Long Residence ILR

Long Residence ILR is a route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK for non-UK nationals who have been living in the UK legally and continuously for at least 10 years.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for Long Residence ILR, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have been living in the UK legally for at least 10 years without any gaps in your residence.
• You must have had leave to remain in the UK for the entire 10-year period. This can be in any immigration category, such as a student visa, work visa, or family visa.
• You must not have been in breach of immigration laws during the 10-year period. This includes overstaying your visa, working illegally, or committing a crime.
• You must not be considered a threat to the UK’s security or public interest.

Knowledge of language and life

If you are between 18 and 65 years old, you must fulfil the Knowledge of Language and Life requirement. This means that you must pass the Life in the UK test and prove that you have sufficient English language skills.

Proving your continuous residence

The time you have spent in the UK must have been without any gaps. This is called continuous residence.

To fulfil the continuous residence requirement, you may not leave the UK for more than 180 days in any one year and not more than 540 days in total during the 10-year period.

You cannot count time spent in prison, a young offender institution or a secure hospital as part of your continuous residence. Time spent in Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands does not count either.

When to apply for Long Residence ILR

You can apply for ILR on this basis as soon as you qualify. You do not have to wait until your current visa expires.

You must be in the UK to apply.

Spouses and family members

You cannot include your spouse, partner, or dependant children in your application. They must apply separately if they are eligible for Long Residence ILR.

If they are not eligible to apply separately, they can apply to remain in the UK as the partner of a settled person or remain in the UK as the child of a settled person.

Rights with Long Residence ILR

If you are successful in your application, you will be allowed to do the following without any restrictions:

• Live and work in the UK indefinitely.
• Study without restrictions.
• Access public services such as healthcare and schools.
• Apply for public funds and pensions.
• Bring your family members to the UK.
• Vote in local elections.

The application for Long Residence ILR can take up to several months to consider.

Long Residence ILR is a valuable immigration status that can give you many benefits. If you have been living in the UK legally for at least 10 years, you should consider applying for Long Residence ILR.