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You may be able apply for indefinite leave to remain if you鈥檙e leaving or have left the UK armed forces.

Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. It鈥檚 also called 鈥榮ettlement鈥�. It gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you鈥檙e eligible. You can use it to apply for British citizenship.

You must usually both:

• be leaving the armed forces or have left in the past 2 years
• have served for a minimum of 4 years

There鈥檚 no minimum time you need to have served for if you鈥檝e been medically discharged for an injury or illness that happened as a result of your service.

If you鈥檙e not eligible based on your time in the armed forces, there are other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

When to apply

You can send your application up to 18 weeks before you leave the armed forces (鈥榓re discharged鈥�).

You must send it within 2 years from the date you鈥檙e discharged.

Family members

Your partner or child may be able to apply if you鈥檙e currently in the armed forces or have left in the past 2 years.

If you鈥檙e the partner or child of someone who died and was in the armed forces, you might also be able to apply.

Check the rules for applying as a partner or child.

Fees and how long it takes

It costs 拢3,029 for each person applying. You鈥檒l each need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there鈥檚 no fee for this.

You can include your partner and children on the same application form, if they鈥檙e eligible.

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 6 months if you apply using the standard service.

When you do not have to pay a fee

You will not have to pay any fees if at least one of the following is true:

• you served for a minimum of 6 years before leaving the armed forces
• you鈥檝e been medically discharged for an injury or illness that happened as a result of your service

When family members may not have to pay the fee

If you鈥檙e the partner or child of a veteran, you may not have to pay the fee if they:

• died while they were serving in the armed forces
• died while applying to settle as a former member of the armed forces
• were a former Gurkha or Hong Kong military unit veteran

You鈥檒l need to provide evidence showing one of the following:

• you do not have a place to live and cannot afford one
• you have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating
• you have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child鈥檚 wellbeing

Evidence can include bank statements, payslips and utility bills.

You may be able to use the same evidence for multiple applicants if you鈥檙e applying at the same time.

Any family members applying with you will still need to pay the application fee.

Get a faster decision on your application

If you pay extra to use the 鈥榮uper priority service鈥� you can get a decision:

• by the end of the next working day after providing your biometric information if your appointment is on a weekday
• 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

Your partner and children may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

If they鈥檙e eligible, they can apply either:

• as part of your application if you鈥檙e leaving the armed forces and settling
• separately if you鈥檙e still serving, settled already or a British citizen

Eligibility

Your partner and children may be eligible if you either:

• have been discharged in the past 2 years
• are currently in the UK armed forces and have at least 5 years service

You must either be:

• applying to settle in the UK
• already settled, or a British citizen

Your partner must have been in the UK for 5 years with permission as your partner on your visa. Postings outside the UK can be included in the 5 years.

Financial requirements

You must prove you and your partner intend to live together and have a combined income of at least 拢23,496 per year.

You will not need to prove you have this money if you or your partner get certain disability benefits or Carer鈥檚 Allowance, but you鈥檒l need to adequately accommodate and support yourselves and any dependants.

Read the guidance on the financial requirements.

Knowledge of life and language

Your partner must:

• pass the Life in the UK Test
• meet the English language requirements

Eligibility for children

Children under 18 can apply if you鈥檙e still serving in the armed forces, a British citizen, settled or settling as ex-armed forces and one of the following applies:

• their other parent is either serving in the armed forces or settling as ex-armed forces
• their other parent is applying or has applied to settle as your partner
• you have sole responsibility or their other parent has died
• there are serious and compelling reasons why the child should be allowed to stay in the UK

They must also:

• have previously been given permission to stay in the UK as your child
• not be married, in a civil partnership or leading an independent life
• be going to live with you and be supported by you without using public funds

Your child鈥檚 application may be refused for other reasons, for example their previous immigration history. Read more about why applications can be refused.

Children 18 and over

Your child 18 or over may be eligible to settle if they were given permission to be in the UK as your child when they were under 18.

They must meet the same eligibility as a dependent child under 18. They may also need to:

• pass the Life in the UK Test
• meet the English language requirements

Your child must apply separately if they鈥檙e over 18.

If you鈥檙e the partner or child of someone who died and was in the armed forces

You can apply if they died while they were either:

• serving in the armed forces
• applying to settle as a former member of the armed forces

If you鈥檙e in the UK, you must .

Once you鈥檝e started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.

If you鈥檙e outside the UK, download and fill in form VAF AF. Send your completed form to the address on the form.

Get help 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鈥檙e applying in the UK.

You鈥檒l be asked to make an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point to provide your biometric information (your fingerprints and a photo).

You鈥檒l also need to submit your supporting documents. You can:

• upload them into the online service
• have them scanned at your UKVCAS appointment

Any children aged 6 or over must provide biometric information if you鈥檙e applying for them on your form.

Getting a decision

You鈥檒l usually get a decision within 6 months. If you paid to use the 鈥榮uper priority service鈥� you鈥檒l get a decision within 2 working days, or within 5 working days if you paid to use the 鈥榩riority service鈥�.

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

You鈥檒l be contacted if your application is complex and will take longer, 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 your application is approved

You can do the following:

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

If you stay outside of the UK for 2 years

You can lose your indefinite leave to remain if you stay outside the UK for 2 or more years at a time. You may need to apply before you can return to the UK.

You will not lose it if you join your partner on an overseas posting while they鈥檙e in the armed forces.

You can apply if you left one of the following before 1 July 1997:

• the Brigade of Gurkhas
• the Hong Kong Military Service Corps of the British Army
• the Hong Kong Squadron of the Royal Navy

You must have served for at least 4 years.

Your partner and any children under 18 can also apply.

If you鈥檙e the widow or child of a former Gurkha or Hong Kong military unit veteran, you can apply if your husband met the criteria.

How to apply

You can either:

• apply using an online or paper form - which one you use depends on whether you鈥檙e in the UK
• apply in person, if you鈥檙e in Nepal

To apply in person, go to the Visa Application Centre in Kathmandu.

You do not need to make an appointment.