientists and biochemists
• 2113 Physical scientists
• 2114 Social and humanities scientists
• 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2150 Research and development managers
• 2311 Higher education teaching professionals

In this case, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following:

• £25,000 per year
• the different going rate for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table.

If you have an International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa

You must be paid £35,800 or more a year.

When working out your salary, you can only count earnings:

• from your main job that you’re sponsored for
• for up to 48 hours a week, if you’re paid hourly

If you have a T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa

You must be paid at least the same as UK workers in the same role, and meet national minimum wage requirements.

Source: GOV.UK – Salary requirements (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How to apply, step by step (official)

How to apply

You must apply online to settle in the UK.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

You’ll be told which documents you need to provide when you apply. For example, to show that:

• you’ve passed the Life in the UK Test
• you meet the salary requirements
• you’re still needed for your job - your employer (sponsor) will need to provide a document confirming this

You’ll need to pay the fee as part of your application.

Get help to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.

You cannot get immigration advice through this service.

Source: GOV.UK – How to apply (checked 31 Oct 2026)

After you apply

You’ll be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You’ll also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

• upload them into the online service
• have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Any children aged 6 or over must provide biometric information if you’re applying for them on your form.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Getting a decision

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months of providing your fingerprints and photo.

If you paid to use the ‘super priority service’ you’ll get a decision within 2 working days, or within 5 working days if you paid to use the ‘priority service’.

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

You’ll be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, for example:

• if your supporting documents need to be verified
• if you need to attend an interview
• because of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

If your application is approved

You can do the following:

• work
• run a business
• study
• use public services, such as healthcare and schools
• apply for public funds (benefits) and pensions
• apply for British citizenship, usually after a minimum of 12 months

If you stay outside of the UK for more than 2 years

You can lose your indefinite leave to remain if you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years at a time.

You may need to apply before you can return to the UK.

Source: GOV.UK – After you apply (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Partner and children (official)

Your family members

You can include your partner and children on your application if they’re eligible.

Your partner and children can apply separately at a later date, for example if they’re not eligible yet. They can continue to extend their visa as your Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker or T2 dependant, even after you get indefinite leave to remain.

Eligibility for partners

Your partner may qualify if all the following apply:

• they have permission to be in the UK as your partner (as a ‘dependant’ on your visa)
• they’ve lived in the UK with you as your dependant for at least 5 continuous years
• your relationship is genuine
• you intend to keep living together
• you have enough income to support yourselves and your dependants
• you’re not using public funds

Your partner can include time they’ve spent as your dependant on another visa to count towards the continuous years they need to qualify. They cannot count any time spent on their own visa (not as your dependant).

If your partner is 18 to 64, they must:

• book and pass the Life in the UK Test
• meet the English language requirements

Eligibility for children

You can include your child on your application if:

• they have permission to be in the UK as your child (as a ‘dependant’ on your visa)
• they are not married or in a civil partnership
• they will live with you and be supported by you without using public funds
• you and your child’s other parent are both currently applying to settle, or are already settled

Your child can also apply to settle in one of the following situations:

• you’re the child’s sole surviving parent
• you have sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing
• there are serious or compelling family or other considerations, for example you (if you’re settled in the UK) or your child has a serious illness

Extra documents for children over 16

You’ll need to prove:

• where they live - if they do not live with you, you’ll need to explain why
• any rent or upkeep they pay you each month
• that you support them financially if they do not live with you

You’ll need to provide documents such as the ones on this list, to prove where they live:

• bank statement
• credit card bill
• driving licence
• NHS registration document
• a letter from their current school, college or university, on headed paper and issued by an authorised official of that organisation

The documents you provide should not be more than a month old on the date you make your application.

If your child lives away from home, you’ll need to provide evidence they are not living an independent live, for example:

• bank statements for you and your child covering the 3 months before the date you apply (to prove you’ve supported them)
• confirmation from their university or college on headed paper and issued by an authorised official (if they’re studying)

Children 18 and over

You can only include older children in your application if they both:

• were under 18 when they first got permission to be in the UK as your dependant
• still do not live an independent life - for example, they have not got married or had children

They also need to:

• pass the Life in the UK Test
• meet the English language requirements

If your child is over 18 by the time you apply and does not meet these requirements, they must apply separately.

Source: GOV.UK – Your family members (checked 31 Oct 2026)

Processing times and faster decisions (official)

Standard: See gov.uk; priority service (+£500) aims for 5 working days (GOV.UK visa processing times).

• Priority service: +£500, usually a decision within 5 working days (settlement, citizenship and family-from-outside-UK: usually 30 working days).
• Super priority service: +£1,000, usually a decision by the end of the next working day after you prove your identity. Not available for citizenship.
• Availability depends on the route, the country and whether you use a UKVCAS centre or the ID Check app; there is a daily limit. You are told at the point of applying whether it is offered.

Source: GOV.UK – Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application (checked 31 Oct 2026)

How the application works (official)

1. Check eligibility and gather documents (sections above). Sponsored routes: get your CoS/CAS reference first; endorsed routes: get your endorsement first.
2. Apply online on GOV.UK and pay the fee and Immigration Health Surcharge (if it applies) – IHS.
3. Prove your identity: either the UK Immigration: ID Check app (if offered) or an appointment at a visa application centre (outside the UK) or UKVCAS service point (inside the UK) for fingerprints and photo.
4. Upload documents and wait for the decision. Do not travel or leave the UK before a decision if applying from inside the UK – it can withdraw your application.
5. Your permission is issued as an eVisa in your UKVI account; physical BRPs are no longer issued. Link your passport to it and use share codes to prove your rights – GOV.UK eVisas.

Path to settlement (ILR) and citizenship

Skilled Worker/HCW/Scale-up: 5 years. Global Talent: 3 or 5 years. Innovator Founder: 3 years. Graduate, HPI, YPS, GBM, Temporary Work: do not count by themselves.

Citizenship normally needs ILR (or settled status) held for 12 months – or immediately if married to a British citizen – plus the residence, absences, good character, Life in the UK test (£50) and English B1 requirements. See GOV.UK – Settle in the UK and GOV.UK – Citizenship if you have ILR.