Indefinite Leave to Remain
Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. It is also called 'settlement'. It gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like and apply for benefits if you are eligible. You can use it to apply for British citizenship. There are different ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain based on your own individual circumstances. If you or your family member are an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen, you may be able to apply for settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme instead.
​
If you work in the UK
​
You may be able to apply if you have a work visa. You must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years. If you have a tier 1 visa, it can be 2 or 3 years. If you have an Innovator or Global Talent visa, it can be 3 years. You may also need to meet the salary or financial requirements - this depends on your visa.
​
How you apply depends on what type of visa that you might have. Visa Advice UK can provide advice on if you might be eligible for indefinite leave to remain.
​
If you have family in the UK
​
You may be able to apply if you have a partner, parent or child or other relative settled in the UK - either as a British citizen or a person with indefinite leave to remain. How you apply depends on which visa you have and how your family member settled.
​
If you have lived in the UK for 10 years
​
You may be able to apply if you have been living in the UK for 10 years or more.
​
If you are a commonwealth citizen
​
You can apply if you have been living here in the UK for 5 years on a UK Ancestry visa.
​
Some Commonwealth citizens have ‘right of abode’ in the UK. This means you can live or work in the UK without immigration restrictions. You might be eligible for citizenship instead, for example by applying under the Windrush scheme.
​
Visa Advice UK can help to advise and support you with this type of application, assisting in helping you to complete the online form and submit a valid application to secure your status in the UK, just drop us an email!
​