Settlement / British Citizenship

Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)

Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK (also known as settlement or permanent residence) is the right to remain in the UK with no time limit or restriction on employment / business activity. Once approved this means that the person is no longer subject to immigration control.

All applicants must be able to show that they have completed the full qualifying period. The length of the qualifying period will depend on which basis the previous immigration category was made. In most cases the applicant will need to show that there are no breaks in legal stay. There are also a restricted number of absences in some categories. You must also demonstrate knowledge of life in the UK and the English language ability.

Your partner and any children under 18 can apply at the same time as you if they’re eligible.

Applications can be made in the following categories:

• Spouse visa / Unmarried partner visa (after 2 years for visas issued prior to 9 July 2012)
• Employment- e.g. Tier 1/ Tier 2/ Qualified Work Permit holders/ UK Ancestry/ (2- 5 years)
• EU nationals and dependants (after 5 years)
• Long residence (after 10 years legal residency in the UK).

British Naturalisation

The eligibility criteria for British Naturalization differ depending on the circumstances under which you apply.

This can be a complex area of UK immigration law, as there are several ways to apply for citizenship or nationality. This will involve careful consideration of your case and the surrounding circumstances.