Eligibility and Requirements
Eligibility and Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa
To be eligible to apply for ILR, the applicant must meet the follow eligibility requirements:
Meet the qualifying period of leave to remain, depending which immigration pathway you are on
Passed the Life in the UK test and meet the English language requirement
Be of good character
Must not have been absent outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12 months period
Advice: We can advise exactly when you can submit your application.
Documentation Required for Indefinite Leave to Remain Visa
Every application for a Leave to Remain visa is unique, so we’ll share a fully bespoke documentation list with you. However, a typical application will require the following documents as evidence:
Valid and previous passports
Two passport-sized photographs
Evidence of Life in the UK and English requirements
Residential evidence
List of absences from the UK
Skilled workers will also require:
Letter from employer confirming: Your job title, duties, salary, start date
Payslips
Bank statements
Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
Family Visa holders will also require:
Relationship evidence
Financial requirement evidence
Proof of accommodation in the UK
If you are applying through another route, for example 10 year long-residency or through an accelerated route, we can discuss your documents further on a free case review.
Tip: Start gathering evidence early as you may need 6 months of payslips.
How much does ILR cost?
The standard cost for an ILR application is £3,029 per application and takes up to six months for a response.
Applicants can pay a priority service fee to get a faster decision with a 5 day option available for £500 and a 24 hour option available for £1,000.
Step 1
Eligibility check and tailored advice
Step 2
Document preparation
Step 3
Application completion and submission
Step 4
Payment of Home Office Fees
Step 5
Enrolment of biometrics
Step 6
Visa outcome
How the Application Process Works
How UK Immigration Pathways Can Help You
With years of experience, our immigration consultants have the knowledge and insight to support your visa application. Every application is as unique as you are, which is why we offer bespoke tailored advice for every client. Our fixed fees also mean there are no surprises, just peace of mind that you have what you need for a successful visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
The residency requirement needed for ILR is dictated by your immigration pathway. The most common pathway requires a 5-year visa period having been completed before applying for ILR, including;
Skilled worker visa
Family visa
Ancestry Visa
It is worth noting on the 5-year pathway you cannot mix and match your visa history to complete 5 years, for example you cannot combine 2 years on a skilled worker visa and 3 years on a spouse visa to meet the 5 years.
You can however combine different visa types when applying for ILR on the Long-residence route. The Long-residence route is where an applicant has spent 10 years lawfully living in the UK on different residential visa types.
Certain visas do offer an accelerated route to ILR in as little as three years, as long as the eligibility criteria can be met which varies depending on the visa the applicant is holding.
What are the qualifying periods of Leave to Remain?
In most cases the earliest you can apply is 28 days before you become eligible.
What is the earliest I can apply?
Dependents can only apply for ILR once they have completed 5 years of continuous residency, which may mean they need to extend their current visa until they reach this point.
Can my dependents apply at the same time?
ILR will lapse if the holder spends more than 2 years outside of the UK for a continuous period.
How long can I be out of the UK without causing an issue?
If you exceed two years out of the UK and would like to return you have two options:
Firstly apply for a Returning Resident Visa, and to qualify the applicant will need to prove strong ties to the UK through family, property or long previous residence and explain why the absence was so great.
Alternatively a new entry clearance application can be made if eligibility can be met. A new immigration journey can start, for example with a spouse visa.
If I exceed my time outside the UK what can I do?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can be revoked in exceptional circumstances, for example if a deportation order is made against a person often due to serious criminal convictions, national security concerns, or persistent breaches of immigration law.
Can ILR be revoked?
No, there is no expiry to your Indefinite Leave to Remain status. Once you have your ILR there’s no time limit on how long you can stay in the UK.
Can Indefinite Leave to Remain expire?
Striving to be better for all...
My vision for UK Immigration Pathways has always been to build a practice grounded in integrity, professionalism, and genuine client care.
Oliver Parker
Director, UK Immigration Pathways
What is Indefinite Leave to Remain?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows migrants the right to live in the UK permanently without immigration restrictions. People with ILR status have visa- free access to study and work. You can also access public funds, travel freely through the UK border and apply for British Citizenship.
