Skilled Worker visa settlement (indefinite leave to remain)

You may be able to settle permanently in the UK, with indefinite leave to remain (ILR), after 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK). You need a continuous period of 5 years in the UK (SW 21.1). Your sponsor must confirm you are still needed, and your salary must meet the table in SW 24.3. The fee is £3,226.

What do I need for ILR on a Skilled Worker visa?

Indefinite leave to remain is how you settle in the UK. GOV.UK also calls it “settlement”. The Immigration Rules call it settlement as a Skilled Worker. The requirements are in SW 19 to SW 25 of Appendix Skilled Worker.

What you need	Rule
Apply online on the form “Settle in the UK in various immigration categories: form SET(O)”	SW 19.1
Be in the UK on the day you apply, and have (or have last been granted) permission as a Skilled Worker	SW 19.2(d), SW 19.3
Not be refused under Part Suitability, and not be in breach of immigration laws or on immigration bail (with an exception for overstayers)	SW 20.1, SW 20.2
Spend a continuous period of 5 years in the UK	SW 21.1
Meet the continuous residence requirement in Appendix Continuous Residence	SW 22.1
Meet the English language requirement	SW 22A.1, SW 22A.2
Meet the knowledge of Life in the UK requirement in Appendix KOL UK	SW 23.1
Your sponsor is still approved, confirms your job, and your salary is high enough	SW 24.1 to SW 24.4

Which time counts towards the 5 years?

The 5 years must be time with permission on one of these routes, or a mix of them. Time as a dependant does not count (SW 21.2).

• Skilled Worker
• Global Talent
• Innovator Founder
• T2 Minister of Religion
• International Sportsperson
• Representative of an Overseas Business
• Tier 1, other than Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
• Scale-up
• permission on any other route while waiting for a decision on a Skilled Worker application that met all of these conditions: it was for permission to stay, it was made between 24 January 2020 and 30 June 2021 (inclusive), it was supported by a certificate of sponsorship from a licensed sponsor on the day it was made, and it was granted

GOV.UK’s settlement guide gives a similar list, with the Health and Care Worker visa and Tier 2 (General) named. It says you cannot include time spent in the UK as a partner or child (dependant) on a visa. It also says you must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. The rule itself is in Appendix Continuous Residence (SW 22.1).

What salary do I need for settlement?

Your salary must be at least both figures in the right row of this table (SW 24.3). Salary is worked out as set out in SW 14.1 to SW 14.5 (SW 24.4).

Row	Your situation	Minimum salary	Minimum going rate
A	All cases where rows B to E do not apply	At least £41,700 a year	At least the going rate in Table 1 or Table 1a of Appendix Skilled Occupations
B	In your most recent permission you were sponsored for a job in Appendix Immigration Salary List, and rows C to E do not apply	At least £33,400 a year	At least the going rate in Table 1 or Table 1a
C	You meet SW 4.2(b) (a Health and Care ASHE salary job, or permission granted under the rules in place before 4 April 2024 with continuous permission since and an application date before 4 April 2030), read as the rule describes, and rows D and E do not apply	At least £31,300 a year	At least the going rate in Tables 2 to 2a
D	In your most recent permission you were sponsored for an Immigration Salary List job (or the previous Shortage Occupation List) and meet SW 4.2(b) as read in row C. Or you were sponsored for a health or education code in Table 3 (or a related SOC 2010 code shown there). Row E does not apply	At least £25,000 a year	At least the going rate in Tables 2 to 5
E	Your 5-year period includes time as a Tier 2 (General) Migrant sponsored in one of SOC 2010 codes 2111, 2112, 2113, 2114, 2119, 2150 or 2311	At least £25,000 a year	The going rate in the SW 14.5(c) table if you were sponsored in that code or an equivalent SOC 2020 code ever since. Otherwise the going rate in Tables 2 to 5

If you were absent from work for a reason listed in Part Suitability paragraph SUI 36.1, or you came back from such an absence within the month before you apply, the salary used is the one your sponsor states for when you returned to work (SW 24.4(b)).

GOV.UK’s settlement guide gives the same £41,700 and £33,400 figures for the standard and immigration salary list cases. See salary thresholds and going rates. The £31,300 row is explained in certificate of sponsorship before 4 April 2024.

What English and Life in the UK rules apply?

If you apply on or after 26 March 2027, you must show English ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening to at least level B2, unless an exemption applies (SW 22A.1). You must show you meet the requirement as set out in Appendix English Language (SW 22A.2).

GOV.UK’s settlement guide says you do not need to prove your English when you apply to settle using a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa. This is because you did this when you applied for your visa.

You must meet the Life in the UK knowledge requirement in Appendix KOL UK (SW 23.1). GOV.UK’s guide says that if you are 18 to 64, you need to book and pass the Life in the UK Test.

When can I apply for settlement?

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you have been in the UK for 5 years on a qualifying visa. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.

GOV.UK says not to wait until your current visa runs out. If the visa runs out before you can apply, you need to renew it first.

How much does ILR cost and how long does it take?

What	What GOV.UK says
Fee	£3,226 for each person applying
Biometric information (fingerprints and photo)	No fee
Priority service	An extra £500, for a decision within 5 working days
Super priority service	An extra £1,000, for a decision by the end of the next working day after you give your fingerprints and photo (weekday appointment), or 2 working days (weekend appointment)
Usual decision time	Within 6 months of giving your fingerprints and photo

You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. If you do, your application will be withdrawn.

Can my partner and children settle too?

You can include your partner and children on your application if they are eligible. They can also apply separately later.

A partner must meet all of these (GOV.UK):

• they have permission to be in the UK as your dependant
• they have lived in the UK with you as your dependant for at least 5 continuous years
• your relationship is genuine and you intend to keep living together
• you have enough income to support yourselves and your dependants
• you are not using public funds

The rules add three points for a partner:

• They must have spent a continuous period of 5 years in the UK with permission as a dependent partner of the Skilled Worker (SW 42.1).
• For English, the level is B1 in speaking and listening if the application is before 26 March 2027. It is B2 if the application is on or after that date (SW 44.1).
• The Life in the UK requirement applies if the applicant is 18 or over (SW 45.1).

A child must have permission as your child, not be married or in a civil partnership, and live with you. They must be supported without public funds. You and the child’s other parent must both be applying to settle or already settled. A child can also apply to settle in other situations, such as you being the sole surviving parent or having sole responsibility. See partner and children.

What can I do after I settle?

If your application succeeds you can:

• work
• run a business
• study
• use public services such as healthcare and schools
• apply for public funds (benefits) and pensions
• apply for British citizenship, usually after a minimum of 12 months

You can lose indefinite leave to remain if you stay outside the UK for more than 2 years at a time.