If you have lived in the UK lawfully for ten continuous years you can apply for indefinite leave to remain on the long residence route, whatever visas you have held. The route is in Appendix Long Residence of the Immigration Rules.

What counts as lawful residence

Time with permission to stay in most categories counts, alone or combined: student, work, family, and others. Time that does not count includes visit visas, short-term study, seasonal work, the Ukraine schemes, immigration bail, time in prison, and any period of overstaying.

The absence rules

For periods after 11 April 2024: no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
For absences that started before 11 April 2024: no single absence of more than 184 days, and no more than 548 days in total across the ten years.

We calculate both rules across your travel history, because most applicants straddle the date.

Other requirements

You must currently have permission to stay, and usually have held it for at least a year.
The Life in the UK test and English at B1 or higher, if you are aged 18 to 64, unless exempt.
No suitability problems.

If you have ten years but cannot yet meet the knowledge-of-language-and-life requirement, you can apply to extend your stay on the route instead and settle later.

Gaps and late applications

A short gap between visas can be fatal to continuity, but the rules allow some gaps to be overlooked where the application was made within the time the rules permit. Do not assume a gap ends the claim; have the history checked.

What we do

We build a day-by-day record of your leave and absences from your passports, permits and Home Office records, identify any break, and prepare the application with the evidence for each period.

Rules that are changing

A higher English level, B2, has been announced for settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 on most routes, and the government has proposed an "earned settlement" system with a ten-year baseline. As at 13 October 2026 that is a proposal, not a rule. If you are close to qualifying, apply as soon as you are eligible; we check the position on the day.

Fees and timing

Home Office fee £3,226 per person, correct on 13 October 2026. A super priority decision costs £1,000 more. Standard decisions usually arrive within six months. Our fixed fee is quoted before you instruct us; see our fees.