Indefinite Leave to Remain
Permission to live, work and study in the UK for as long as the holder likes, with no immigration time limit — also called 'settlement'. A step towards British citizenship. Routes to it vary by visa type, and typically require 5 years' lawful residence (2-3 years on some points-based visas), or 10 years' continuous lawful residence generally.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
Government guidance defines the status by what it unlocks: 'Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. It's also called "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. You can use it to apply for British citizenship.' There is no single route — guidance notes 'There are different ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain based on your circumstances', and EU, EEA or Swiss citizens (or their family members) may instead need 'settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.'
For work-based applicants, the qualifying period depends on the visa held: 'You must usually have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years. If you have a tier 1 visa, it can be 2 or 3 years. If you have an Innovator Founder or Global Talent visa, it can be 3 years.' Family-based routes instead depend on the family member's own status: applicants may qualify 'if you have a partner, parent or child or other relative settled in the UK - either as a British citizen or a person with indefinite leave to remain', with separate provision where 'your partner has died' or 'your relationship ended because of domestic violence.' A wholly separate route exists for long residence, independent of any particular visa category, for those who have simply 'lived in the UK for 10 years.'
Related terms
Official sources
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