The End of Your Visa Journey.
Indefinite Leave to Remain is the moment you stop 'visiting' and officially make the UK your permanent home. No more renewals. No more restrictions.
Security for You and Your Family.
Settlement (ILR) is the bridge between being a migrant and becoming a citizen. Once granted, you have the right to live, work, and study in the UK without time limits. You can access public funds, the NHS, and eventually apply for a British passport.
However, the rules on 'Continuous Residence' are unforgiving. A single miscalculated absence or a break in lawful status can reset your clock to zero. We audit your entire immigration history to ensure your application is watertight.
The rules changed in 2024. We ensure your application meets the very latest Long Residence and absence requirements.
Routes to Settlement
Partner & Family
For: Spouses, Civil Partners, and Unmarried Partners.
You qualify after 5 years on a family visa (2.5 years + 2.5 years). You must meet the financial requirement again, pass the 'Life in the UK' test, and prove your relationship is still genuine and subsisting.
Employment & Ancestry
For: UK Ancestry, Skilled Workers, and Global Talent.
You qualify after 5 continuous years. You must prove you are still needed for your job (Skilled Worker) or show you have been 'economically active' (Ancestry). Strict absence limits apply: generally no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period.
Long Residence (10 Years)
For: Students, Temporary Workers, and those with complex histories.
For those who have built a life here over a decade lawfully. Crucial Update: The strict '548-day' absence limit has been removed for most new applicants (post-April 2024), but you must strictly adhere to the '180-day' rolling absence rule. We help you calculate your timeline
Mastering Continuous Residence.
The single biggest cause of refusal for Settlement is a miscalculated absence. The Home Office rules are unforgiving: for most routes, you cannot have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period.
We specialize in the 'Forensic History Check.' We cross-reference every stamp in your passport against Home Office records to identify gaps or 'broken' periods. We understand the complex transitional rules for Long Residence (Pre- and Post-April 2024) and know exactly how to argue for 'excessive absences' due to serious reasons like illness, bereavement, or the pandemic.
The Three Hurdles (Requirements)
1. Continuous Residence (The "Absence" Trap)
You cannot have been away too long. For the 5-year route, the limit is strict: 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. For Long Residence, the rules depend on when your absences occurred (Pre- or Post-April 2024). We perform a forensic check of your passport stamps.
2. Life in the UK Test (The Knowledge)
You must pass this 24-question test on British history, traditions, and law. It is required for all applicants aged 18-64 (unless exempt). We advise you on how to prepare and when to book.
3. English Language (Level B1)
You must prove your speaking and listening skills at Level B1 (CEFR). If you have a degree taught in English or are from a majority English-speaking country, you are exempt. Otherwise, you must pass a SELT exam.
Your Path to Freedom
We review your entire travel history. We cross-reference your passport stamps with your Home Office records to identify any 'broken' periods.
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We review your entire travel history. We cross-reference your passport stamps with your Home Office records to identify any 'broken' periods.
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We prepare your Set(O), Set(M), or Long Residence form. We draft legal arguments to explain any excessive absences (e.g., due to pandemic, illness, or serious compelling reasons).
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Standard processing is 6 months, but we can often secure a 'Super Priority' slot for a decision by the next working day.
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Naturalising is the process by which a non-British national becomes a British citizen. It requires meeting residency and good character requirements, demonstrating English language ability and knowledge of life in the UK, and making a formal application with supporting documents and fees. Successful applicants attend a citizenship ceremony and receive a certificate of naturalisation, after which they may apply for a British passport and enjoy the full rights of citizenship.
FAQs
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It depends. If you applied for a new visa within 14 days of your old one expiring, or if there were 'exceptional circumstances,' we may be able to argue that your residence remains continuous. We need to review your specific dates.
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If your 10-year qualifying period includes time before 11 April 2024, the old rules (max 548 days total) may no longer apply to the total period, but individual absences before that date are still capped at 184 days. This is a complex transitional area of law that we specialize in.
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Yes, for most ILR applications (Set O, Set M), you can pay an extra fee (£1,000) for a decision by the next working day. We can manage this booking for you.
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Yes. If your children are not British, they should apply for settlement at the same time as you (or once both parents are settled) to secure their future.
Make Britain Your Permanent Home.
Don't risk a refusal at the final hurdle. Let us secure your Indefinite Leave to Remain.