A migrant can apply for Indefinite Leave to remain, which allows you to live and work in the UK with no immigration restriction based on long residence. If you have lawfully resided in the UK for an accumulated period of 10 years or more under any combination of UK visas, you may qualify for ILR based on long residence.

What is a long residence?

Long residence means continuous living in the UK for ten years or more. To fulfil a ten- year-long residence requirement, you must not spend 180 days or more at a time or a total of 540 days or more outside the UK during ten years of the relevant period.

The period of 10 years long residence starts when you arrive in the UK with a valid visa or from the date you were permitted to live in the UK. During this period of 10 years, time spent in a secure hospital, young offender's institution, prison, the Isle of Man, the Channel Islands or the Republic of Islands cannot be counted in calculating ten years of continuous residence.

Eligibility

You need to meet the following requirements to be able to apply for ILR based on your long residence:
1. You must already have leave to remain in the UK on a visa or combination of visas.
2. You must fulfil a 10-year continuous residence condition as defined above.
3. If you are 18 to 65 years old, you must pass the Life in the UK test and English language requirement. If you don't meet these two conditions, you cannot apply for ILR but extend your visa.

Documents to be provided

You must submit the following documents as part of your ILR application based on your long residence:
1. Your current passport or another valid travel id;
2. Your biometric residence permit if you have one; and
3. All the passports you held during ten years of continuous residence.

If any of your documents are not in English or Wales, you need to provide certified translated copies of such papers in either of the two languages. You may have to provide additional documents depending upon your circumstances.

When to apply?

When you meet all the eligibility requirements for ILR, you can apply up to 28 days before completing the 10 years lawful residence.If you are looking for professional immigration advice, you can contact us for a free assessment by calling 02034111261 or emailing: [email protected].