Indefinite Leave to Remain and leave to Remain
Indefinite leave to remain, also referred to as settlement, is a status that a foreign citizen can apply for if they are already living in the UK. This status means that a migrant in the UK is permitted to live and work in the UK without restrictions. Permission to enter and stay in the UK (‘Leave’) can be granted to a person for a specified period of time, known as Limited Leave, or can be granted for an indefinite time, known as Indefinite Leave. The granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (“ILR”) is often also referred to as “Settlement”, as this is essentially what the permission amounts to. A migrant who is granted ILR is permitted to live and work in the UK without restrictions. Most migrants will need to have been granted one or more periods of limited leave before being able to apply for Settlement/ ILR. The length of time that they will complete in the UK before they can apply for ILR is referred to as the “qualifying period”. The qualifying period will depend on the category and the circumstances of their leave in the UK. Qualification for ILR status will depend on the category and circumstances of the individual but it will be based on the length of time spent in the UK. There are both financial factors and length of stay that need to be taken into account. For more information visit our indefinite leave to remain page. ILR is a status non-EU citizens and their family members must be granted before applying for British citizenship. For example: A migrant spouse of a settled person who meets the financial requirements will be required to complete 60 months in the UK before they can apply for ILR; a migrant spouse of a settled person who does NOT meet the financial requirements, is required to complete a period of 10 years in the UK before they can apply for ILR. What are the Eligibility requirements for ILR application: You must meet the requirements set out in the Immigration Rules which are relevant to the visa category which you are apply from. All applicants aged 18-64 must meet the two parts of the Knowledge of Language and Life (“KOLL”) requirement by : Passing the Life in the UK test, and Meeting one of the following language qualifications: having a speaking and listening qualification in English at B1 level or above of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR),or having a degree that was taught or researched in English, or being a national of an English-speaking country.