Settlement
Indefinite Leave to Remain
If you are a foreign national who is subject to immigration control but have lawfully lived in the UK for a certain length of time, you can apply for permission to settle here permanently. This is known as Settlement or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Your right to apply for settlement will depend on your current immigration status and whether you continue to meet the immigration requirements.
You can qualify for ILR through various routes, most commonly where you are in the UK with permission as a partner, family member, workers, continuous and long-term lawful residence and those with ancestry ties. The dependent child of a British citizen or a person who is settled in the UK may be given immediate permission to remain indefinitely. Refugees who are resettled in the UK through the Gateway Protection Programme will automatically be granted immediate permission.
To make an application you must already be in the UK. In many cases you will need to demonstrate knowledge of language and life in the UK, although certain applicants are exempt from this requirement. This requirement can be demonstrated by passing the Life in the UK test, and either having a recognised qualification in English, having a degree that was taught or researched in English or being a national of an English-speaking country.
Long Residence
If you have lived in the UK continuously and lawfully for a period of more than 10 years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). This is provided that you satisfy the knowledge of language and life requirement, you can show that there is no reason why granting leave is against the public good, you must not have any unspent convictions.
Returning Residents
Your settled status may be lost if you have lived abroad for a continuous period of 2 years or more. If you loose your status, then you will have to start the process by submitting a fresh application.
Further Leave to Remain
If you do not yet qualify for ILR you may be able to extend your existing visa temporarily. This is known as Further Leave to Remain. If you came here as a visitor, in most cases you cannot extend your permission to stay beyond 6 months although in limited circumstances you may be able to switch to a different immigration category. You must apply to extend your stay before your existing permission expires as otherwise you will become an overstayer and will risk an order for enforced removal.