Indefinite Leave To Remain( ILR)
Expert guidance on applying for Indefinite
Leave to Remain your pathway to permanent
settlement in the UK. OISC Level 3 regulated
advisers with a proven track record.
What is Indefinite Leave To Remain( ILR)?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — commonly
known as Permanent Residency — allows
individuals who have lived legally in the UK
for a qualifying period to settle here
permanently.
ILR removes all time restrictions on your
stay in the UK. Once granted, you can live,
work and study in the UK without any
immigration restrictions.
ILR is the final step before becoming eligible
to apply for British Citizenship and a
British Passport — making it one of the most
significant milestones in any immigration journey.
Once you have ILR you will not lose it unless
you are absent from the UK for more than
2 years or commit a serious criminal offence.
Common ILR Routes
👨👩👧 Family ILR
Partners and family members
of British citizens or settled
persons may qualify for ILR
after a qualifying period.
⏱️ Long Residence ILR
After 10 continuous years of
lawful residence in the UK you
may qualify for ILR regardless
of your visa category.
👷 Skilled Worker ILR
After 5 continuous years on a
Skilled Worker Visa you can apply
for ILR — provided you still meet
salary and skill requirements.
Key Requirements for ILR
To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain
you must generally meet the following:
Continuous Residence:
• You must have lived lawfully in the UK
for the required qualifying period
• No more than 180 days absence in any
12 month period during your qualifying
period (from April 2024 onwards)
• You must be in the UK on the date
of application
English Language:
• Demonstrate English language ability
at CEFR Level B1 or above
• Can be met through an approved test,
GCSE, A-Level or UK degree
Life in the UK Test:
• Pass the Life in the UK test unless
an exemption applies
Current Immigration Status:
• You must not be in breach of
immigration laws
• You must not be on immigration bail
• Your application must not fall for
refusal on general grounds
If your current permission was granted
on or after 11 April 2024, you must have
held it for at least 12 months before
applying for ILR.
ILR To British Citizenship
ILR is the stepping stone to British Citizenship.
Once you have held ILR for 12 months and meet
the residency requirements, you may be eligible
to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen.
British Citizenship gives you:
• A British passport — one of the most
powerful in the world
• Full voting rights in UK elections
• The ability to pass citizenship to
your children
• Freedom to live and work across
many countries without visa restrictions
Meralis can guide you through both your
ILR application and your subsequent
British Citizenship application —
taking you all the way to your
British passport.
Ready To Apply For ILR?
Book a free consultation with our OISC
regulated advisers today. We’ll assess
your eligibility and guide you through
every step of your ILR application.