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Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK through work, partner, child and asylum routes, plus Earned Settlement reforms and domestic abuse cases.
14 articles tagged ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Shabana Mahmood announced care workers may reach ILR in 5 years on £25,000+ pay; other Skilled Worker visa holders face 10 years. Here's what's confirmed.
The UK may raise the wait for settlement (ILR) from 5 to 10 years, with 3 years for high earners and 30 years for overstayers. Here's the proposal.
On 2 Nov 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled Earned Settlement, doubling the ILR wait from 5 to 10 years. Can skilled workers challenge it?
Yes, for now ILR still takes 5 years. Home Office is weighing 10 years, or 15 for low earners. Shabana Mahmood promised a final decision the week after 31 October 2026.
ILR may rise from 5 to 10-15 years, the Graduate visa shortens to 18 months, and sponsor-search time doubles to 6 months. Here's what's confirmed.
Council tax bills, P60s, Home Office and employer letters: which documents close each year of UK residence for naturalisation without gaps.
Indefinite leave to remain is the UK's main form of settlement: permission to live in the country with no time limit attached. The Home Office grants it after a qualifying period on a route such as Skilled Worker, partner or family visas, or protection status. Holders can work, study and generally access public funds without the conditions that come with limited leave.
Most applicants must pass the Life in the UK test and meet an English language requirement, and ILR can lapse after more than two years of continuous absence from the UK. It is distinct from settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, a separate system with its own rules for EU citizens and their families. ILR is normally the step before naturalisation as a British citizen, and the government's 2025 immigration white paper proposed lengthening standard qualifying periods under an Earned Settlement model.