You must have lived in the UK for 5 years before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. There are rules for what counts towards the 5 years if you have: spent time outside the UK had more than one visa If you鈥檝e spent time outside the UK You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. If you think you鈥檙e affected by this rule, the Home Office has guidance about how to calculate your time in the UK (鈥榗ontinuous residence鈥�). If you鈥檝e had more than one visa In the 5 years you鈥檝e lived in the UK, you can include time you鈥檝e had on any combination of the following visas: any Tier 1 visa - except Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur) Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker or Tier 2 (General) Scale-up Worker T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) Innovator Founder Global Talent Representative of an Overseas Business

You need to be paid at least a minimum salary if you hold a T2, Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa. How much you must be paid depends on your visa. You鈥檒l usually need to be paid at least whichever is the higher out of the following: 拢38,700 per year the 鈥榮tandard going rate鈥� for the type of work you鈥檒l be doing Example Your salary is 拢40,000 per year, but the standard going rate for the job you鈥檒l be doing is 拢45,000. You do not meet the usual salary requirements for this visa. Each occupation code has its own annual going rate. Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table . When the salary requirements are different The salary requirements are different if: you work in healthcare or education your job is on the Immigration Salary List you got a certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker (or equivalent) visa before 4 April 2024 and have held Skilled Worker visas since then you have an International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa you have a T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa If you work in healthcare or education There are different salary rules if you work in some healthcare or education jobs , where the going rate is based on national pay scales. You must be paid whichever is higher out of the following: 拢23,200 per year the 鈥榞oing rate鈥� based on national pay scales for the type of work you鈥檒l be doing Check your going rate in the table of national pay scales for either: eligible healthcare jobs - listed by NHS pay band and area of the UK eligible teaching and education leadership jobs - listed by role and area of the UK Ask your employer if you鈥檙e not sure what your role or pay band is. These going rates apply whether you鈥檙e working in the public or private sector. If your job in healthcare has different salary requirements If you鈥檙e on a Health and Care Worker visa and your job is in one of the occupation codes with different salary requirements , you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following: 拢29,000 per year聽拢23,200 per year if your job is on the Immigration Salary List (or it was at the time you applied) the 鈥榣ower going rate鈥� for the type of work you鈥檒l be doing If your job is on the Immigration Salary List If you do not meet the usual salary requirements, and you do not work in healthcare or education, you might still be eligible. If you鈥檙e on a Skilled Worker visa and your job is on the Immigration Salary List (or it was at the time you applied), you must be paid at least either: 拢30,960 per year the 鈥榮tandard going rate鈥� for the type of work you鈥檒l be doing Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table . If you got a certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker (or equivalent) visa before 4 April 2024聽 If you have continually held one or more Skilled Worker visas since then, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following: 拢29,000 per year 拢23,200 per year if your job is on the Immigration Salary List , (or it was at the time you applied) the 鈥榣ower going rate鈥� for the type of work you鈥檒l be doing There are also different salary requirements if you were sponsored for a Tier 2 (General) visa in one of the following occupation codes: 2111 Chemical scientists 2112 Biological scientists and biochemists 2113 Physical scientists 2114 Social and humanities scientists 2119 Natural and social science professionals not elsewhere classified 2150 Research and development managers 2311 Higher education teaching professionals In this case, you must be paid whichever is higher out of the following: 拢23,200 per year the different going rate for the type of work you鈥檒l be doing Check the going rate for your job in the going rates table . If you have an International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa You must be paid 拢35,800 or more a year. When working out your salary, you can only count earnings: from your main job that you鈥檙e sponsored for for up to 48 hours a week, if you鈥檙e paid hourly If you have a T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa You must be paid at least the same as UK workers in the same role, and meet national minimum wage requirements.

You can include your partner and children on your application if they鈥檙e eligible. Your partner and children can apply separately at a later date , for example if they鈥檙e not eligible yet. They can continue to extend their visa as your Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker or T2 dependant, even after you get indefinite leave to remain. Eligibility for partners Your partner may qualify if all the following apply: they have permission to be in the UK as your partner (as a 鈥榙ependant鈥� on your visa) they鈥檝e lived in the UK with you as your dependant for at least 5 continuous years your relationship is genuine you intend to keep living together you have enough income to support yourselves and your dependants you鈥檙e not using public funds Your partner can include time they鈥檝e spent as your dependant on another visa to count towards the continuous years they need to qualify. They cannot count any time spent on their own visa (not as your dependant). If your partner is 18 to 64, they must: book and pass the Life in the UK Test meet the English language requirements Eligibility for children You can include your child on your application if: they have permission to be in the UK as your child (as a 鈥榙ependant鈥� on your visa) they are not married or in a civil partnership they will live with you and be supported by you without using public funds you and your child鈥檚 other parent are both currently applying to settle, or are already settled Your child can also apply to settle in one of the following situations: you鈥檙e the child鈥檚 sole surviving parent you have sole responsibility for the child鈥檚 upbringing there are serious or compelling family or other considerations, for example you (if you鈥檙e settled in the UK) or your child has a serious illness Extra documents for children over 16 You鈥檒l need 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鈥檒l need to provide documents such as the ones on this list, to prove where they live: bank statement credit card bill driving licence 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 should not 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 evidence they are not living an independent live, for example: 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 You can only include older children in your application if they both: were under 18 when they first got permission to be in the UK as your dependant still do not live an independent life - for example, they have not got married or had children They also need to: pass the Life in the UK Test meet the English language requirements If your child is over 18 by the time you apply and does not meet these requirements, they must apply separately .

You must apply online . 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. For example, to show that: you鈥檝e passed the Life in the UK Test you meet the salary requirements you鈥檙e still needed for your job - your employer (sponsor) will need to provide a document confirming this You鈥檒l need to pay the fee as part of your application. 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 cannot get immigration advice through this service.

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. 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. 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 apply for public funds (benefits) and pensions apply for British citizenship , usually after a minimum of 12 months If you stay outside of 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 .

Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa: Overview

Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa

Overview

You may be able to settle permanently in the UK if you have one of the following visas:

Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker or Tier 2 (General)
T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion)
International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson)

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.

鈥楾2鈥� visas have replaced 鈥楾ier 2鈥� visas. If you have a Tier 2 visa, you can still apply for indefinite leave to remain if you meet the requirements.

Eligibility

You must:

have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years - there are rules for what counts towards your time in the UK
meet the salary requirements
continue to be needed for your job and meet the salary requirements after you get indefinite leave to remain - you鈥檒l need a document from your employer (sponsor) to confirm this

If you鈥檙e not eligible using your T2, Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker visa, there are other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

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.

You do not need to prove you meet the English language requirements when you apply to settle using your Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa. This is because you did this when you applied for your visa.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you鈥檝e been in the UK for 5 years on a qualifying visa. Check which visas count towards your time 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 can include your partner and children on the same application form, if they鈥檙e eligible.

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.

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.

Get a faster decision on your application

You can pay an extra 拢500 to use the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

You can pay an extra 拢1,000 to use the super priority service to get a decision:

by the end of the next working day after providing your fingerprints and photo (known as 鈥榖iometric information鈥�) 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.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa

Overview

Eligibility

Knowledge of language and life in the UK

When to apply

Fees and how long it takes

Get a faster decision on your application

Is this page useful?

Help us improve 188体育

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Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa

Overview

Eligibility

Knowledge of language and life in the UK

When to apply

Fees and how long it takes

Get a faster decision on your application

Is this page useful?

Help us improve 188体育

Help us improve 188体育