ILR
Indefinite Leave to Remain (UK)
Indefinite Leave to Remain — the indefinite permission to remain in the UK, analogous to permanent residence, a step toward British citizenship.
- What it is
- Indefinite Leave to Remain — an indefinite right to live in the United Kingdom
- Equivalent
- The British equivalent of PR
- After what
- Usually several years of lawful residence
- Leads to
- To British citizenship after ILR
- How to use it
- Meet the residence periods and conditions
In plain words
ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) is indefinite permission to stay in the United Kingdom, the British equivalent of permanent residence. With ILR, a person can live, work and study in the UK with no time limit and without being tied to a particular visa — the immigration “clock” stops ticking.
ILR is usually obtained after several years of lawful residence on a suitable visa (work, family, investor and others), subject to requirements on presence in the country, no long absences, knowledge of the language and passing the Life in the UK test. The exact period depends on the category of visa on which the person lived in the country.
The key value of ILR is stability and the next step: it is a status giving almost all the rights of a permanent resident, and after a certain period with ILR (as a rule, about another year) the right to apply for British citizenship opens. It is important not to lose the status: a long absence from the country may lead to its revocation. We help map out the path to ILR and on to a passport.
Where ILR matters
What matters about ILR
- UK PR
- An indefinite right to live
- Not tied to a visa
- Years of lawful residence
- The Life in the UK test
- Language and presence
- To citizenship after ILR
- Usually about another year
- The full rights of a resident
- Do not lose the status
- Long absences are dangerous
- Depends on the visa
How to arrive at ILR
- 01Residence on a suitable visa
- 02Meeting the periods and conditions
- 03The Life in the UK test and language
- 04Applying for ILR
- 05PR, then citizenship
What you need to know
- ILR is the British equivalent of PR, an indefinite right to live in the UK
- It is granted after several years of lawful residence
- The Life in the UK test, language and presence in the country are required
- After ILR the path to British citizenship opens
- A long absence can revoke the status
Common mistakes
- Allowing long absences and breaking the period
- Not preparing for the Life in the UK test and language
- Losing ILR through a long absence from the country
- Miscalculating the period for your visa category
- Not planning the move to citizenship after ILR
What this means for a BRIDGES client
We map out the path to ILR as a single strategy: we choose and support the visa, watch the periods of residence and limits on absence, and prepare you for the test and the language. Once the indefinite status is obtained, we plan the move to British citizenship — so that your years in the country lead naturally to a passport.
Frequently asked questions
01 /What is ILR?
Indefinite Leave to Remain — indefinite permission to stay in the United Kingdom, the British equivalent of PR. It gives the right to live, work and study with no time limit.
02 /After how many years can ILR be obtained?
Usually after several years of lawful residence on a suitable visa. The exact period depends on the category of visa on which the person lived in the country.
03 /What is needed for ILR?
Meeting the residence periods and limits on absence, knowledge of the language and passing the Life in the UK test, and no serious breaches.
04 /Does ILR lead to citizenship?
Yes. After a certain period with ILR (as a rule, about another year) the right to apply for British citizenship opens, subject to the conditions.
05 /Can ILR be lost?
Yes, for example through a long continuous absence from the country. That is why the presence rules must be observed — we help keep track of them.
06 /How does ILR differ from citizenship?
ILR is PR: almost all the rights of a resident, but not a passport and not a vote in general elections. Citizenship is the next step after ILR.
See also
Read next
This material has undergone editorial review by BRIDGES.
UK PR and citizenship?
We will map out the path to ILR: a suitable visa, meeting the periods and conditions, the test — with the move to a British passport.