Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is the UK’s settlement status — it removes your visa’s time limit, lifts most conditions on work and study, and is the last step before British citizenship. If you’re on a Skilled Worker, spouse, or other work/family route and counting down to settlement, here’s what actually qualifies you in 2026, what it costs, and a major rule change already confirmed for later this year.
Who is eligible for ILR
There’s no single ILR route — eligibility depends on the visa category you’re settling from:
- Work routes (Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2, Tier 2): most applicants need 5 years of continuous lawful residence on an eligible visa, plus meeting the salary threshold that applied when you were granted your most recent permission. Some categories — Tier 1 (Investor, Entrepreneur), Innovator Founder, and Global Talent — can qualify in as little as 2–3 years.
- Family routes (UK spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner of a settled person or British citizen): typically 5 years on the partner/family route, though some applicants transitioning from a 10-year family route need the full 10 years.
- Long residence (private life): if you don’t fit a work or family category, you can qualify after 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK, or in some cases 20 years including unlawful periods, under the private life rules.
- Other routes: refugees and those granted humanitarian protection, armed forces personnel, and stateless persons have their own qualifying periods (gov.uk, Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain).
The continuous residence rule
Whichever route you’re on, you generally must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period. The Home Office checks this against every 12-month window in your residence history, not just calendar years — a single long trip (a family emergency, an extended work posting) can break continuity even if your total absences over five years look modest. Keep travel records and be ready to explain any absence over the limit; some are excused for documented exceptional circumstances (serious illness, family bereavement, being stranded by events outside your control), but this is assessed case by case.
English language and Life in the UK test
Most ILR applicants must clear two separate tests:
- English at CEFR level B1 (speaking and listening) from an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT) provider — only Trinity GESE Grade 5, Trinity ISE I, or IELTS Life Skills B1 are accepted for settlement. A degree taught in English or a prior UKVI-approved test may satisfy this depending on your route — check the specific eligibility page for your visa type.
- The Life in the UK Test — 24 multiple-choice questions on British history, traditions, and civic life, taken at a registered test centre. Passing one test does not substitute for the other.
Common exemptions apply if you’re under 18, 65 or over, or have a long-term physical or mental condition preventing you from meeting the requirement, supported by medical evidence.
Fee and how to apply
As of the fee schedule effective 8 April 2026, the ILR application fee is £3,226 per person — payable for each family member applying, including dependent children. There’s no fee waiver for most routes, though a small number of protection-based categories may qualify for reduced or waived fees. You apply online via UKVI’s “UK Immigration: ID Check” app or the standard online application, uploading your passport/BRP, proof of continuous residence, test certificates, and (for work routes) evidence you still meet your visa’s conditions. Processing is typically a few weeks for standard service, with a paid priority service available for faster decisions in most categories.
Important: qualifying periods are increasing in 2026
The UK government ran a consultation on an “Earned Settlement” reform that closed on 12 February 2026. The government has since confirmed that ILR qualifying periods will rise from 5 years to 10 years, with the change expected to take effect in Autumn 2026. If you’re within a year or two of hitting your current 5-year threshold, this is not a reason to panic, but it is a reason to:
- Apply as soon as you become eligible rather than waiting, since transitional protections for people already mid-route are still being finalised.
- Keep your own absence and continuous-residence records meticulously, since a longer qualifying period means more years of travel history to document.
- Watch official guidance closely — the Home Office has not yet amended the Immigration Rules themselves, so exact transitional treatment for applicants already in progress isn’t locked in.
Frequently asked questions
Does ILR expire? No — once granted, ILR itself doesn’t expire, though your Biometric Residence Permit or eVisa record needs periodic renewal, and staying outside the UK for more than 2 consecutive years can cause you to lose settled status.
Can I apply for citizenship right after getting ILR? Usually you must hold ILR for 12 months before applying for naturalisation (this wait is often waived if you’re married to a British citizen).
What if I switch visa categories partway through? Time on a route that doesn’t lead to settlement (most visitor or short-term work visas) generally doesn’t count toward your qualifying period — check your specific route’s rules before assuming years carry over.
This guide is preparation information, not legal advice — settlement rules are changing in 2026, so always confirm your personal qualifying date and requirements on gov.uk or with a regulated immigration adviser before applying. If you’re building toward ILR from a Skilled Worker or spouse visa, VisaMet’s AI assistant can help you track your continuous-residence timeline and prepare documents — join the waitlist to get early access.
Sources: