Indefinite Leave to Remain – 10 Years Long Residence
Who can apply?
You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you’ve been in the UK legally for 10 continuous years, known as ‘long residence.’
Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK, and it is the same as ‘settlement.’ It gives you the right to live, work, and study here for as long as you like and apply for benefits if you’re eligible. And you can also use it to apply for British citizenship.
It is important to note that you must meet all the eligibility requirements.
What are the eligibility requirements?
You must have permission to stay, known as ‘leave to remain.’ This permission can be in any immigration category or a combination of different immigration categories. You must also have been in the UK legally for 10 years without any gaps, known as your ‘continuous residence.’
Knowledge of Language and Life
If you’re between 18 and 65 years old, you must:
- Firstly, the Life in the UK Test.
- Secondly, prove you have sufficient English language skills.
If you do not meet these two requirements, then you can apply to extend your stay.
Continuous Residence
Continuous residence is the time you’ve spent in the UK without any gaps. You can leave the UK during your continuous residence for up to:
- 184 days at a time.
- 548 days in total.
You cannot count time spent in the UK under the following circumstances:
- Standard Visitor visa or as a visitor without a visa.
- Short-term study visa.
- Seasonal Worker visa.
- while on immigration bail.
- in a prison, young offender institution, or secure hospital.
You also cannot count time spent in Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands.
Processing Time
You’ll be informed of whether your application has been successful within 6 months of your application date if you use the standard service.
If you use the super priority service, a decision will be made:
- by the end of the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on a weekday.
- within 2 working days after your UKVCAS appointment if your appointment is on the weekend.
Ref: https://www.gov.uk/long-residence
To give your case the best chance of success, get in touch
To give your visa the best chance of success, and to reduce your stress, please contact our immigration experts.
If you wish to speak directly with one of our immigration specialists to get advice about business and personal immigration, or education in the UK and other visa issues, then please contact our Glasgow Head Office on Phone T: +44 (0)141 212 3355 or request a call back by completing the Online Form. You can also email us at enquiries@lattainternational.com. More information can be found from Contact Us.
*Disclaimer: The above information is for general reference only. Specialist legal advice should be sought.
Latest update: August 2023