Indefinite Leave to Remain is the point at which a person becomes settled in the UK and is no longer subject to a time limit on their stay. For employers, HR teams and families, ILR planning protects long-term workforce and family stability before visa expiry dates create risk.
Settlement — indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is permanent permission to stay in the UK with no time limit. It is a status, not a visa.
Reviewed by the Morgan Smith Immigration team — IAA-regulated UK immigration specialists. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.
TL;DR
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is settlement in the UK: permanent permission to live, work and study with no time limit. The 2026 fee is £3,226 per person, a decision usually takes up to 6 months, and the qualifying period depends on your route — 5 years for Skilled Worker and most partner routes, 3 years for Innovator Founder and Global Talent, and 10 years under long residence.
£3,226
ILR application fee
5 years
Most work and partner routes
6 months
Typical decision
What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
Indefinite Leave to Remain, usually shortened to ILR and also called settlement, is permanent permission to stay in the UK. Once granted it lets you live, work and study in the UK with no time limit, claim benefits if you are eligible and, in most cases, apply for British citizenship after a further 12 months. It is a status, not a visa: there is nothing to renew.
There is no single ILR application. You settle through the route you are already on. Most work routes, including Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker, lead to settlement after 5 years. Partners settle after 5 years on the 5-year family route, or after 10 years where the financial requirement could not be met. Innovator Founder and Global Talent lead to settlement after 3 years, and anyone with 10 continuous years of lawful residence can apply under long residence regardless of the visas they held. The table below sets out the qualifying period for each route.
Every route shares three fixed points. The fee is £3,226 per person. A decision usually arrives within 6 months of giving your biometrics. And you must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while the application is pending, or it is treated as withdrawn.
For employers and HR teams, the practical risk is timing: a sponsored worker who spends more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period breaks their continuous residence and restarts the clock. Absence tracking should begin on day one of sponsorship, not in year five.
Which Route Leads to ILR — and After How Long
Qualifying periods as published on GOV.UK. Time on visitor, short-term study, seasonal worker and most other temporary routes does not count.
| Route | Qualifying period |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker / Health and Care Worker | 5 years |
| Partner — 5-year family route | 5 years |
| Partner — 10-year family route (no income requirement) | 10 years |
| Long residence (any lawful visas) | 10 continuous years |
| Innovator Founder | 3 years |
| Global Talent | 3 years |
| Scale-up Worker | 5 years |
| UK Ancestry | 5 years |
| Hong Kong BN(O) | 5 years |
| Tier 1 Investor / Entrepreneur (closed routes) | 2 to 3 years |
| Bereaved partner / victim of domestic abuse | No qualifying period |
Eligibility Requirements
You must satisfy all three conditions to qualify for the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
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A Qualifying Route and Period
You must have completed the qualifying period for your specific route — usually 5 years on work and partner routes, 3 years for Innovator Founder and Global Talent, and 10 years under long residence. You can apply up to 28 days before the period ends. Time on visitor, short-term study, seasonal worker and similar temporary routes does not count towards it.
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Continuous Residence
On the work routes and long residence you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period; going over breaks continuous residence unless there were serious or compelling reasons. For long residence, absences before 11 April 2024 are also capped at 548 days in total and 184 days in a row.
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English and Life in the UK
Applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English language requirement, which is level B1 in speaking and listening on the partner route. Some routes have no knowledge requirement at all — bereaved partners and victims of domestic abuse need neither test.
What You Can and Cannot Do
Your rights and restrictions while in the UK on a Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
✓ You Can
- Live in the UK with no time limit — ILR is a status, not a visa, so there is nothing to renew
- Work for any employer, or be self-employed, without sponsorship
- Study without a student visa, and access benefits if you meet the eligibility rules
- Apply for British citizenship, usually 12 months after settlement is granted
- Include a partner and children where they qualify for settlement in their own right
✗ You Cannot
- Travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man while the application is pending — it is treated as withdrawn if you do
- Count time on visitor, short-term study, seasonal worker or similar temporary visas towards your qualifying period
- Spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months on the work or long-residence routes without breaking continuous residence
- Apply more than 28 days before you complete the qualifying period
- Keep ILR while living abroad — it lapses after 2 continuous years outside the UK
Costs & Fees
Current fees as of 2026. Set by the Home Office — subject to change.
Fees set by the Home Office and subject to change. Last reviewed: September 2026.
| Item | Cost (2026) |
|---|---|
| ILR application | £3,226 per person |
| Each dependant on the same application | £3,226 per person |
| Life in the UK Test | £50 |
| Biometrics (fingerprints and photo) | No charge |
| Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) | Not payable — settlement is exempt |
| Super priority service (next working day) | £1,000 |
How to Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain
Five steps from preparation to decision.
Identify Your Route
Confirm which settlement route you are on and its qualifying period: 5 years for most work and partner routes, 3 for Innovator Founder and Global Talent, 10 for long residence.
Check Continuous Residence
Add up every absence. On the work and long-residence routes no 12-month period may exceed 180 days outside the UK. Fix any gap before you apply, not after.
Pass the Tests
Book and pass the Life in the UK Test and, unless exempt, meet the English requirement. Bereaved partners and victims of domestic abuse are exempt from both.
Apply Online and Give Biometrics
Submit up to 28 days before your qualifying period ends, pay £3,226 per person, and attend your biometrics appointment.
Receive Your Decision
Usually within 6 months of biometrics, or next working day with the £1,000 super priority service. Do not leave the Common Travel Area while you wait.
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Sources
Legal information on this page is based on guidance from GOV.UK, the UK Home Office / UK Visas and Immigration, legislation.gov.uk, and Free Movement. Rules change frequently — speak to our team to confirm current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from employers and applicants.
What is ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK?
ILR is permanent permission to stay in the UK — settlement. It lets you live, work and study with no time limit, claim benefits if eligible, and apply for British citizenship, usually after a further 12 months. It is a status rather than a visa, so it does not need renewing.
How much does ILR cost in 2026?
£3,226 per person, including each dependant on the application. The Life in the UK Test is £50, biometrics are free, and the Immigration Health Surcharge is not payable on settlement applications. A next-working-day decision costs an extra £1,000.
How many years do I need for ILR?
It depends on your route. Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Scale-up, UK Ancestry, BN(O) and the 5-year partner route all require 5 years. Innovator Founder and Global Talent require 3. Long residence requires 10 continuous years on any lawful visas, and the 10-year partner route also requires 10.
Can I apply for ILR after 10 years in the UK?
Yes. The long residence route allows anyone with 10 continuous years of lawful residence to apply, whichever visas they held, provided they stayed within the absence limits and meet the Life in the UK and English requirements.
What is the 180-day rule for ILR?
On the work routes and long residence, you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. Only whole days count. Going over 180 days breaks continuous residence unless the Home Office accepts there were serious or compelling reasons.
Do I need the Life in the UK Test and an English test for ILR?
Usually, if you are aged 18 to 64. The English level on the partner route is B1 in speaking and listening. Bereaved partners and victims of domestic abuse are exempt from both requirements.
Is the ILR qualifying period changing to 10 years?
The government has proposed lengthening the standard qualifying period as part of wider settlement reforms. When this page was reviewed in September 2026, GOV.UK still showed 5 years for the main work and partner routes. We update this page whenever the published rules change — check the last-reviewed date above the fees table.
How long does an ILR decision take?
Usually within 6 months of providing your biometrics. The super priority service, where available, gives a decision by the end of the next working day for an additional £1,000.
Can I travel while my ILR application is pending?
No. If you travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before a decision, the application is treated as withdrawn.
Can ILR be lost?
Yes. Indefinite leave to remain lapses if you spend more than 2 continuous years outside the UK. Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme has its own, longer limit.
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Our immigration specialists handle everything from sponsor licence checks to visa approval — for employers and applicants alike.