UK visa & immigration service
Plan your settlement application around the correct route, qualifying period and residence history.
- Route and earliest application date
- Residence and absence review
- Settlement evidence preparation
Indefinite Leave to Remain, commonly called ILR or settlement, allows an eligible person to live, work and study in the UK without a time limit. It can also be an important step towards British citizenship.
There is no single ILR application for every applicant. The qualifying period, permitted absences, financial or salary rules and required evidence depend on the immigration route and the person’s history.
Common settlement routes
- Skilled Worker and other qualifying work routes
- Partner, parent and other family routes
- Global Talent and Innovator Founder routes
- Long residence after the required period of lawful residence
- Turkish Worker and Turkish Businessperson provisions
- Private life and other specialist settlement categories
Issues to check before applying
- The correct qualifying period and earliest application date
- Continuous residence and permitted absences
- Any gaps, overstaying or other immigration history concerns
- Life in the UK and English-language requirements, including exemptions
- Route-specific salary, employment, relationship or business evidence
- Suitability, criminality and compliance matters
- Whether dependants qualify at the same time
How Leon Advisers can help
- Identify the correct settlement route
- Calculate residence, absences and the earliest safe application date
- Review immigration history and route-specific evidence
- Prepare the application and supporting representations
- Check dependant eligibility and family timing
- Advise on maintaining ILR and future citizenship planning
Regulated immigration support
Leon Advisers provides regulated immigration support tailored to the facts of each case. We explain the scope of work and professional fee before instructions begin. The Home Office makes every immigration decision and no outcome can be guaranteed.
Check the official GOV.UK settlement routes
Contact Leon Advisers to discuss your circumstances
Last reviewed: 27 August 2026.
Immigration rules and Home Office guidance can change. This page provides general information and is not a substitute for advice on your individual circumstances.
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