After you have been in the UK for 5 years under the Skilled Worker visa, you may become eligible to apply for permission to settle permanently in the UK, also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). To qualify for ILR under the Skilled Worker visa category, it is important to fulfil several requirements such as minimum annual salary and spend no more than 90 days outside the country in a period of 5 years.
Under the Skilled Worker visa category, after residing in the country for 5 years, applicants may become eligible to apply for ILR. Permanent settlement, also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), gives applicants the right to remain in the UK for an unlimited amount of time and grants the freedom to take up employment or study without restriction. Permanent resident status is necessary to qualify for a British passport, as applicants must be settled in the UK in order to obtain Naturalisation as a British Citizen.
As part of our ILR service, we will provide full support with application preparation for submission to the Home Office, guiding you through the whole process. Our dedicated immigration lawyers have an established reputation for providing expert, effective and efficient management and processing of all UK visa applications, extensions and advice for UK settlement options.
Eligibility Criteria (application for Indefinite Leave to Remain)
Skilled Worker migrant can apply for settlement, i.e. for Indefinite Leave to Remain (‘ILR’) after having spent 5 continuous years lawfully in the UK, of which most recent period have been spent with leave as Skilled Worker.
There are a number of requirement that the applicant should meet before applying for ILR as a Skilled Worker migrant. An important requirement to note is that the current sponsor should still hold a valid Sponsor licence in the relevant category (or have an application for renewal under consideration by the Home Office).
All applicants must have passed the Life in the UK test.
Experts at Immigration.UK provide detailed guidance on all the requirements that need to be met to apply for ILR in this way, including requirements of the appropriate salary and period of continuous residence in the UK.
Processing time:
Applicants will receive a decision on whether their application has been successful within 6 months, or less if applying through one of the Home Office’s premium services.
