Indefinite Leave To Remain.

Looking to apply for indefinite leave to remain? Our immigration solicitors are here to help.

An introduction to our indefinite leave to remain visa services

Securing permanent residence in the UK is a significant milestone. Our specialist immigration solicitors guide you through the process with expertise and attention to detail, ensuring your application meets all requirements while supporting you at every step.

Sophie Campbell-Adams
Director

FAQs

Commonly asked questions on Indefinite Leave To Remain.

1. What is indefinite leave to remain?

Indefinite leave to remain – or ‘settlement’ – gives non-British citizens the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like.

If you are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you can apply for the free EU Settlement Scheme. You must have started living in the UK before 1st January 2021. If eligible, this means you would not need to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

2. When can I apply for indefinite leave to remain?

To apply for indefinite leave to remain, you typically need to have spent a minimum of 5 years in the UK. Some of the visas that require 5 years include Family or Skilled Worker visas.

There are some circumstances where you require less than 5 years of UK residence to apply for indefinite leave to remain. For example, an Innovator visa will allow you to be eligible after 3 years.

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain 28 days before you become eligible.

3. How can I apply for indefinite leave to remain?

To apply for indefinite leave to remain, you must apply online.

When applying, you’ll need to provide the following:

  • Your current visa
  • A valid passport
  • Proof of any absences from the UK
  • (For workers) proof from your employer that you meet the minimum income requirements
  • Proof that you have the required knowledge of English and passed the Life in the UK test

In some cases, you may need to provide other documents. Some examples include a criminal record certificate or tuberculosis test results. These other documents will depend entirely on other factors, like which country you are coming from and who with.

4. How much does an application cost?

You must pay an application fee of £2,404 when applying for indefinite leave to remain. You will need to pay an additional fee of £50 per dependant that is applying with you (i.e. your spouse, children etc.)

When applying, you will need to have your biometric information taken (i.e fingerprints and photo). You will not be charged for this.

5. How long does an application take?

Typically, a standard indefinite leave to remain application will take around 6 months to process.

However, the Home Office may require more time to process the application if:

  • Documents need to be verified
  • They need to interview you
  • Personal circumstances complicate the process (e.g. criminal convictions)

You can pay an additional fee of either £500 or £800 for priority and super priority processing respectively. This will speed up your application.

6. What if my application is refused?

There are a number of reasons why your application may have been refused. This could be due to:

  • The application form being incomplete or invalid
  • Fee payments not made
  • Your criminal or immigration history invalidated your application

If your application was refused, you may apply for an administrative review of the Home Office’s decision. You have up to 28 days to file this request if outside the UK or, alternatively, 14 days if within the UK. If this is refused, you can submit a judicial review to further this.

We highly recommend consulting an experienced immigration solicitor if your application is denied. We can help explore other options or assist in submitting forms to question why your appeal was refused. This can save you time and expenses in the long term, purely by letting our solicitors do the work for you.

Meet our expert Indefinite Leave To Remain team.

Need legal advice now from a solicitor in London or Brighton?

Call, email or provide us with a few details of your matter, and we’ll help you arrange an initial consultation. You’ll get:

  • Unlimited time to discuss your matter with a solicitor.
  • An outline of your legal position and available options.
  • A clear time and fee estimate for your case.

How can we help?

Untitled

Why Choose Our Solicitors in London and Brighton?

Full Billing Transparency

No fee surprises. Ever. Our solicitors in London and Brighton will inform you from the outset how much your case will cost and we will do everything in our power to keep costs down and within your original fee estimate.

Award-Winning Service

You are our priority and law is our speciality. Our award-winning solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly where you stand from a legal perspective so you can make a well-informed decision.

Regular Communication

With fortnightly updates on your case, you’ll never be left in the dark. Our solicitors in London and Brighton ensure you know exactly how your case is progressing and are with you every step of the way.

Our Perspectives.

Established in 2020 in Brighton and Hove, we’re one of the newest and fastest-growing law firms in the South East. Our award-winning team have enabled us to grow to two locations; our head office in Hove, East Sussex, and our Mayfair office in London’s West End.

View All Insights

Our Perspectives.

View All Insights

What we do

More Employment Law Services

What our clients are saying…