ILR after 10 years
Long residence under Appendix Long Residence: what counts as lawful and continuous, absence limits, and the evidence that proves a decade in the UK.
Appendix LRRead the guide
Indefinite leave to remain · England, Wales, Scotland & NI
Indefinite Leave to Remain, explained properly
The 10-year long residence route, spouse and family routes, fees and decision times — checked against the current Immigration Rules and reviewed by SRA-regulated solicitors.
- Fee checked 22 October 2026
- Response within 1 business day
- No commitment
The routes
Six pages, one subject: settlement
This site does not cover visitor visas, sponsorship or citizenship. Every guide below deals only with indefinite leave to remain, so nothing you read here is diluted by general immigration advice.
ILR on a spouse visa
Five years on the partner route, the financial requirement at the ILR stage, cohabitation evidence and what happens if your relationship changes.
Appendix FMRead the guide
ILR family route
SET(M) or SET(F): which form applies to partners, parents and children, who can be included, and the concessions that exist for domestic abuse.
SET(M) · SET(F)Read the guide
Spouse visa new rules
The £29,000 minimum income requirement in 2026: who it applies to, the transitional £18,600 group, and whether pending applications are affected.
Application process
Form choice, UKVCAS biometrics, uploading documents, priority slots and the decision letter — in the order it actually happens.
Step by stepRead the guide
Fees & processing times
What ILR costs at the April 2026 rates, what priority really buys you, and how to escalate a decision that has gone past service standards.
2026 ratesRead the guide
Reviewed by a solicitor, not scraped from a forum.
- SRA-regulated firm
- GOV.UK sources cited
- Fees published up front
- Last reviewed 22 October 2026
In short
Indefinite leave to remain at a glance
You can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK after 5 years on a partner or work route, or after 10 years of continuous lawful residence. The application fee is £3,226 per person and the standard service usually decides within 6 months.
Continuous residence is broken by more than 180 days abroad in any 12-month period. Every route also requires the Life in the UK test and English at B1 level, unless an exemption applies.
£3,226Home Office fee per applicant
180days abroad allowed in any 12 months
6months, standard decision window
28days early you may apply
How we work
From first question to decision, in four steps
Most ILR refusals are evidential, not legal: the rules were met but the file did not prove it. We work in the order that prevents that.
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01
Eligibility review
A 20-minute call on your immigration history, absences and route. You leave knowing whether you qualify now, later, or not at all.
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02
Evidence plan
We list exactly which documents to obtain, in what format, and where each one is required by the Rules.
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03
Application & biometrics
We complete the form, draft your covering representation and book the earliest UKVCAS slot that fits your travel.
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04
Decision & next step
Outcome explained in plain English, including eVisa setup, travel after ILR and the citizenship timeline if you want it.
Client feedback
What clients say after the decision
Illustrative feedback from settled clients. Names are withheld at their request.
★★★★★
“I had 548 days abroad across ten years and assumed I was finished. They mapped every trip against the old and new limits and the application went through in eleven weeks.”
★★★★★
“The financial evidence was the part I kept getting wrong. One clear list, six payslips and a letter from my employer, and there were no questions from the caseworker.”
★★★★★
“Super priority was worth every penny with a funeral to attend abroad. Decision came back the next working day, exactly as described.”
Common questions
ILR questions we answer every week
How long do I need to live in the UK to get ILR?
Five years on a partner or work route, or ten years of continuous lawful residence. Family route applications normally follow the same five-year period as the leave you currently hold.
Time spent in the UK as a visitor, or in breach of immigration law, does not count towards long residence. Full long residence guide.
How much does ILR cost in 2026?
The Home Office fee is £3,226 per applicant for applications made on or after 8 April 2026. Priority is £500, super priority is £1,000, the Life in the UK test is £50 and an approved English test is typically £150–£200.
Our own fixed fees are published separately on the fees page.
What is the 180-day rule for ILR?
Continuous residence is broken if you spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period. For long residence, a total that had already reached 548 days before 11 April 2024 is measured against transitional limits, including a 184-day cap on a single absence that began before that date.
Does the £29,000 income threshold apply at the ILR stage?
Yes, for partner route cases the financial requirement must still be met when you apply for ILR. The threshold is £29,000 where the first partner application was made on or after 11 April 2024; earlier applicants normally remain on £18,600 under transitional arrangements.
How long does an ILR decision take?
Usually within six months on the standard service, counted from your biometric appointment. Priority (£500) is normally 30 working days for settlement applications; super priority (£1,000) is normally the next working day. Availability depends on your route.
Can I apply before I reach five or ten years?
You may submit up to 28 days before you complete the qualifying period, provided the decision is made on or after the date you qualify. Applying earlier can lead to refusal on eligibility grounds, with the fee retained.
Free eligibility check
Not sure which route you are on?
Tell us three things and a solicitor will tell you whether you qualify now, what is missing, and what it would cost. No obligation to instruct.
SRA-regulated firm no. 654321. We do not share your details with third parties.
The ILR checklist, free
A printable list of documents, tests and dates for each route. No email required.