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You may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain if either:

• you have a visa on the basis of your private life
• you were born in the UK and have lived here continuously up to the age of at least 7

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.

Eligibility

Check if you’re eligible to apply on the basis of your private life.

Fees

It costs £3,029 for each person applying.

After you apply

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

The eligibility criteria you have to meet are different depending on whether you’re applying as an adult or a child.Ìý

Children and young adults 

If you were born in the UK and have lived here for 7 continuous years since your birth, you can apply immediately for indefinite leave to remain on the basis of your private life.

Otherwise you can apply for indefinite leave to remain on the basis of your private life if all of the following are true:

• you arrived in the UK as a child 
• you’ve lived in the UK for 5 continuous years on a relevant visa
• you got your most recent visa on the basis of your private life

You must have got this private life visa either:

• as a child
• when you were aged between 18 and 24, because you’d spent half of your life in the UK

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You can apply to settle as an adult on the private life route if you: 

• are aged over 18 
• have lived in the UK for 10 continuous years with a relevant visa
• have previously been given a visa on the basis of your private life 

Continuous years in the UK

Your continuous years in the UK can include time spent on:

• a family or private life visa
• any visa which leads to indefinite leave to remain

If you’re including time which was not spent on a family or private life visa, you must have had a private life visa for at least one year on the day you apply.

Knowledge of language and life in the UK

If you’re aged 18 to 64 you’ll need to book and pass the Life in the UK Test.Ìý

You’ll also need to meet the English language requirements. This means you must have either:

• a recognised English qualification with at least level B1 in speaking and listening
• a degree taught or researched in English

If you’re not eligible on the basis of your private life

There are other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain. Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain another way.

Your partner and children may also be able to get indefinite leave to remain.

Check if they meet the eligibility criteria in their own right.

If they meet the criteria, they can apply separately.

If your partner does not meet the criteria

Check if your partner can apply for indefinite leave to remain another way.

If your children do not meet the criteria but were born in the UK

Your children may still be able to get indefinite leave to remain as your dependant if:

• you’re applying or have applied for indefinite leave to remain on the basis of your private life
• they were born in the UK

One of the following must also be true:

• your child’s other parent is currently applying for indefinite leave to remain in the UK
• your child’s other parent already has indefinite leave to remain
• your child’s other parent is a British citizen
• you’re the child’s sole surviving parent
• you have sole responsibility for your child
• there are serious or compelling reasons why your child should be allowed to stay - they’ll normally already have permission to be in the UK for the same reasons

Your child must also not be married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life.

If your child is eligible, you must apply for them separately. You cannot add your child to your own application.

You’ll need to provide:

• a current passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• your biometric residence permit (BRP), if you have one - you can use it for 18 months after the expiry date printed on the card
• online proof of your immigration status if you have an eVisa -  you’ll need to get a share code
• all the passports you’ve held during your time in the UK

If you’re aged 18 to 65 years old, you’ll also need to provide proof you’ve passed the Life in the UK test - you should have either a ‘unique reference number’ or a letter with a ‘test reference ID’.

You’ll need to provide a certified translation of any documents that are not in English or Welsh.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances. You’ll be told what documents you need when you apply.

You must .

There is a different way to apply if you’re:

• under 18
• between 18 and 25 years old, and came to the UK as a child
• currently in the UK as a dependant on a parent’s visa and you’re over 18

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Parents can apply on behalf of children under 18.

Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

Check what documents you’ll need to apply.

Proving your identity and providing supporting documents

As part of your application you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and the type of passport or resident permit you have.

You’ll either:

• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign in to your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• have your fingerprints and photo (biometric information) taken at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point

You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you’re eligible. Check how long you need to have spent in the UK to be eligible.

Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.

Do not wait until your current visa expires. If your visa expires before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, you’ll need to renew it first.

How long it takes

There is no standard processing time, but you’ll usually be told whether your application has been successful within 6 months.

Your application may take longer if your case is complex, for example:

• if your supporting documents need to be verified
• if you need to attend an interview
• because of your personal circumstances, for example if you have a criminal conviction

If you urgently need to travel overseas, contact UK Visas and Immigration.

If your application is successful

You’ll get an eVisa (an online record of your immigration status).

Your decision email or letter will tell you how to get access to your eVisa. You’ll need to create a UKVI account.

You’ll then be able to do the following:

• work
• run a business
• study
• use public services, such as healthcare and schools
• apply for public funds (benefits) and pensions
• apply for British citizenship, usually after a minimum of 12 months

If you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years

You’ll lose your indefinite leave to remain if you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years at a time.

You’ll need to apply for a Returning Resident visa before you can return to the UK.

Get help using a computer to apply online

You can get help with completing the online form if you:

• do not feel confident using a computer or mobile device
• do not have internet access

You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.