ILR Long Residence (10 Year Route)

You may be able to apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) on the basis of 10 years long residence if you've been in the UK lawfully for 10 continuous years. Lawful residence means that you have not overstayed your visa at any point throughout your stay in the UK.

Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. It's also known as 'settlement'.  If you have ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), there is no longer any time limit on your ability to stay in the UK and it allows you to work in the UK without restrictions.

What are the requirements for ILR 10-year long residence?

There are certain requirements which must be fulfilled for someone to become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The most fundamental requirements are:

• Continuous Residence
• English Language Requirement
• Life in the UK Test
• Suitability Requirement

Continuous Residence

Continuous lawful residence in the UK  is the main requirement of Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications. Continuous residence means the time you've spent in the UK without gaps.

ILR applicants are required not to be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12 months during the ILR qualifying period. Such restriction of 180 days does not apply to ILR applications as family members of British Citizens and settled persons.

English Language

If you are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain to settle in the UK and you’re 18 or over then you might need to prove your knowledge of the English language.

ILR applicants from non-English speaking countries need to prove their knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test (SELT) taken through a Home Office approved English language test centre.

You can prove your knowledge of the English language by having either an English qualification at B1, B2, C1, or C2 level or a degree taught in English.

Life in the UK Test

The Life in the UK test is a compulsory requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain applications. The main object of the Life in the UK test is to prove that the applicant has adequate knowledge of British life such as British values, history, traditions and everyday life.

What documents are required for ILR 10-year route?

The supporting documents are key to succeeding in an application for ILR based on 10 years long residence. Supporting documents for ILR applications may vary from case to case depending on the individual circumstances of the applicant. Generally, the following documents may be required for an application for ILR based on 10 years long residence:

• All passports covering the relevant 10 years qualifying period of long residence
• BRP card of the applicant
• Life in the UK test of the applicant if the applicant is over the age of 18 and under the age of 65
• Relevant document to satisfy the English language proficiency at level B1 in listening and speaking only which could include an English test certificate or degree level academic qualification or evidence of being national of a majority English speaking country
• Any evidence of private and family life established in the UK
• Any other evidence which may be relevant to address any particular issue in the long residence application including e.g. one of the previous passports is missing, the applicant exceeded the permitted number of days absent from the UK; previous gaps in between the periods of leave to remain applications, etc
• Any documents or information which is relevant to argue why the Home Office UKVI should exercise discretion to grant the application where the reliance is being made on the discretion of the Home Office UKVI in approving the long residence application