What are the UK ILR Indefinite leave to remain requirements 2026

Indefinite Leave to Remain is essentially, settlement. You can use this status to apply for British Citizenship.

This status gives you the right to live, work and study in the U.K. for as long as you want.

The requirements for ILR differ based on which visa an applicant currently holds.

For Skilled Worker Visa holders applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain:

The applicant must have lived in the UK for 5 years, and must have not spent more than 180 days absent in any 12 month period (continuous residence). If you think you cannot satisfy the continuous residence rule, check out our article on discretionary absences here.

The applicant must meet the salary requirements. This means that the applicant must be paid whichever is higher of:

• £41,700 per year

• Going rate for the job they are employed for 

There are exceptions to this rule if you work in healthcare or education, your job is on the immigration salary list, you received a CoS before 4 April 2024 or if you have a T2 Visa. If you would like to find out whether you are eligible for a lower salary requirement, contact us for a consultation. 

For Scale Up Visa holders applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain:

The applicant must have lived in the UK for 5 years, and must have not spent more than 180 days absent in any 12 month period (continuous residence). 

The applicant must meet the financial and salary requirements.
This depends on when the applicant’s most recent Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) was issued and also whether they have extended their Scale-up Worker visa. The required salary is £39,100 for those with an extended Scale-up visa or a CoS issued on or after 22 July 2025, £36,300 for a CoS issued between 4 April 2024 and 21 July 2025, £34,600 for a CoS issued between 12 April 2023 and 3 April 2024, and £33,000 for a CoS issued on or before 11 April 2023. 

Applicants must also have earned at least the required  salary level for a minimum of 2 out of the 3 years immediately before applying. Earnings can be combined from multiple PAYE-employed jobs, but self-employed income does not count.

Family visa holders

Partner Visa holders applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain

You must have generally held a Partner Visa for at least 5 years before being eligible to apply for settlement. 

If you are on the 2 or 10 year route, there will be different eligibility requirements. You can check which route you're on by checking the decision letter of your visa. 

If your family visa application was submitted before 11 April 2024, you and your partner will generally need to show a combined annual income of at least £18,600. If children are included in your settlement application or are dependants on the family visa, additional income may be required unless the child is British, Irish, has pre-settled status, or is already settled in the UK.

The additional requirement is £3,800 for the first child and £2,400 for each additional child, although the total income threshold will not exceed £29,000.

If your first family visa application was made on or after 11 April 2024, you and your partner must demonstrate a combined annual income of at least £29,000.

Dependant (Partner) Work Visa holders applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain

To apply for ILR as a dependent of a partner on a work visa, you must have lived in the UK for five years, and your partner must be settled or is applying for settlement. You must also not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 month period.

The applicant must pass the Life in the UK test, as well as proving English language skills.

The required score for the English language test is written under Appendix FM KoLL:

• (i) where the date of application is before 26 March 2027, that the applicant has passed an English language test in speaking and listening, at a minimum level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is approved by the Secretary of State, and taken at a test centre approved by the Secretary of State as a Secure English Language Test Centre no more than two years before the date of application; or

• (ii) where the date of application is on or after 26 March 2027, that the applicant has passed an English language test in speaking and listening, at a minimum level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, which is approved by the Secretary of State, and taken at a test centre approved by the Secretary of State as a Secure English Language Test Centre no more than two years before the date of application.

Global Talent Visa holders applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain

An applicant may qualify for settlement after 3 years if the Global Talent visa was granted through an endorsement from the British Academy, Royal Academy of Engineering, Royal Society, UK Research and Innovation, or if the applicant was endorsed by Arts Council England or Tech Nation as an exceptional talent. Those endorsed as an exceptional promise can apply after 5 years. If the visa was granted based on an eligible award rather than an endorsement, the applicant may also apply after 3 years.

For the financial requirements, there are no income or savings requirements. The applicant must however prove that they have earned income whilst on the Global Talent Visa.

The Immigration rules for settlement by a Global Talent Visa holder states:

• GT 10.2. The applicant must have earned money in the UK during their last period of permission in the field in either:

  • (a) a field related to the subject matter of their prize if they were granted for their initial application using a prize listed in Appendix Global Talent: Prestigious Prizes; or

  • (b) the field in which they were previously endorsed in the Global Talent route if they were granted their initial application using an endorsement.