Indefinite leave to remain
settlement · Official name: Indefinite leave to remain (ILR)
Indefinite leave to remain lets a person live, work and study in the UK with no time limit. Most work routes (Skilled Worker and similar) lead to ILR after 5 years; Global Talent and Innovator Founder after 3 years; UK Ancestry and BN(O) after 5 years; long residence after 10 years. The fee for Skilled Worker settlement is £3,226 per applicant. The government has consulted on 'earned settlement', which would make 10 years the standard qualifying period for most migrants, but on 30 Oct 2026 that is still a proposal. One part is already law: from March 2027 most settlement applicants will need a higher (A-level equivalent) English standard.
Life in United Kingdom
Finance
3
Currency
British Pound
GBP
British Pound
Cost of living
92
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
20–45%
Income tax (national)
VAT 20% · social security 8%
Personal allowance GBP 12,570 (tapered away above GBP 100,000); 40% from GBP 50,271 and 45% above GBP 125,140. Scotland sets different bands and rates.
Living
1
Happiness
#27 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
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Who it’s for
People who have lived in the UK for the qualifying period on a route that leads to settlement (work, family, ancestry, long residence, protection and others).
Eligibility
Qualifying period on a settlement route
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need to complete the qualifying period for your settlement route before applying for indefinite leave to remain.
Usual qualifying periods
- Most work visasSkilled Worker, T2/Tier 2, Scale-up and others
- 5 years
- UK Ancestry
- 5 years
- BN(O)
- 5 years
- Innovator Founder
- 3 years
- Global Talent
- 3 years
- Some Tier 1 visas
- 2 or 3 years
- Long residence
- 10 years
- Skilled Worker holders can apply up to 28 days before reaching 5 years
- Applying earlier may lead to refusal
Official wording
GOV.UK lists the usual qualifying periods: 5 years for most work visas (Skilled Worker, T2/Tier 2, Scale-up and others), UK Ancestry and BN(O); 3 years for Innovator Founder and Global Talent; 2 or 3 years for some Tier 1 visas; 10 years for long residence. Skilled Worker holders can apply up to 28 days before reaching 5 years; applying earlier may lead to refusal.
Life in the UK Test
Sign in to check this route against your profileIf you are aged 18 to 64, you must book and pass the Life in the UK Test.
- Applies to applicants aged 18 to 64
Official wording
Applicants aged 18 to 64 must book and pass the Life in the UK Test.
English language
Sign in to check this route against your profileFrom March 2027, most people applying to settle must show A-level equivalent English with a Home Office-approved test.
From March 2027- The standard is up from GCSE level
- Skilled Worker settlement usually needs no new proof of English
- English was already shown for the original visa
- Immigration Rules change made 5 March 2026
Official wording
For Skilled Worker settlement, GOV.UK says no new proof of English is usually needed because it was shown for the original visa. From March 2027 most people applying to settle will need an A-level equivalent English standard, up from GCSE level, shown with a Home Office-approved test (Immigration Rules change made 5 March 2026).
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirement
- Document checklist
- Fees
The full requirements are for members
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- 2 more requirements
- 4 documents
- 3 fees
- 5 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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Official sources
- GOV.UK - Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK - Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Tier 2, T2 or Skilled Worker visa (checked 30 Oct 2026)
- GOV.UK news - Higher standard of English now required to settle in the UK (5 Mar 2026)
- GOV.UK consultation - A fairer pathway to settlement (earned settlement)
