If you want to apply for ILR, you must apply online for Indefinite Leave to Remain by using the correct application form depending on your situation.
Here are the steps you need to take to apply for ILR:
- Check if you are eligible
- Collect the necessary documents
- Fill out the application form
- Pay the application fee
- Submit your application
- Book & attend a biometric appointment
- Wait for a decision
Step 1: Check if you are eligible
You need to ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements before you apply. The eligibility criteria vary depending on your visa type.
Step 2: Collect the necessary documents
You need to gather all the necessary documents required for your ILR application, including your passport, biometric residence permit, evidence of your continuous residence in the UK, evidence of your knowledge of the English language, and proof of passing the Life in the UK test, if applicable.
Step 3: Fill out the application form
You need to fill out the correct application form online, depending on your eligibility.
Step 4: Pay the application fee
You will need to pay the appropriate application fee when you apply. You do not need to pay the Immigration Healthcare Surcharge (IHS) fee if you apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Step 5: Submit your application
You must submit your application online. You should upload all of the necessary supporting documents, and pay the application fee.
Step 6: Book & attend a biometric appointment
You will need to book & attend your biometric appointment to provide your biometric information such as photo and fingerprints at a UKVCAS service point.
Step 7: Wait for a decision
The processing time for an ILR application can vary, but it typically takes around six months. You can check the status of your application online. If your application is approved, you will receive your ILR status and be able to live and work in the UK without any time restrictions.
There are several supporting documents are required for the ILR application, including your passport, biometric residence permit, evidence of your continuous residence in the UK, evidence of your knowledge of the English language, and proof of passing the Life in the UK test, if applicable.
Read the guidance for the full list of documents you’ll need to provide in the support of your Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application.
How to send the supporting documents?
First, you need to scan all the supporting documents in the correct format. If you do not have a scanner then you can also take pictures of the supporting documents.
Once all the documents are ready then you can upload them. You don’t need to send original documents anywhere.
Make sure that all the supporting documents:
- are in PDF, JPEG or PNG format
- have descriptive titles, with 25 or fewer characters
- are high enough quality to be read
If documents are not in English or Welsh, you must provide a certified translation.
ILR application processing time
You should get a decision within 3-6 months if you are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) using standard service. However, you may be able to use priority service to get a faster decision.
How long does the ILR application process take?
Once you have applied online and attended your biometrics appointment, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within:
- 3-6 months, if applying using standard service
- 5 working days, if applying using priority service
- 24 hours, if applying using super priority service
Super Priority Service
You may be eligible to use the “super priority service” to get a faster decision by the end of the next working day (within 24 hours). You’ll need to pay £1,000 in addition to the ILR application fee.
Priority Service
You may be able to choose the ‘priority service‘ when you apply for a UK visa to get a faster decision within 5 working days. You’ll need to pay £500 in addition to the ILR application fee.
When you apply, you might be eligible to choose the ‘super priority service‘ or ‘priority service‘ to get your visa faster depending on the type of application.
ILR application fees
Home Office (UKVI) fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application is £2,885 per applicant if applying using standard service. You do not need to pay the IHS (Immigration Health Surcharge) if you are applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Please note that these fees are subject to change, and you should always check the most up-to-date information on the UK government’s official website before applying for a visa.
How much does an ILR application cost?
The cost of an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application varies depending on the type of application you are applying for and the type of service you are using such as ‘standard service‘, ‘super priority service‘, or ‘priority service‘.
Here are some common costs associated with applying for an indefinite leave to remain:
- £2,885 Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) application fee
- £0.00 Biometrics fee (there’s no fee for this)
- £50 Life in the UK test fee (unless you are exempt)
- £150 approx. English language test fee (unless you are exempt)
- £1,000 in addition to the application fee if using the “super priority service” to get faster decisions within 24 hours (optional)
- £500 in addition to the application fee if using the “priority service” to get faster decisions within 5 working days (optional)
- £800-£1,000 Our immigration lawyer fees (if using our full legal services to maximise your chances of success & avoid mistakes)
Please note that the above is a general list of costs associated with UK visa applications. There may be additional costs such translation fee depending on your circumstances.
Immigration lawyer fees
Our expert UK immigration lawyer will guide you through every step of the UK visa application process including advice about legal requirements and eligibility criteria.
At Rex Law Chambers, our immigration lawyer charges a fixed fee between £800-£1000 for our complete legal services in relation to your UK visa application. The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the matter and the casework involved in the matter.
How can our immigration lawyer help you?
As part of our immigration services for your immigration application, our expert immigration lawyer will:
- assess your eligibility for the relevant visa type by fully considering your circumstances;
- advise you on the required supporting documents to be submitted in support of your immigration application;
- assess all the documents to ensure that the documents you provide are as per the requirements of the Immigration Rules;
- advise you on strengths and potential weaknesses in your visa application and how you can overcome such weaknesses if any;
- complete the online immigration draft application form to share it with you for cross-checking;
- submit your application online and schedule your biometrics appointments with the relevant commercial partner of the UKVI;
- prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the immigration application explaining in detail how you are meeting all the requirements of the Immigration Rules so that you have the maximum chances of succeeding in your visa application;
- upload all the supporting documents online in support of the immigration application in their correct format and order;
- dealing and responding to any caseworker enquiries or correspondence from the Home Office caseworker for any further documents or information concerning your pending immigration application;
- do all the follow-up work on your immigration application until a decision is received from the Home Office UKVI.
Need legal advice or help from an immigration lawyer?
Call us on 0161 989 9370 or fill in the enquiry form to get legal advice or help with your UK visa application. Our UK immigration lawyer is ready to assist you.
At Rex Law Chambers, we specialise in a wide range of UK visas and nationality applications and our principal immigration lawyer has a wealth of experience and expert knowledge to deal with all types of UK visas and immigration applications. He has successfully handled many complex and high-profile cases and also represented clients in their immigration matters.
Free immigration advice online
Our immigration lawyer can provide one-off FREE general legal advice online via live chat or through the enquiry form. The FREE advice does not cover the advice in relation to complex legal issues or advice about documents to be submitted in support of the application.
If you would like to get detailed immigration advice then please schedule an in-person, Zoom, or phone consultation by using our appointment request form.
