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Indefinite Leave to Remain Requirements

To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain, applicants must first have been present in the UK for a specified period, usually on a temporary visa of some type. Please see the table below for a breakdown of how long you must have been in the UK on various visas before being eligible to apply for ILR.

As of 9 July, 2012, changes to the Indefinite Leave to Remain were introduced which affect applications from both married and unmarried partners of the following:

British citizens
Someone settled in the UK
Someone in the UK with refugee leave
Someone in the UK with humanitarian protection

Under the new rules, applicants will be required to hold a partner visa or marriage visa for a period of 33 months and then apply for an extension for a further 30 months before being allowed to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Check your Indefinite Leave to Remain eligibility

Current visa status and length of time required before being eligible for ILR
Visa Status	Years of residence required
Marriage	5
Unmarried Partner	5
EEA Family Permit	5
Ancestry	5
Work Permit	5
HSMP	5
People establishing business	5
Investors	5
Writers, composers, artists	5
Legal stay on any basis	10
Illegal stay on any basis	14

Do you qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain? Apply for a consultation

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