There are various routes to apply for settlement in the UK (known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)) for those wishing to call the UK home. Each pathway has different requirements, timelines, and processes — which can vary based on circumstances like family relationships, employment or long-term residency. This detailed guide outlines the spouse, work and long residence routes to settle in the UK along with how to apply for ILR UK (indefinite leave to remain) and also the process involved.
What is Settlement in the UK?
It allows a person to live, work, and study in the UK without immigration restrictions. It is a huge milestone for anyone hoping to put down permanent roots in Britain. After applying for ILR, you are no longer required to renew that visa or follow specific visa requirements. Moreover, ILR holders are eligible to apply for British citizenship after one year of settlement. The requirement for applying for settlement in the UK depends on your visa category. These consist of proving continuous residence through a qualifying period, passing the Life in the UK Test, satisfying applicable financial minimums, and proving good character.
Spouse Route to Settlement
The spouse route is a very common way people can gain settlement in the UK. This route is for applicants who are married or in a civil partnership with a British citizen or someone with settled status.
Eligibility Requirements
There are certain requirements that you must meet to be eligible for ILR under the spouse route:
- You need to have spent at least five years (or ten years for the extended route) living in the UK on a spouse visa.
- You Have to Follow a Real and Existing Relationship with Your Partner
- You have to fulfill financial criteria (usually an annual income floor of £18,600)
- You need to provide enough housing for your family.
- You need to pass both the Life in the UK Test and an English language test at CEFR Level B1.
Application Process
To apply, you’ll fill out Form SET(M) online, provide evidence of your cohabitation, show financial proof, and then send in your biometrics. As of April 2025, the ILR application has a fee of £3,029.
Common Challenges
People applying often struggle to meet financial thresholds or prove their love is real. Excessive time outside of the UK can also give rise to issues concerning continuous residence requirements.
Work Route to Settlement
The work route enables non citizens working on certain visa categories to apply for settlement in the UK after meeting the residency and employment conditions. There are a range of visas that may provide eligible applicants with the opportunity for settlement in this way, including Skilled Worker Visas, Global Talent Visas and other routing visas.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for settlement in the UK through the work route:
- You need to have lived and worked in the UK continuously for 5 years under an eligible visa.
- For all this while, your employer must have been sponsoring your visa.
- You must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
- Unless you qualify for an exemption, you must pass the Life in the UK Test and an English language test.
Application Process
It is an online process for Applicants applying, which includes filling out the Form SET(O), Employment History, Salary (if applicable), and Biometric. In most cases, the ILR fees stay the same at £3,029 for the applicant and £3,629 for priority processing.
Key Considerations
Changing employers while in your qualifying period can add complexity to your application, unless your new employer is also a sponsorship licence holder. The second component to note is that any time gaps or absence out the UK can also impact on your eligibility.
Long Residence Route
The long residence route is for those who have legally lived in the UK for ten years continuously on any type of visa. This option is especially favorable for those who might not qualify under other avenues but who have remained in lawful status throughout their presence.
The Eligibility Requirements
To qualify under this route:
- You have to have resided lawfully in the UK for a continuous period of ten years.
- You cannot have been absent from the UK for more than 540 days in total or more than 180 in any 12-month period calculated on a rolling basis.
- Unless you are exempt, you'll need to pass the Life in the UK Test and an English language test.
Application Process
Form SET(LR) is used to submit applications. You may need supporting documents that demonstrate continuous residence (like tenancy or utility bills), records of your travel that may show your absence from the UK, and documents that establish your lawful status throughout your time there. Standard ILR fees apply to this scenario, too.
Look Out for the Common Pitfalls
Applicants frequently cannot submit a complete, ten-years-long log of residence records. It is important to have not too many absences, or missing records, otherwise it might be delayed or refused.
The ILR Fees
From April 2025, the application fee for settlement has increased substantially:
- Current Application Fee for ILR: £3,029
- Priority processing (decision in five working days): £3,529
- Super priority processing (decision within 24 hours): £4,029
The ILR fees are per applicant (including dependents). As such, if families are applying together, they should plan accordingly.
Why Choose Settlement?
Settlement offers many advantages to you:
- No more visa renewals and all those related costs
- Free to work or be self-employed.
- Access to public funds (if eligible)
- Eligible to sponsor family members
- A route to British citizenship after one year
ILR is seen as a cornerstone of a solid and secure future for many immigrants as it allows them to pursue more opportunities in education, career development, and social integration.
Get assistance with your ILR application
This is particularly true if you are applying for a settlement application via a spouse application after five years of being married or through lawful residence after a decade in the country. Every route has its own requirements that must be met, and the best way to prepare is to comply with the immigration law. In preparation for your application, the increasing ILR fees emphasise the need to plan ahead with your finances while also ensuring all your documentation is accurate and complete. When you want to apply for settlement in the UK, you might require advice on complicated rules, or you may want your application to be completely error-free. A Y & J Solicitors can assist you every step of the way and tailor it to your needs.
A Y & J Solicitors is a specialist immigration law firm with extensive experience in applying for settlement in the UK. We have an in-depth understanding of immigration law and are professional and results-focused. For assistance with your visa application or any other UK immigration law concerns, please contact us at +44 20 7404 7933. We’re here to help!
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