Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) grants you permanent settlement in the UK. It gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK indefinitely. You can use your ILR to apply for British Citizenship.
ILR requirements and eligibility
There are different ways to apply for ILR depending on your circumstances however, there are certain basic requirements that must be met:
1. English Language Requirements:
If you are aged 18 – 65 years old:
You must pass the Life in the UK test and prove that you have sufficient English Language skills. You must meet these 2 requirements.
How to prove your sufficient English Language skills:
A degree taught or researched in English.
or
An English qualification at B1, B2, C1 or C2 level.
You don’t need to prove your knowledge of English if you have a long-term physical or mental condition or you are a national of one of the countries or nationalities on this list.
2. Life in the UK test
The Life in the UK test is designed to test your knowledge about life in the UK. Passing the Life in the UK test is a key part of demonstrating that you are ready to become a permanent resident in the UK.
The test costs £50. You can pay for the test online via the official government website.
How to book the test
You can only book the Life in the UK test on the official government website. It is important to note that you must book the test at least 3 days in advance.
For more information about the Life in the UK test and a look at practise questions, read our Life in the UK test blog and visit our instgram page.
3. Continuous residence
This is the amount of time you have spent in the UK without gaps (time abroad).
You can leave the UK for up to 180 days in a 12 month period.
Continuous residence rules differ depending on which visa category you are under when you apply for ILR, please check the Home Office site for details.
4. Financial requirements
The financial requirements for ILR vary depending on what visa category you fall under when you apply.
For example, if you are currently on a Worker visa such as the Health and Care worker visa or the Skilled worker, you must be paid at least the minimum salary of your profession.
You will usually need to be paid at least whichever is the higher out of the following:
£38,700 per year.
or
The ‘standard going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing.
Example: Ms. X is an engineer applying for ILR and is currently on Skilled worker visa. Her salary is £43,000 per year, but the standard going rate for engineers £45,000. Under the Skilled worker ILR route, Ms. X would not meet the salary requirements for this visa.
Further information about specific financial requirements can be found here.
5. How to apply for ILR
You will be told which documents you need to provide when you apply. For example, you may need to demonstrate that:
You meet the English language requirements and have passed the Life in the UK Test.
Your relationship is genuine and you’ve lived in the UK long enough for the visa you have.
Apply online
You must apply online via the Home Office website.
The earliest you can apply is 28 days before the eligibility date. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.
It is important not to wait until your current visa expires. If your visa expires before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, you’ll need to renew it first.
Written by Mya Alghali
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If you would like assistance with your visa application Thomas Chase Immigration can help. Our processes are tried and tested. We offer an individual touch when assisting you and presenting the matter to UKVI. We also offer consultations of you would like to discuss your eligibility and options.
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