I am planning to come
I want to stay longer or settle
Sample contentSettlement means permission to stay with no time limit. It normally comes after a qualifying period on another visa, and the clock can be broken by gaps in your permission or long absences.
What the words mean
- Indefinite leave to remain
- Settlement. No time limit on staying, and no visa to keep extending.
- Qualifying period
- The time you must have spent on a qualifying route. It differs by route.
- Continuous residence
- The requirement not to have been outside the UK for more than a set number of days, or to have had gaps in your permission.
What to do first
Step 1. Work out which route you are on and what its qualifying period is.
Step 2. Count your absences from the UK across the whole period, using stamps and tickets.
Step 3. Check whether you need to pass Life in the UK and an English test, and book early.
Step 4. Apply before your current permission runs out, even if you are unsure.
Step 5. Keep every letter and biometric card from the whole period.
What to gather
Your travel history for the qualifying period
Every grant of permission you have held
Life in the UK test result, if required
Evidence of where you have lived and worked
Who can help
If you have gaps in your permission, long absences, or time on a route that may not count, take advice before you apply. A refusal here can cost you the qualifying period.
Find a regulated adviserSample content · written for review · not checked by a lawyer or against the Immigration Rules