Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) allows you to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. It is not citizenship yet, but is more than a visa. The indefinite leave application has specific characteristics for migrants to the United Kingdom. With indefinite leave to remain, a migrant can have the right to live, study, and work permanently without any immigration restrictions. Understanding the legal landscape of indefinite leave can be daunting. Let’s navigate the requirements and documentation for the parties to fulfill. 

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain?

In layman’s terms, indefinite leave to remain (ILR) refers to a “settlement visa” or “permanent residence.” With ILR, a migrant can live, study, or work in the United Kingdom before citizenship. The ultimate aim of an ILR application is to provide people who come to the UK to live, study, or work before gaining citizenship. 

Indefinite Leave to Remain allows a migrant to do the following in the UK:

• Live
• Study 
• Work (without immigration restrictions)
• Access public benefits and funds
• Access to National Health Service at no cost
• Travel in and out of the United Kingdom with any extra cost of visa
• Allow to apply for British citizenship after one year

Requirements for Indefinite Leave Application 

Different countries have varying laws concerning citizenship. In the United Kingdom, a person is eligible for an ILR application if they meet the following requirements:

• In most cases, one must have held a UK visa for 5 years. However, this differs depending on the UK visa one has. 
• Must be of a good character
• Must have passed the Life in the UK test
• Must have knowledge of B1, B2, C1 or C2 level in English language
• A person must not have spent over 180 days outside the country during the qualifying period. 

When can a person apply for an ILR Application?

As mentioned above, the requirement for ILR depends on the type of visa a person holds. In most cases, a person should have a valid UK visa for five years before applying for ILR. This applies to people with work visas, family visas, business visas, and other visa categories.

Investors and entrepreneur visa holders can apply for ILR through an accelerated route after two or three years if innovators and investors can prove that their business has grown. In this case, business owners must have a turnover of at least £5 million or offer at least 10 full-time jobs. For investors, the route depends on the level of investment they have made in the country. 

How to Apply for ILR?

Once you are eligible for ILR as per the requirements mentioned above, you must complete the following steps:

• Fill out the indefinite leave application online
• Pay the ILR application fees
• Pay the biometric residence permit fees
• Book an appointment with the nearest UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) to complete your biometric information.
• Provide the necessary documents to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). You can also upload the documents online when you attend a UKVCAS appointment. 
• UKVI might invite you for an interview if more information is required. 

Necessary Documents for ILR Application

It is necessary to provide documentation for the application of Indefinite Leave to Remain. Here’s the list of documents that need to be given to UKVI:

• Passport and travel documents you have possessed while living in the UK
• Birth or adoption certificates for dependants to be included in the application 
• If you have been registered with the police, then a police registration certificate is required. 
• Wage slips, bank statements and other financial statements prove your UK income. 
• Certificates of Life in the UK and English Language test 
• Two colour passport-sized photographs of you and your dependent (if any) with your name written on the back of each photograph. 

Conclusion 

Once you know the eligibility and documentation, filing an indefinite leave application is easy. It might be daunting before, but the guidance of immigration or naturalization application solicitors can benefit your application. Immigration Solicitors London can help you understand the complexities of the whole ILR process simply and thoroughly.