Indefinite Leave to Remain UK (ILR)
As a German citizen, if you obtain the UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) you will be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom for the foreseeable future without immigration restrictions. You must satisfy certain eligibility criteria before you are granted ILR in the UK.
If you need guidance on how to obtain ILR, the eligibility criteria, the documents you must provide or other services we offer, Total Law can help. Talk with one of our friendly immigration lawyers by calling us on 0333 305 9375 or messaging us online.
What Is ILR in the UK?
As a German citizen, if you want to stay in the United Kingdom for the foreseeable future, you can obtain ILR which is also known as a Settlement visa. The ILR will allow you to live, study, work, and access the National Healthcare Surcharge (NHS) for free among other incentives.
To remain in the UK indefinitely, you must first obtain an ILR-eligible visa such as an Innovator Founder visa, a Skilled Worker visa, and more. Most times, German citizens must remain in the UK for about 5 years before they can apply for ILR.
In some cases, you may need to stay in the UK for up to 2, 3 or 10 years. The ILR is the last step towards UK naturalisation and British citizenship. You and your family members can obtain the ILR together, provided they entered the UK at the same time as you and also meet all the requirements.
Page Contents
- What Is ILR in the UK?
- When You Can Apply for ILR in the UK?
- Eligibility Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain
- Documents Required for ILR Application
- How to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?
- Fees and How Long It Takes to Get ILR?
- ILR for Dependents
- British Citizenship after Indefinite Leave to Remain
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
New ILR Rules UK 2025
The UK government has extended the qualifying period for ILR from 5 to 10 years across most visa categories, excluding family visas. The reforms also introduce stricter English language requirements and crack down on low-skilled migration, particularly impacting the social care sector.
Key ILR Changes at a Glance
- Extended Residency Requirement: The qualifying period for ILR is increased from 5 to 10 years for most visa categories.
- Contributions-Based Model: Applicants must demonstrate societal contributions, such as consistent tax payments, community service, or employment in public sector or high-skilled jobs, to qualify for ILR.
- Stricter English Language Requirements: Higher proficiency levels are required for visa applicants, emphasizing integration into British society.
- Crackdown on Low-Skilled Migration: The reforms particularly impact the social care sector by limiting low-skilled migration routes.
- Digital IDs for Visa Tracking: Implementation of digital IDs to monitor visa overstays and ensure compliance with immigration rules.
When You Can Apply for ILR in the UK?
Overview
German citizens must apply for ILR once they are eligible for it. The earliest you can be allowed to apply for ILR is 28 days before meeting the UK residency requirements. Your application may be denied if you apply earlier than that time.
You must not wait for the expiration of your current visa before you apply. Failure to apply for ILR before the expiration of your current visa will cause you to renew it before applying.
Five-year Route to ILR
Most applications for ILR are filed through routes that require German citizens to have stayed in the UK for 5 consecutive years. Some visas such as the Skilled Worker visa and Global Talent visa fall under the 5-year route.
Ten-year Route to ILR
German citizens can qualify for ILR via the 10-year (long-distance) route after living in the UK for 10 consecutive years regardless of the visa that granted them entry into the UK as long as they’re staying in the country lawfully.
Accelerated Route to ILR
German citizens who hold visas under some business routes can obtain ILR after living and doing business in the UK for up to 2 or 3 years (depending on the visa type). The Innovator Founder visa falls under the accelerated route.
Eligibility Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain
Overview
German citizens seeking to obtain ILR must meet the following requirements. They must:
- Be of good character.
- Have stayed in the UK for the consecutive period needed.
- Not have lived outside of the UK for more than 180 days each year during the qualifying period.
- Have passed the Life in the UK test.
- Confirm their English proficiency.
Knowledge of the English Language and Life in the UK
As a German citizen, you are required to prove that you are proficient in the English language, that is the ability to read, write, speak and understand English. You must present your English-speaking and listening test results or your UK degree researched or taught in English. Alongside, you need to satisfy the knowledge of life in the UK requirement by taking and passing the life in the UK test at one of the UK test centres.
Accommodation & Financial Requirements
German nationals must provide their residence details and financial status in the UK. If you rented or own the house, you must provide the mortgage or lease agreement.
Salary Requirement for ILR
Before you apply for ILR, you must prove that you meet the minimum salary criteria for the UK visa type you hold.
Documents Required for ILR Application
German nationals applying for ILR UK must provide the following documents:
- German passport and travel document.
- Two passport-sized photographs.
- A signed declaration and application form.
- Your biometric residence permit (if required).
- Your dependents’ birth or adoption certificate.
- Police certificate of registration.
- Proof of sufficient funds.
- Your immigration history.
- Confirmation letter of appointment.
- Life in the UK certificate.
- Travel documentation.
- Proof of consecutive residence in the UK.
- Evidence of cohabitation (for Partner/Spouse visa holders).
- Certificate of English proficiency.
Note that the visa type you hold may require you to provide additional documents. Consult a licensed translator to translate any document in a foreign language into English. Also, ensure your documents are notarised.
How to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?
German citizens can apply for the ILR by following the steps below:
Choose an Eligible Visa
As a German applicant, you must select the visa that offers a route to ILR in the UK. The reason is that not all UK visas offer routes to ILR, such as the Student visa. If you obtained the Student visa, you must switch to another visa such as the Skilled Worker visa to remain in the UK after fulfilling its requirements.
If you don’t know ILR-eligible visas with which to enter the UK, or you need guidance to choose the specific visa that best suits you, our immigration specialists at Total Law are always available to assist you. Call us today on 0333 305 9375 or message us online for a quick response.
Complete the ILR Application Form
Fill out the ILR form with the correct details. You must choose either Form Set M (for partner or parent of a UK resident) or Form Set O (for all other applications) depending on your situation. Pay all required fees after completing the application form.
Gather Your Documents
You must then bring all the required documents to support your application after completing the online form and making the necessary payments. Ensure your documents are complete, the omission of a crucial document may cause a delay or refusal of your application.
Fix an Appointment
At this stage, you must schedule an appointment with the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) to submit a digital scan of your fingerprints and photographs.
Go to the Appointment
You must attend the appointment with all your documents to back up your application. Also at the appointment the UK authorities will assess your situation to know if you qualify for ILR status. You’ll be notified when a decision is made on your case after your application has been processed.
Fees and How Long It Takes to Get ILR?
German nationals applying for ILR must make some financial commitments to obtain it. You must pay the ILR application fee worth £3,029 and this will be the same amount you’ll pay for any dependent joining you to the UK. You may also pay other fees such as consular fees, translation fees, legal fees and more.
It typically takes about 6 months for the Home Office to process your ILR via the standard service. However, if you want it to be processed faster, you can engage the super priority service and the priority service to obtain your visa in 1 working day (worth £1000) and 5 working days (worth £500) respectively.
ILR for Dependents
You can apply for ILR on behalf of your spouse/partner and dependent children under 18 years old and above 18 years old who rely on the financial help you offer them. You can file their application alongside yours if they entered the UK together with you, provided they meet the UK ILR requirements.
British Citizenship after Indefinite Leave to Remain
As a German citizen, after residing in the UK for 1 year on your ILR, you can qualify to apply for British citizenship. If your British citizenship application is granted, you’ll be qualified to hold a British passport which will allow you to visit more than 150 countries around the globe visa-free. Besides that, as a British citizen, you will have the full rights that indigenous UK residents enjoy such as the right to vote and be voted for, the right to free healthcare, and more.
How Can Total Law Help?
As a German citizen who wants to remain in the UK indefinitely, you must obtain a UK visa that offers a route to ILR in UK. When applying for ILR, you must choose the specific application form that suits your situation. To apply for ILR as a German applicant, it’s advised you seek professional guidance from one of our immigration lawyers at Total Law.
Our immigration lawyers will help you analyse your situation, choose the ILR-eligible visa that best suits your case, and assist you in completing your ILR application when you’ve completed your stay. Besides that, our immigration lawyers can help you streamline all the documents and requirements you must meet to obtain ILR in the UK.
We can also apply for ILR on your behalf, as we have done for several applicants in recent years with numerous favourable decisions. Allow us to replicate this feat for you. For more insights about indefinite leave to remain UK or other services we offer call us today at Total Law on 0333 305 9375 or complete our online enquiry form for immediate assistance.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
The new rules for indefinite leave to remain states that if you’re already on a 5-year route to extend your stay or obtain a settled status (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK before the increase of the minimum income threshold from April 11, 2024, that you’ll continue to be assessed on your current income threshold of £18,600 and not the increased threshold of £29,000.
Yes, you can stay in the UK while waiting for your ILR provided you applied for it before the expiration of your current visa.
Yes, you must pass the Life in the UK test as it’s one of the requirements to obtain ILR. This test is also known as the British citizenship examination, and it’s based on British, traditions, culture, and history. As a German citizen who wants permanent residence in the UK, the major purpose of this test is to prove that you have enough knowledge of British life.
