Conditions for Indefinite Leave to Remain
Full or permanent residency is properly known as Indefinite Leave to Remain. You are able to apply for this in several ways depending on your UK immigration status at the time of application.
Indefinite Leave to Remain allows the holder to remain in the UK for an indefinite period, on the condition that he/she intends to remain present and settled. If you have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain and leave the UK for a period of two years or more, it is usually deemed that you are not present and settled and therefore your ILR status will be revoked.
Indefinite Leave to Remain allows the holder to work without restriction in the UK. It also allows exit and re-entry on multiple occasions.
The following are some ways in which an individual may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain:
- shortly before the expiry of a two-year marriage visa
- on the basis of being married to or in a relationship for four years or more with a British citizen or a person who has no time limitation of their ability to stay in the UK
- shortly before the expiry of a five-year ancestry visa
- once having held a work permit for a five-year period
- once having legally spent ten years in the UK
- once having spent 14 years in the UK
- once having spent five continuous years as a representative of an overseas newspaper, news agency or broadcasting organisation
- once having spent five years in the UK as a sole representative
- once having spent five years in the UK as an overseas government employee or servant in a diplomatic household
- once having spent five years in the UK as a minister of religion, missionary or member of a religious order
- once having spent a continuous five-year period in the UK as a member of operational ground staff of an overseas-owned airline
- once having spent a continuous five-year period in the UK as a person established in business under the provisions of the EU Association Agreement
- once having spent a continuous five years in the UK as an investor or retired person of independent means
- once having spent a continuous five years in the UK as a writer, composer or artist.
