After five years on the five-year partner route you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. The application is made from inside the UK, up to 28 days before you complete the five years. Time on a fiancé visa and time on the ten-year route do not count towards the five years.

What you must show

Five years of continuous leave as a partner of the same British, Irish or settled person.
The relationship is still genuine and you still live together, with evidence spread across the period.
The financial requirement again: £29,000 combined income or savings, in the form Appendix FM-SE requires (or the transitional figure if you first applied before 11 April 2024). See our financial requirement page.
English at B1 or higher, unless exempt, and the Life in the UK test.
Adequate accommodation and no suitability problem.

Common problems

Absences do not have a fixed limit on the partner route, but long periods abroad can undermine the claim that you live together; we address this in a statement.
A break in leave, for example an application made late, can mean the five years start again.
If the relationship has ended, different routes apply: ILR for victims of domestic abuse or an application based on children.

After ILR

If you are married to a British citizen you can apply for citizenship straight after settlement, without waiting a year.

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.