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Permanent Residence (ILR)
Permanent Residence (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain) allows you to live and work freely in the UK. Once approved you can come and go as you like, engage in any type of employment or business you wish and generally work your way towards British Citizenship (Naturalisation) and a UK Passport. Please note that applications submitted after July 2011 may fall under the proposed Earned Citizenship system; however this has yet to be confirmed.At Commonwealth Contractors we can help to ensure that your Permanent Residence application is successful. Our knowledgeable Immigration Advisors can conduct an assessment to see whether you meet current ILR criteria. To find out more please complete our Permanent Residence Assessment Form or call now on 0800 294 4388.
Benefits of Permanent Residence
Once you have achieved Permanent Resident status you can work freely in the UK. If you are on an employer sponsored Tier 2 Visa (UK Work Permit) and you gain Indefinite Leave to Remain you will no longer be tied to that employer. If you are on a Tier 1 General Visa you will no longer have to worry about scoring points and working towards an extension. ILR status puts you on the same playing field as any other UK resident worker.Permanent Residence Duration
Once you have secured Indefinite Leave to Remain you can come and go as you wish. However you should be careful not to spend more than 2 years outside the UK otherwise you may find that your ILR status is reset. If this happens you will need to secure a suitable work visa once more (e.g. Tier 1 General or Tier 2 General).If you become a Permanent Resident you should consider the UK your home and should only leave for short periods of time. If you are required to leave for longer you are strongly advised to maintain strong personal and financial ties to the UK.
Most people who gain Indefinite Leave to Remain normally transfer to British Citizenship after one year.
Permanent Residence Eligibility
In order to qualify for Permanent Residence you must have spent a satisfactory period of time on a qualifying visa OR a combination of qualifying visas. For example a Tier 1 Visa holder will be able to apply for Permanent Residence in the UK after spending 5 unbroken years on that status. A break is considered to be any more than 90 days spent outside the UK in any one year. Be careful to avoid breaking your run for Permanent Residence otherwise you may find you have to start all over again.Indefinite Leave to Remain applications can be submitted up to one month before the end of your existing visa.
| Visa Type | Time Required |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 (General, Investor or Entrepreneur), HSMP, Tier 2 General, UK Work Permit, Sole Representative, Ancestry Visa | 5 Years |
| Marriage to an EEA National, EEA National & Family Members | 5 Years |
| Marriage to a UK National or a person settled in the UK | 2 Years |
| Any combination of Lawful stay | 10 Years |
Note: Please note that time spent on Tier 5 Youth Mobility (formerly Working Holidaymaker) does not count towards Permanent Residence.
Permanent Residence Application Documents
In order to submit an Indefinite Leave to Remain Application you may need to provide:- Your original Passport and those of your dependents
- 2 recent passport sized photos
- Last 3 months Payslips or Bank Statements
- Life in the UK Test Certificate (see below)
- Work Permit copy & letter of ongoing employment (where applicable)
- Payment for Visa Processing
- Marriage Certificate (for dependent spouse)
- Birth Certificates (for dependent children)
- Police Registration Certificate (where applicable)
- Current Tenancy Agreement (where applicable)
Life in the UK Test
Before submitting a Permanent Residency application you must have successfully passed a ‘Life in the UK’ test and gained an approval certificate. Click here to try our practise Life in the UK test. Please note that test certificates can be used for future British Citizenship applications.British Citizenship
After spending one full year on Indefinite Leave to Remain status you may be able to apply for British Citizenship, and once approved a UK Passport. British Citizenship will give you all of the same rights as a resident national, including the ability to work freely throughout the European Union.Do I Qualify?
Permanent Residence applications can be very complicated and expensive, but not to worry, Commonwealth Contractors can provide professional Immigration services to ensure your application is successful.By preparing your application properly & liaising with the UK Border Agency we can ensure your application succeeds & ensure you avoid the need for further Government application fees or issues with your work status.
