Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) UK
Turkish citizens can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and settle permanently in the UK if they meet the eligibility criteria.
For more information on how to apply for ILR UK, including details about eligibility criteria and documents required, call 0333 305 9375 or message us online.
What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is also permanent residency in the UK. It can also be referred to as settlement. With the ILR UK, you can study, work or live in the UK without any limits or immigration constraints. Turkish citizens who hold ILR can apply for certain public benefits. They also pay the same tuition fee as home students if they study in the UK. After holding ILR for 1 year, Turkish citizens can apply for British citizenship.
When applying for ILR, you must show that you have been residing in the UK when you applied. You can also get your family to be with you in the UK if you hold ILR. To get Indefinite leave to remain, you must apply through a specific route, and you’ll also need to meet certain eligibility requirements.
Page Contents
- What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
- Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain in UK
- When Can You Apply for ILR in UK?
- Five-year Route
- Ten-Year Route to ILR
- Accelerated Route to ILR
- How to Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in UK?
- Documents Required for ILR Application
- ILR Salary Requirement
- Knowledge of English Language and Life in the UK
- Accommodation & Financial Requirements
- ILR application cost
- Processing Time for ILR Application in UK
- British Citizenship After Indefinite Leave to Remain
- How Can Total Law Help?
- Frequently Asked Questions
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Requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain in UK
Turkish citizens who want to apply for Indefinite leave to remain UK must meet the following requirements:
Good Character Requirements
You must prove that you have been a law-abiding citizen since you entered the UK. Every Turkish citizen above 10 years old who wishes to apply for ILR must prove they have respected all the laws of the UK and upheld the freedom and rights of British citizens. Your application will be refused if you have been convicted of a criminal offence and were remanded in custody for up to 12 consecutive months. This is the same if the total time you have spent in custody on different occasions is 12 months.
Life in the UK Test
Turkish citizens applying for ILR must have passed the Life in the UK test. This test seeks to assess how well you know the daily living, traditions, laws and history of the UK.
English Language Proficiency
You’ll also have to prove that you have adequate knowledge of English. This is necessary to prove that you can adapt easily to life in the UK.
Residency
Turkish citizens must prove they have lived in the UK for some time. Usually, if you are on a work visa, you’ll need to spend 5 years before applying for ILR. However, if you are on an Innovator Founder or Global Talent visa, you are eligible for ILR after 2 years.
Legal Residence
You must show the Home Office proof that you have been legally staying in the UK. You may need to present your British residence permit in this regard.
Presence in the UK
If you want to apply for ILR, you must meet this requirement. You are not permitted to have lived outside the UK for more than 6 consecutive months. If you spent more than 6 months outside the UK during the qualifying residency period, you will no longer be eligible for ILR.
When Can You Apply for ILR in UK?
Below are the pathways to apply for Indefinite leave to remain in the UK:
- Work visa pathway: To apply for ILR through the work visa route, you must have worked in the UK for 5 years. If you are on the Innovator Founder or Global Talent visa, you must have lived in the UK for at least 3 years. Turkish citizens with tier 1 visas can get ILR within 2 years.
- Family visa pathway: If your spouse, child or parent has ILR or British citizenship, you can apply for ILR with this route.
- Returning residents: If you held ILR before and lost it because you spent an extended period of time outside the UK, you can reapply.
- Services to the UK: Turkish citizens who served in the UK armed forces can apply for ILR.
- Asylum route: If you are under the protection of the UK as a refugee, you can also apply for ILR.
- 10-Year residence pathway: Turkish citizens who have spent 10 years or more in the UK can also apply for Indefinite leave to remain.
Five-year Route
Turkish citizens can apply for Indefinite leave to remain UK if they are on a work visa. You must spend 5 years on the following works visa before applying for ILR:
- Skilled Worker visa.
- Turkish Worker or Businessperson visa.
- Domestic worker.
- Scale-up Worker visa.
- Tier 2, T2, International Sportsperson visa.
- Private servant in a diplomatic household.
- Minister of Religion visa.
You’ll also need to spend 5 years in the UK to apply for ILR via the family visa route.
Ten-Year Route to ILR
Turkish citizens living legally in the UK for 10 consecutive years can apply for ILR. This route is called the long residence route. You can also apply for this category if you have a visa that permits you to live in the UK based on your private life. Turkish citizens who have been in the UK till they turned 7 can also apply for the ILR using this route. If you have Discretionary Leave from the UK government, you must have spent 10 years in the UK.
Accelerated Route to ILR
Certain categories of people can use the accelerated route to ILR. Turkish citizens on a Global Talent or Innovator visa can apply for ILR within 3 years. If you are a victim of domestic violence or lost your partner to death, you can apply for ILR.
How to Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in UK?
Here is the ILR application process below:
Step 1: Prepare Your Supporting Documents
You can use the documents required section of this article as your checklist. If you still have questions about the documents you’ll need to apply, reach out to us at 0333 305 9375 or message us online.
Step 2: Pay the ILR Application Fee
Your next step is to pay the application fee. Note that if you are applying with your family members, you’ll pay the application fee for them, too. Ensure you get receipts, as you’ll add them to your supporting documents.
Step 3: Complete the Online Application
Turkish citizens who want to make Indefinite Leave to remain application must apply online. Visit the Home Office website and get the form. There are 2 different forms, and it is essential that you use the proper form. If you are applying as a family member of someone who is a British citizen or ILR holder, you’ll have to fill out Form set (O). Other applicants must fill out Form Set (M). After inputting your details, scan your supporting documents and upload them to the portal.
Step 4: Schedule Biometric Collection
Your next step after applying online is scheduling an appointment with the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Centre (UKVCAS). Every family member applying for the ILR must attend the biometric collection appointment. Print out the confirmation page when you schedule a date, as that would be your pass on your appointment date.
Step 5: Attend the Appointment
Visit the UKVCAS centre close to you, and the officials will collect your biometrics. The biometric collection will cost £19.20 per family member. If you did not add your supporting documents when applying online, you can give them to the officials to scan and upload.
Step 6: Await a Decision
After making your application, wait for the Home Office’s decision. You are not to leave the UK until the Home Office decides on your application. If you leave the UK before you get a decision on your application, the Home Office will withdraw it.
Documents Required for ILR Application
Turkish citizens must submit the following documents to prove they meet the ILR requirements UK:
- Turkish passport issued within the last 10 years.
- Birth and marriage certificates when applying with your family or applying due to your relationship with a family member.
- Police character certificate proving you have not been convicted of any criminal offence.
- English language test result or an Ecctis-verified degree certificate.
- Previous visas granted.
- Life in the UK test unique reference number.
- Proof of tax payment.
- Evidence your business has the right to trade in the UK.
- Passport photographs.
- Bank statement or pay slips to show you meet the financial criteria for your route.
- Property deed, rent or lease contract showing the address of your UK residence.
- Completed application and declaration form.
- Employment letter.
- Receipt of application fee payment.
ILR Salary Requirement
Turkish citizens applying for UK ILR via the work visa route must earn a certain minimum salary. The exact amount you must make depends on your work visa category.
- Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa holders must earn £41,700 per annum or less if their occupation is on the Immigration Salary List, or the going rate for their line of work, whichever is highest.
- International Sportsperson visa holders must earn £35,800 per annum.
- Minister of Religion visa holders must earn the amount other ministers in the UK earn.
Knowledge of English Language and Life in the UK
If you want to apply for Indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you have to show that you have adequate knowledge of the English language. You must also show you are well-versed in UK laws, politics and history.
To meet the English language requirement, you must take a Secure English Language Test (SELT), show that you completed a degree in the UK or present an Ecctis-evaluated tertiary degree certificate proving your qualification in Turkey is on the same level as a UK degree. The Home Office administers the Life in the UK test, which costs £50. You must schedule this exam at the Home Office website at least 3 days before your intended exam date. You must score 75% on this test to pass.
Turkish citizens below 18 or above 64 are exempted from taking both tests. If you are physically or mentally ill, you may be exempted from taking the test as well, but you must present a doctor’s report attesting to your illness.
Accommodation & Financial Requirements
Turkish citizens must show proof that they have residence in the UK. To do this, you’ll need to present a rental or lease contract or a property deed. Any document you’re presenting must carry your address. If you want to apply for ILR via the family visa route, you must show you have the sum of £41,700.
ILR application cost
It costs £3,226 per person applying. When you apply, you’ll be told if you can use the priority service, which will cost an additional £500 or the super priority service, which will cost an extra £1000.
Processing Time for ILR Application in UK
It takes the Home Office 6 months to decide on ILR applications. If you pay for the priority service, you’ll get a decision in 5 days. Turkish citizens who pay for the super-priority service will get a response by the next working day. This is if your biometric was collected on a weekday. If it was collected on the weekend, you’ll get a decision after 2 working days.
British Citizenship After Indefinite Leave to Remain
One of the advantages of holding Indefinite leave to remain is that after 1 year, you become eligible to apply for British citizenship. ILR holders married to British citizens do not need to wait for 1 year; they can apply immediately after getting ILR.
When applying for British citizenship, you’ll need to get 2 referees who can speak for your good character. You can apply by post or online. Note, though, that the Home Office advises against applying by post. If you want to apply online, you can do so yourself or enlist the services of a legal representative. You can contact us at Total Law to make your application for you. Call us at 0333 305 9375 or send us a message online.
How Can Total Law Help?
Total Law has competent immigration lawyers who can handle your ILR application. We can assess your eligibility, help you gather supporting documents, and advise you on your application. We know how disheartening it is to get a refusal after spending time and resources making an application. That is why we are available to ensure you get it right on the first try, as using our services reduces your chances of getting a refusal, which can affect your chances of getting a positive response even if you reapply. Our team has helped many Turkish citizens apply for ILR; we can help you, too.
If you want to know more about what we can do for you, Call us at 0333 305 9375 or message us online.
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Related pages for your continued reading.
Frequently Asked Questions
You are not a British citizen if you hold ILR. However, you can apply to become a British citizen after holding ILR for 1 year.
The ILR is permanent. It can only expire if you stay away from the UK for 2 consecutive years.
You can work in the UK with ILR. Holders can work, study or live in the UK without restrictions.
