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You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you have a family member settled in the UK - either as a British citizen or a person with indefinite leave to remain.

You can apply as:

• a partner - with your family visa
• a partner - as a dependant on your partner鈥檚 work visa
• a parent - with your family visa
• a child - with your family visa
• a child - as a dependant on your parent鈥檚 work visa
• an adult dependent relative on a family visa
• a dependant on your parent or partner鈥檚 innovator founder visa

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鈥檒l need to apply the same way as your partner or parent who is settled or is applying to settle.

If you鈥檙e not eligible through family in the UK, there are other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

When to apply

You can apply once you鈥檙e eligible.

If you鈥檙e applying as a parent or a partner with a family visa, the earliest you can apply is 28 days before you meet the requirements for time spent in the UK. 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鈥檒l need to renew it first.

Fees and how long it takes

It costs 拢2,885 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鈥檒l usually get a decision within 6 months if you apply using the standard service.

Get a faster decision on your application

You may be able to pay to get a faster decision.

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if both:

• you have a family visa as a partner or spouse
• your partner is settled in the UK - either as a British citizen or a person with indefinite leave to remain

There鈥檚 a different way to stay in the UK if:

• you鈥檙e a dependant on your partner鈥檚 work visa听

• your partner has settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme

• your partner has died

• your relationship ended because of domestic violence

Check your route听to indefinite leave to remain

The eligibility criteria are different depending on if you鈥檙e on the:

• 5 year route听听

• 2 year route听听

• 10 year route

If you鈥檙e not sure which route you鈥檙e on, check the letter you got from the Home Office when your 鈥榣eave to remain鈥� was last approved.

Your relationship听

Your current visa must be based on your relationship with your partner. You must be either:

• a husband, wife or civil partner

• in a relationship that鈥檚 like a marriage or civil partnership for at least 2 years

You must also:

• have lived together since you last renewed your visa

• intend to continue your relationship after you apply

If you鈥檙e on the 10 year route, you must have had permission to be in the UK based on this relationship for at least one year.

Time in the UK if you鈥檙e on the 5 or 2 year route

You must have been living in the UK on your family visa as a partner for at least:听

• 5 continuous years if you鈥檙e on the 5 year route

• 2 continuous years if you鈥檙e on the 2 year route听

You cannot include time you鈥檝e spent in the UK:

• on any other visa

• as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner

Time in the UK if you鈥檙e on the 10 year route

You must have been living in the UK for at least 10 continuous years. You can include time you鈥檝e spent on any other visas which lead to indefinite leave to remain.

You cannot include time you鈥檝e spent in the UK as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner.

Financial requirements if you鈥檙e on the 5 year route

You and your partner need to prove your combined income meets the requirement.

How much this is depends on:

• whether your partner is getting certain disability or carer鈥檚 benefits
• when you first successfully applied for your current family visa

You must prove your income as you did when you applied for your family visa.

If your partner gets disability or carer鈥檚 benefits

You need to meet the 鈥榓dequate maintenance requirement鈥� if your partner gets Personal Independence Payment, Carer鈥檚 Allowance or Attendance Allowance or certain other disability benefits.听

This means you only need to show you have enough money to house and support yourselves and your children without relying on additional public funds. The caseworker considers your income and housing costs.

You can check the list of eligible benefits on the family visa guide.

If you first applied for your family visa before 11 April 2024

You and your partner must usually have a combined income of at least 拢18,600 a year.

You must prove you have extra money for any children who:

• you鈥檙e applying for indefinite leave to remain with
• are in the UK as dependants on your family visa
• are in the UK as your partner鈥檚 dependants

You do not need to prove you have extra money for any children who:

• are British or Irish citizens
• have pre-settled status
• are permanently settled in the UK

If you need to prove extra money for your children, you鈥檒l need to earn an extra:

• 拢3,800 a year for your first child
• 拢2,400 a year for each child you have after your first child

If the total amount you need to earn based on your children would be more than 拢29,000, you only need to prove you make 拢29,000.听

If you first applied for your family visa on or after 11 April 2024

You and your partner will need to prove you have a combined income of at least 拢29,000 a year.

Financial requirements if you鈥檙e on the 2 year route

You must have enough money to house and support yourself and your children without using public funds.

Financial requirements if you鈥檙e on the 10 year route

There are no financial requirements.

Knowledge of language and life in the UK

If you鈥檙e 18 to 64 you鈥檒l need to:

• book and pass the Life in the UK Test听

• meet the English language requirements by having a recognised English qualification with at least level B1 in speaking and listening or a degree taught or researched in English

Including your children on your application if you鈥檙e on the 5 or 2 year route

You can include your children on your application if they鈥檙e eligible - the eligibility criteria are different for children under or over 18.

Children under 18

You can add your child to your application if all of the following are true:听

• they have permission to be in the UK as a dependant on your family visa

• they鈥檒l continue to live with you and be supported by you without using public funds

• they鈥檙e not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life

Your partner must be your child鈥檚 other parent unless:听

• you have sole responsibility for your child鈥檚 upbringing

• your child鈥檚 other parent is dead

• there are serious or compelling reasons why your child should be allowed to stay in the UK

Parent means a biological parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent where the biological parent has died.听

Children 18 and over

Children 18 and over must have had permission to be in the UK as a dependant on your family visa before they turned 18. They must still not be living an independent life.听

They also need to:听

• pass the Life in the UK Test

• meet the English language requirements

Including your children in your application if you鈥檙e on the 10 year route

You cannot include your children in your application.

Your children may still be able to apply separately.

How to apply

You鈥檒l be told which documents you need to provide when you apply. You鈥檒l need to:

• give proof of your income and where you live - if you鈥檙e on the 5 or 2 year route

• prove you鈥檝e lived in the UK with your partner since you got your last visa

• prove that your relationship with your partner is genuine

• prove you meet the English language requirements and have passed the Life in the UK Test

Apply online

You must apply online. The form you use depends if you鈥檙e on the:

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you meet the requirements for the time you need to have lived in the UK. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.听

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

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

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 may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if both:

• you鈥檙e a dependant on your partner鈥檚 work visa
• your partner is settled or applying to settle in the UK

If your partner is already settled

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain as a dependant on your partner鈥檚 work visa even if they settled in a different way. For example because they had been in the UK for 10 years (鈥榣ong residence鈥�).

You must have had permission to be in the UK as a dependant on their work visa when they settled.

If your partner is applying to settle

You can apply at the same time as your partner if both:

• you鈥檙e a dependant on your partner鈥檚 work visa
• your partner is applying to settle in the UK using their work visa

Other ways to apply

There鈥檚 a different way to stay in the UK if:

• you have a family visa as a partner or spouse
• your partner has settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme
• your partner has an innovator founder visa
• your partner has died
• your relationship ended because of domestic violence

Eligibility

Your eligibility depends on the visa your partner had, your relationship with your partner, how long you鈥檝e been in the UK and whether you meet the financial requirements.

Your partner鈥檚 last work visa

Your partner鈥檚 last work visa must be one of the following:

• Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General)
• Scale-up Worker
• International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
• T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
• Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
• Tier 1 (Investor)
• UK Ancestry
• Global Talent
• Representative of an Overseas Business
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household, if they came to the UK before 6 April 2012

Time you鈥檝e spent in the UK

How long you need to have been in the UK depends on your visa.

You can only use time you鈥檝e been in the UK as a dependant on your partner鈥檚 visa towards your continuous residence.

Your current visa	Time in the UK
A dependant on a UK Ancestry or Representative of an Overseas Business visa	No requirements
A dependant on any other type of work visa	At least 5 years living with your partner

You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 month period, if you鈥檙e applying as a dependant on your partner鈥檚:

• Skilled Worker visa
• Scale-up Worker visa
• Sportsperson visa
• Minister of Religion visa
• Tier 1 visa
• Tier 5 visa
• Global Talent visa

If you were given permission to enter or stay in the UK before 11 January 2018, any time you spent outside the UK while you had this permission will not count towards the 180 day period if you鈥檙e applying as a dependant on your partner鈥檚:

• Skilled Worker visa
• T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
• Tier 1 visa
• Global Talent visa
• Start-up visa
• Innovator Founder visa

If you think you鈥檙e affected by this rule, find out how to calculate your time in the UK (鈥榗ontinuous residence鈥�).

If you鈥檙e applying on any other visa, it does not matter how many days you鈥檝e spent outside the UK. You must not be on a visitor visa or a short-term study visa.

Your relationship

You must be in a genuine relationship with your partner and intend to continue your relationship after you apply.

You鈥檒l need to prove that either:

• you鈥檙e married or in a civil partnership
• you鈥檝e been living together in a relationship for 2 years

You must also either:

• be living together when you apply - if your partner had a Skilled Worker, Scale-up Worker, Sportsperson, Minister of Religion, Tier 1, Tier 5 or Global Talent visa
• intend to live together - if your partner had any other type of work visa

Financial requirements

You must both:

• have enough income to support yourselves and your dependants
• not be using public funds

How to apply

You鈥檒l be told which documents you need to provide when you apply. You might need to show that, for example:

• you meet the English language requirements and have passed the Life in the UK Test
• your relationship is genuine and you鈥檝e lived in the UK long enough for the visa you have

You may be able to add your children to your application if they are eligible. If the application form does not prompt you to add them, they can apply separately and then 鈥榣ink鈥� their application to yours.

Apply online

You must .

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you鈥檝e lived in the UK long enough. 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鈥檒l need to renew it first.

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

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.

Applying for your children

You may be able to add your children to your application if they are eligible. If the application form does not prompt you to add them, they can apply separately and then 鈥榣ink鈥� their application to yours.

Your child must have an eligible visa. Which visa they need depends on the visa your partner settled on.

The visa your partner settled on	What visa your child must have
UK Ancestry visa	Any visa - except a visitor visa, Short-term study visa, Parent of a Child Student visa, Seasonal Worker visa, or a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa
Any other work visa	As a dependant on one of these visas (does not need to be as a dependant of your partner)

The following must also all be true:

• your child will live with you and be supported by you without using public funds
• your child is not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life (for example they鈥檝e not left home or had children)
• your child is not working full time

You need to provide extra documents if your child is over 16. If they鈥檙e over 18, they also need to meet some additional requirements.

Extra documents for children over 16

You will be asked to prove:

• where they live - if they do not live with you, you鈥檒l need to explain why
• any rent or upkeep they pay you each month
• that you support them financially if they do not live with you

You can use any of the following as proof:

• a bank statement
• a credit card bill
• a driving licence
• a NHS registration document
• a letter from their current school, college or university, on headed paper and issued by an authorised official of that organisation

The documents you provide cannot be more than a month old on the date you make your application.

If your child lives away from home, you鈥檒l need to provide:

• bank statements for you and your child covering the 3 months before the date you apply (to prove you鈥檝e supported them)
• confirmation from their university or college on headed paper and issued by an authorised official (if they鈥檙e studying)

Children 18 and over

They鈥檒l also need to:

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

You may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain if you have a family visa as a parent.

Your child must be living in the UK and either:

• be settled in the UK - either as a British citizen or a person with indefinite leave to remain
• be applying for indefinite leave to remain at the same time as you

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria are different depending on if you鈥檙e on the:

• 5 year route
• 10 year route

If you鈥檙e not sure which route you鈥檙e on, check the letter you got from the Home Office when your 鈥榣eave to remain鈥� was last approved.

If you鈥檙e on the 5 year route and your partner is settled in the UK

You cannot apply for indefinite leave to remain as a parent if you both:

• have a partner in the UK
• are eligible for a partner visa

You must first apply for a visa as a partner and apply for indefinite leave to remain when you鈥檙e eligible.

Your relationship to your child

If your child lives with you, you must have either:

• sole parental responsibility
• shared responsibility if your child鈥檚 other parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK

If your child lives with their other parent or carer, you must have access rights and shared responsibility. The child鈥檚 other parent or carer must be a British citizen or settled in the UK.

If your child is 18 or over

Your child must usually be under 18 on the date you apply for indefinite leave to remain if you are applying on the 5 year route.

If your child is 18 or over you can still apply if both:

• your child was under 18 when you got your family visa as a parent
• your child does not live an independent life - for example, they have not left home, got married or had children

If you鈥檙e applying on the 10 year route your child does not have to be under 18.

Time you鈥檝e spent in the UK if you鈥檙e on the 5 year route

You must have been living in the UK on your family visa as a parent for at least 5 continuous years.

You cannot include time you鈥檝e spent in the UK on any other visa, including as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner.

Time you鈥檝e spent in the UK if you鈥檙e on the 10 year route

You must have been living in the UK for at least 10 continuous years. You can include time you鈥檝e spent on any other visas which lead to indefinite leave to remain.

You cannot include time you鈥檝e spent in the UK as a fianc茅, fianc茅e or proposed civil partner.

Financial requirements if you鈥檙e on the 5 year route

You must prove you have enough money to support and house yourself and your dependants without relying on public funds.

Financial requirements if you鈥檙e on the 10 year route

There are no financial requirements.

Knowledge of language and life in the UK

If you鈥檙e 18 to 64 you鈥檒l need to:

• book and pass the Life in the UK Test
• meet the English language requirements by having a recognised English qualification with at least level B1 in speaking and listening or a degree taught or researched in English

Including your other children on your application if you鈥檙e on the 5 year route

You can include your other children on your application if they鈥檙e eligible - the eligibility is different for children under 18 or 18 and over.

Children under 18

You can add your other children to your application if all of the following are true:

• they have permission to be in the UK as a dependant on your family visa
• they鈥檒l continue to live with you and be supported by you without using public funds
• they鈥檙e not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life

Children 18 and over

Children 18 and over must have had permission to be in the UK as a dependant on your family visa before they turned 18. They must still not be living an independent life.

They鈥檒l also need to:

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

Including your other children in your application if you鈥檙e on the 10 year route

You cannot include your other children in your application.

Your children may still be able to apply separately.

How to apply

You鈥檒l be told which documents you need to provide when you apply. You鈥檒l need to prove that:

• you鈥檙e their parent
• give proof of your income and where you live - if you鈥檙e on the 5 year route
• you meet the English language requirements and have passed the Life in the UK Test

On the 5 year route you can include your other children on the same application form if they鈥檙e eligible. If you cannot add them to your application your children may still be able to apply separately.

Apply online

You must apply online. The form you use depends if you鈥檙e on the:

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you鈥檝e lived in the UK for 5 continuous years (or 10 years if you鈥檙e on the 10 year route). 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鈥檒l need to renew it first.

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

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 may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain as a child.

You may be eligible if both:

• you have a family visa as a child - there鈥檚 a different way to apply if you鈥檙e a dependant on your parent鈥檚 work visa
• your parent is a British citizen or settled in the UK

You may also be able to apply if any of the following are true:

• you鈥檙e under 18 and were born in the UK before your parent settled here - you can have any immigration status, including if you never had a visa
• you鈥檝e ever been a dependant on a relative鈥檚 visa - they must have had refugee status or humanitarian protection before settling in the UK
• you have a parent who is applying for indefinite leave to remain as a partner or parent on the 10 year route

If your parent is not sure which route they鈥檙e on, they can check the letter they got from the Home Office when their 鈥榣eave to remain鈥� was last approved.

Parents can apply on behalf of children under 18.

If your parent or relative is applying for settlement

They may be able to include you on their application instead.

If they鈥檝e already applied for settlement and they do not have a decision yet, you can apply as a child separately.

Eligibility

You must be able to prove all of the following:

• you鈥檝e had permission to be in the UK as your parent or relative鈥檚 dependant
• you are or will be living with your parent, parents or relative
• you鈥檒l be supported and accommodated adequately without using public funds
• you鈥檙e not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life

If you live with one parent who became a British citizen after settling in the UK, you must have been their dependant when they got settlement.

Your relationship

Your parent can be a biological parent, a legal parent, or an adoptive parent.

If you live with 2 parents in the UK, both must be settled in the UK.

If you live with one parent, they must be settled in the UK and have sole responsibility for looking after you.

If they do not have sole responsibility for you, you may still be eligible if either:

• your other parent is dead
• there are serious or compelling reasons why you should be allowed to stay in the UK

If you live with a relative who鈥檚 not your parent, there must be serious or compelling reasons why you should be allowed to stay in the UK.

If you鈥檙e 18 or over

You must have been a dependant on your parent or relative鈥檚 visa before you turned 18.

They must now be settled and have had either:

• a family visa as a partner or parent
• refugee status or humanitarian protection

You must still be living with your parent or relative and not be married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life.

You may also need to:

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

How to apply

You鈥檒l be told which documents you need to provide when you apply.

Apply online

You must .

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

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 may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain if your parent is either:

• settled in the UK
• applying to settle in the UK using their work visa

You can apply if you were born in the UK before your parent settled, or if you have not applied for permission to be in the UK before.

If your parent is already settled

You can apply for indefinite leave to remain as a dependant on your parent鈥檚 work visa even if they settled in a different way. For example because they had been in the UK for 10 years (鈥榣ong residence鈥�).

Your parent must have had permission to be in the UK on a work visa when they settled.

There鈥檚 a different way to stay in the UK as a child if:

• you have a family visa or were born in the UK after your parent settled here
• your parent has an innovator founder visa

If you鈥檙e 18 or over, you must have had permission to be in the UK as your parent鈥檚 dependant before you turned 18.

If your parent or relative is applying for settlement

They may be able to include you on their application instead.

If they鈥檝e already applied for settlement and they do not have a decision yet, you can apply as a child separately.

Eligibility

You must usually have an eligible visa. Which visa you need depends on the visa your parents settled on.

The visa your parents settled on	What visa you must have
UK Ancestry visa	Any visa - except a visitor visa, Short-term study visa, Parent of a Child Student visa, Seasonal Worker visa, or a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa
Any other work visa	As a dependant on one of these visas (does not need to be as a dependant of your parent).

You must also prove all of the following:

• you are or will be living with your parent or parents
• you鈥檒l be supported and accommodated adequately without using public funds
• you鈥檙e not married, in a civil partnership or living an independent life

If you live with one parent who became a British citizen after settling in the UK, you must have been their dependant when they got settlement.

If you鈥檙e over 18, you also need to meet some additional requirements.

Your parents鈥� work visa

Your parents鈥� last work visa can be any of the following:

• Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General)
• Scale-up Worker
• International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
• T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
• Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent)
• Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)
• Tier 1 (Investor)
• UK Ancestry
• Global Talent
• Representative of an Overseas Business
• Domestic Worker in a Private Household, if they came to the UK before 6 April 2012

Your relationship

Your parent can be a biological parent, an adoptive parent, or a step-parent if your biological parent has died.

If you live with 2 parents in the UK, both must be settled here, or currently applying for settlement.

If you live with one parent, they must be settled and have sole responsibility for looking after you.

If they do not have sole responsibility for you, you may still be eligible if:

• your other parent has died
• there are serious or compelling reasons why you should be allowed to stay in the UK - for example, you have a serious illness

If you live with a relative who鈥檚 not your parent, there must be serious compelling reasons why you should be allowed to stay in the UK.

If you鈥檙e 18 or over

You鈥檒l also need to:

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

How to apply

You鈥檒l be told which documents you need to provide when you apply.

Apply online

You must .

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

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 may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain if you have a family visa as an adult dependent relative. This visa is for people being cared for by a relative in the UK.

Eligibility

You must be over 18 and have permission to enter the UK as an adult dependent relative.

The relative looking after you must both:

• be settled (or settling) in the UK
• have enough money to support you without relying on public funds for at least 5 years from the date you entered the UK as an adult dependent relative - they (your 鈥榮ponsor鈥�) must complete a sponsor form to confirm this

You do not need to prove your level of English or pass the Life in the UK Test.

How to apply

Apply to settle at the same time as the relative who鈥檚 looking after you. Your visa will expire if they鈥檙e granted indefinite leave to remain before you.

You must .

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

You鈥檒l be told which documents you need to provide when you apply.

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

There is no standard processing time, but you鈥檒l 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 approved

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

You may need to apply before you can return to the UK.