Indefinite Leave to Remain From Ghana
Are you a Ghanaian citizen looking to settle in the UK permanently? Indefinite Leave to Remain status gives you the right to live, work, study, and remain in the UK, providing a path to becoming a British citizen.
If you wish to apply for ILR status and learn more about the process and your eligibility, contact Total Law at +44 (0)333 305 9375 or use our online chat.
What is Indefinite Leave to Remain In The UK?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status (also known as Permanent Residence status) is a settlement visa for overseas nationals that leads to British citizenship.
Typically, you can apply for ILR if you have been living in the UK for five years; however, you could be eligible after 2 or 3 years, depending on your visa type. Once granted ILR, foreign nationals can live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions.
Once you have been living in the UK for the qualifying period of 12 months after being granted ILR, you can apply to become a British citizen with settled status.
Page Contents
- What is Indefinite Leave to Remain In The UK?
- UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Requirements and Eligibility
- Application Fees
- The Different Routes to Indefinite Leave to Remain
- UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Application Process
- UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Application Processing Time
- Total Law Can Help You Obtain British Citizenship
- FAQS
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New ILR Rule UK 2025 Changes
The UK government has extended the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from 5 to 10 years across most visa categories. This shift underscores a move towards a more stringent, contribution-based immigration system, requiring migrants to demonstrate sustained economic and social integration before attaining permanent residency.
- Extended Residency Requirement: Applicants must now reside in the UK for 10 consecutive years to qualify for ILR, doubling the previous 5-year requirement.
- Contribution-Based Assessment: Eligibility for ILR will consider factors such as consistent tax payments, community involvement, and employment in high-skilled or public sector roles.
The Times - Exclusion Criteria: Individuals with criminal records may be disqualified from applying for ILR. Migrants who have claimed public benefits or relied on social housing during their stay may be barred from settlement.
- Impact on Citizenship Timeline: The pathway to British citizenship is extended, with applicants required to wait an additional period after obtaining ILR, potentially lengthening the total time to naturalization.
UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Requirements and Eligibility
Different categories of visas have routes to Indefinite Leave to Remain. To be eligible for ILR status and eventually become a British citizen, you must not have breached any immigration rules during that period. You must also not hold any criminal record.
The general requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain status include:
- Passing the Life in the UK test to confirm your knowledge of British culture and customs
- Needing a B1 level of English proficiency, as set out by the Common European Framework of Languages
- To not have exceeded 180 days spent outside the UK within the 12 months of the qualifying period
You will not need to apply for ILR if you are any of the following:
- Eligible for British citizenship by descent (or any other form of automatic citizenship)
- A child dependant of a British citizen or person with Indefinite Leave to Remain status
- An adult dependant of a British citizen or person with Indefinite Leave to Remain status
- A refugee who has resettled in the UK through the Gateway Protection Programme
Application Fees
The application fee for ILR status set by the Home Office is £3,226 per person. You will not need to pay the additional Immigration Healthcare Surcharge for access to NHS services as you do with some UK visas, and you do not need to pay to have your biometric information (fingerprints, etc.) taken at a visa application centre.
In some cases, you can pay a ‘priority service’ charge to fast-track your ILR status application and get a decision made within approximately five working days. The charge for the priority service is £500, in addition to the standard application fee.
The Different Routes to Indefinite Leave to Remain
The visa routes and categories that can lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain and eventually becoming a British citizen are:
Typical routes to ILR status
Eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of living in the UK:
- Tier 2 Visa
- Ancestry Visa
- Skilled Worker Visa
- Spouse Visa
- Civil Partner Visa
- Unmarried Partner Visa
Accelerated routes to ILR status
The types of visas that qualify for accelerated routes to Indefinite Leave to Remain are:
- Family Visa or Spouse Visa – if your partner has died or the relationship ended because of domestic abuse
- Innovator Founder Visa – you must have lived in the UK for three years
- Global Talent Visa – you must have lived in the UK for three years (some professions require five years)
If you are on a Temporary Work – International Agreement Visa, you may be able to switch to another immigration route, leading to Indefinite Leave to Remain and settled status.
It is crucial to understand which route to ILR is best for your circumstances and immigration status, so if you’re unsure about which path to take, call us at Total Law for immediate assistance at +44 (0)333 305 9375.
UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Application Process
Those with pre-settled immigration status can apply online for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Applicants under 18 must have a parent apply for ILR on their behalf.
You will need to be in the UK to apply for settled status, and the earliest you can apply is 28 days before you are eligible.
As part of your visa application for ILR settled status, you must:
- Provide identity documents, including your current Ghanaian passport or travel document, with two passport-sized photographs attached.
- You may need to have your fingerprint taken for a Biometric Residence Permit at a Visa Centre, which you will need to book an appointment for
- Scan your identity documents using the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app
UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Application Processing Time
There is no typical processing time for Indefinite Leave to Remain applications. You should know whether your application is successful within six months if you use the standard online service, but most Indefinite Leave to Remain applications are reviewed within eight weeks.
It is essential to understand the time it takes to process your application for ILR depends on your case and its complexity; for example, if you have supporting documents that need to be verified or you are asked to attend an interview for further information to support your application.
If you are eligible for a Biometric Residence Permit, it can take up to 10 working days to arrive after your Home Office decision letter.
Total Law Can Help You Obtain British Citizenship
Are you a Ghana citizen looking to join the many overseas nationals who have become British citizens through Indefinite Leave to Remain? At Total Law, we have years of experience assisting migrants to the UK with their visa applications and immigration status.
If you want to gain Leave to Remain and be granted settled status, we can guide you through the process step by step. We are here to answer your queries, including advice on the UK test, bringing family members to the UK, UK immigration rules, and other topics concerning Indefinite Leave to Remain status.
Call us today on +44 (0)333 305 9375 for an online consultation, and take steps to become a British citizen with Indefinite Leave.
Advice Package
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Application Package
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Fast Track Package
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Appeal Package
Been refused or received an unfavourable decision? Get expert legal help to challenge it or determine your next step.
The Advice Package
During this Advice Session, an immigration lawyer will assess your circumstances, explain your options and tell you what you need to do to make a strong application.
We review your circumstances, explain the relevant requirements, identify potential problems or refusal risks, and advise you on the evidence and next steps.
The Application Package
With our Application Package, your dedicated immigration lawyer will assess your case, prepare your application, check your supporting documents and submit your forms on your behalf.
We check your application for missing information, inconsistencies and potential issues before submission, helping you avoid common mistakes that could affect your case.
The Fast Track Package
Our Fast-Track Application Package gives your case priority with our immigration lawyers, helping you get your application prepared, checked and submitted as quickly as possible.
Your case receives priority handling, including accelerated document reviews, application preparation, communication with your caseworker and submission support.
The Appeal Package
Our immigration lawyers will review the decision, explain why it was refused and advise on the strongest option available to you, including an appeal, review or fresh application where appropriate.
We will examine the reasons for refusal, identify weaknesses or errors, assess your available options and provide the legal support and representation your case requires.
Related pages for your continued reading.
FAQS
If you have been granted ILR status or are a British citizen and wish to bring your spouse to the UK, they can apply for a Spouse Visa. A Spouse Visa is a route to settled status and eventually British citizenship. You may also be eligible to bring family members to the UK on a Family Visa.
A Commonwealth citizen may have a ‘right of abode’ in the UK and apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain without immigration restrictions. Commonwealth citizens must have a British passport identifying them as British citizens or subjects with ‘right of abode’.
You can lose Leave to Remain status and settled status if you have been absent from the UK for two years or longer, as that breaches immigration rules. If you lose your ILR status, you will no longer have the right to travel freely to and from the UK, and you will be subject to immigration control.
If you are applying for ILR status at the end of your existing visa, you can continue to work as a pre-settled status UK visa holder while your application is being reviewed. You must apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain status before your current work visa expires.
