Indefinite Leave to Remain
Your settlement application is the last step of a long journey. One missed absence, one gap in your continuous residence, one wrong piece of evidence — and years of work can be jeopardised. We prepare ILR applications that are right first time, with every absence counted, every document gathered, and every risk flagged before you submit.
Indefinite Leave to Remain means you can live, work and study in the UK without any time limit.
ILR is permanent residence — sometimes called settled status or "the permanent visa." Once you have it, you're free from Home Office reporting, free to take any job, free to access the NHS and public funds, and free to stop worrying about your next visa. It's also the necessary step before naturalising as a British citizen. Kalsi Legal handles every ILR route under the Immigration Rules.
Every route to settlement. One firm.
There is no single ILR application — the route depends on your immigration history. We handle all of them, from straightforward 5-year applications to complex long residence cases.
5-Year ILR
For those on qualifying routes — Skilled Worker, Family, Global Talent, Innovator, and others — who have completed five continuous years in the UK.
10-Year ILR
For those with ten years continuous lawful residence on any immigration route — often a rescue route for those who don't qualify under five-year routes. Requires careful gap analysis.
SET(M) — Spouse Route
For partners of British citizens or settled persons who have completed the probationary period on the five-year partner route.
SET(DV) — Domestic Violence
For those whose relationship has broken down due to domestic abuse. Offers immediate settlement, bypassing probationary periods. Urgent submission often required.
Skilled Worker to ILR
Specific route for those who have been sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa for five continuous years — includes the particular evidential requirements of this route.
Returning Resident Visa
For those who previously held ILR but have been outside the UK for more than two years — a complex route requiring evidence of continued ties.
The three details most ILR refusals come down to.
Absence calculations
The 180-day rule is strict and unforgiving. Each rolling 12-month period within your qualifying years must contain no more than 180 days outside the UK.
Continuous residence
Any period with no valid leave — even one day of overstay — can break continuous residence. Paragraph 39E exceptions (out-of-time applications) are narrow and often misapplied.
Life in the UK and English
Both the Life in the UK test and an approved English language qualification are required (with limited exemptions). Test pass certificates expire only when you change nationality — never when you change visa.
From first consultation to settled status.
Consultation
One-hour fixed-fee consultation. We assess your route, spot any risks, and give you a written fixed-fee quote.
Audit
Full absence calculation, continuous residence check, document review. We find issues before the Home Office does.
Application
We draft the application, prepare representations, submit, and liaise with UKVI on priority services if relevant.
Decision
We handle any follow-up queries. On approval, we advise on your next steps — typically, the path to British citizenship.
ILR questions we hear most often.
How long does ILR processing take?
Standard Home Office processing is up to six months. Priority service (£500) reduces this to around five working days; Super Priority (£1,000) to next working day. Priority services are not always available for all routes — we advise at consultation.
Does ILR expire?
ILR itself does not expire, but it can be lost through absence: two or more continuous years outside the UK generally causes ILR to lapse. If this is a risk, we can advise on protective steps (returning resident visas, citizenship applications) before you leave.
What's the difference between the 5-year and 10-year ILR routes?
The 5-year route is for qualifying visa routes (Skilled Worker, Family, Global Talent, etc.) where you meet specific continuous residence requirements. The 10-year route (Long Residence) is available to anyone with ten years lawful continuous residence, regardless of visa type — including combinations of routes. The 10-year route is more flexible but subject to stricter absence rules (540 days across the whole period, no more than 180 in any 12-month window for most of the period).
Can I apply for ILR if I've had a refusal in the past?
Usually yes — but a previous refusal must be disclosed and addressed in the application. The critical question is what was refused, why, and whether that reason still applies. We review your immigration history and prepare representations that explain, not hide, the history.
Do I need a solicitor to apply for ILR?
Legally, no. Practically, it depends. Straightforward 5-year applications with clean residence and no absences can be self-filed. But ILR applications that involve the 10-year route, absences near the 180-day threshold, previous refusals, gaps in leave, complex family circumstances, or Adult Dependent Relative issues benefit enormously from specialist drafting. The cost of a wrong self-filed application — refusal, lost Home Office fees, potential loss of continuous residence — is almost always higher than the cost of doing it right first time.
After ILR — when can I apply for British citizenship?
Most applicants must wait 12 months after ILR before naturalising. Spouses of British citizens can apply immediately after ILR. See our British Citizenship page for full details.
Ready to settle?
Book a consultation. We'll assess your route, flag any risks, and give you a written fixed-fee quote before any chargeable work begins.
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