UK PR is indefinite leave to remain (ILR), the status that lets you live and work in the UK without a time limit, and most people qualify after 5 years on a work or family route, but the government has proposed changing that. Reports put the 2026 application fee at £3,226 per person, and a proposal would raise the usual qualifying period to 10 years.
The United Kingdom does not use the term “PR,” but people from Canada, Australia and South Asia use it for the same idea. In the UK the status is indefinite leave to remain, often called ILR or settlement. This guide explains who can apply, how many years each route needs, what the earned settlement reform would change, the fee and other costs, the English and Life in the UK test rules, and the mistakes that cause refusals. The route and year details come from the GOV.UK page on indefinite leave to remain (updated 20 October 2026) and the GOV.UK Life in the UK test page. The fee and reform details come from law firm and adviser sites, because the GOV.UK fee page was not available to check, so confirm them on GOV.UK before you apply. If you are an American planning a move, your own passport comes first, and our US passport guide covers how to get or renew one.
What Is UK PR?
UK PR is indefinite leave to remain, which gives you permission to live, work and study in the UK with no time limit. It is permanent residence, but it is not British citizenship.
ILR sits between a temporary visa and citizenship. Once you hold it, you no longer renew a visa every few years. People usually reach it after living in the UK on a route such as a Skilled Worker visa, a family visa or long residence. If you are still planning to come, our guide to the study visa in UK covers the student route, which does not lead directly to ILR. Compare the idea with permanent residence elsewhere in our guides to Canada PR and US PR.
Who Can Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?
You can apply through a work visa, a family connection, long residence or several special routes, and the qualifying time depends on the route. The table shows the main ones from GOV.UK.
| Route | Usual time needed | Notes |
| Work visas | 5 years lived and worked in the UK | Tier 1 visas need 2 or 3 years; Innovator Founder and Global Talent need 3 years |
| Family | Depends on the family route | Partner, parent, child or relative who is a British citizen or has ILR |
| Long residence | 10 years or more | A separate route covers private life visas |
| UK Ancestry visa | 5 years | For Commonwealth citizens |
| British National (Overseas) visa | 5 years living in the UK | BN(O) route |
| Protection and other | Varies | Refugees, humanitarian protection, Discretionary Leave, returning residents, armed forces members and stateless people |
GOV.UK adds that salary or financial requirements may also apply, depending on your visa. A route that looks open may carry conditions that surprise you, so read the page for your exact visa. Separate routes also exist if a partner has died or a relationship ended because of domestic violence.
Counting the qualifying period correctly matters as much as meeting it. Start from the date your leave began on the qualifying route, and check whether time on earlier visas counts toward that route, because time on some visas may not. Write down each visa you held, the start and end dates, and any gaps between them. Then compare that record with the Home Office guidance for your route, or ask a regulated adviser if it is not clear. A short gap or a change of route can reset the clock, and finding that out before you pay is far better than after a refusal.
What Is Earned Settlement, and Does It Affect You?
Earned settlement is a proposed reform that would raise the usual wait for ILR from 5 years to 10 years, but it was not law when this guide was written. Final rules had not been published.
The government ran a consultation called “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” from 20 November 2025 to 12 February 2026, and reports say it received over 200,000 responses. A law firm article dated 7 October 2026 says the qualifying period is still five years and that the Home Secretary said on 15 September 2026 that the final policy will be published later in 2026, before February 2027, with no minimum notice period promised. An earlier plan to change the rules in autumn 2026 appears to have slipped.
The proposals reported so far include:
- A 10-year baseline for most routes, and 15 years for Skilled Workers in roles below RQF level 6.
- Five years off for earning over £50,270 a year, and seven years off for earning over £125,140.
- Five to ten years added for claiming public funds, and up to 20 years for people who entered illegally or on a visit visa.
- B2 English and a minimum income of £12,570 a year for three to five years.
Whether the changes would apply to people already in the UK is not settled. The consultation proposed to apply them to everyone without ILR, the Home Secretary has said the rules will be “fair to those already here,” and a Home Affairs Committee report in March 2026 recommended protecting people already on the five-year route. People who already hold ILR and EU Settlement Scheme status are not affected. Because the rules that apply are those in force on the day you apply, many advisers suggest applying as soon as you qualify. Confirm the latest position on GOV.UK before you decide.
How Much Does UK PR Cost?
Reports put the ILR application fee at £3,226 per applicant for applications submitted on or after 8 April 2026, up from £3,029. Each family member pays the full fee.
An adviser site last updated in April 2026 lists the following, and a law firm article dated 15 May 2026 gives the same fee and the same extras:
- ILR application fee: £3,226 per applicant, with no fee waiver for partners or children on the standard route.
- Priority processing: £500 per person, optional.
- Super priority processing: £1,000 per person, optional.
- Life in the UK test: £50 per sitting.
- Appeal against a refusal, where one is available: £80.
One law firm article from May 2026 still quotes £3,029, so the sources do not fully agree. Check the GOV.UK fee page on the day you pay. The same sources say the Immigration Health Surcharge is not payable for ILR and that biometrics are free, but verify that too. English-language test fees, translations and an Ecctis assessment of a foreign degree add to the total. Plan for more than the headline fee.
What English and Life in the UK Test Rules Apply?
Most routes need English at B1 now, and from 26 March 2027 the level rises to B2 for most settlement routes. You may also need to pass the Life in the UK test.
GOV.UK says the Life in the UK test costs £50 and must be booked online at least 3 days ahead. You have 45 minutes to answer 24 questions about British traditions and customs. You do not need to take it if you are under 18, are 65 or over, have passed it before or have a long-term physical or mental condition with an exemption form or a doctor’s letter. An adviser site gives the pass mark as 75 percent, and says a pass does not expire, though the GOV.UK page does not state either point.
The same adviser says people on Skilled Worker, Health and Care and similar routes usually do not have to prove English again at the ILR stage, and that the B2 change comes from a statement of changes numbered HC 1691. Check which rule applies to your route, because the exemption depends on how you entered.
How Many Days Can You Spend Outside the UK?
For most work and family routes, reports say the limit is 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period. Long residence has its own limit.
Absences are one of the most common reasons for a refused ILR case. An adviser site says long residence allows 18 months in total, with no more than 6 months in any single period. The Home Office has some discretion, but you should count every trip carefully before you apply. Keep your passport stamps, tickets and employer letters. If a long overseas family visit, a work assignment or an illness pushed you over the limit, get advice before you apply. Our visa documents checklist tool helps you gather records, and the visa processing time calculator gives a rough timeline.
How Do You Apply for ILR?
Check you meet the route’s rules, collect your evidence, apply online, pay the fee, give biometrics and wait for a decision. The exact form depends on your route.
A typical process looks like this:
- Confirm the qualifying period, salary and income rules for your visa on GOV.UK.
- Pass the Life in the UK test and meet the English requirement, if they apply to you.
- Gather passports, travel records, payslips or other evidence and any documents the route asks for.
- Apply online through the Home Office and pay the fee.
- Book and attend your biometrics appointment.
- Wait for the decision, and use the optional priority service only if you need it.
Keep copies of everything, and do not travel on short notice without checking your leave expiry. If your passport is close to expiry, renew it first. American readers can use our passport renewal guide, and other nationalities should follow their own government’s process.
What Mistakes Cause ILR Refusals?
Exceeding the absence limit, missing the English or test requirement and applying before you qualify are the common problems. Check each point before you pay.
- Counting the wrong start date for your qualifying period.
- Going over the 180-day absence limit without a reason you can document.
- Skipping the Life in the UK test when it is required.
- Using an English test that does not meet the route’s level.
- Missing a salary or financial requirement tied to your visa.
- Assuming a family member is covered by your application, when each person pays the full fee.
- Paying an agent who promises approval. Only the Home Office decides.
- Relying on old articles when the rules are changing.
When unsure, use the official source. The GOV.UK page on indefinite leave to remain is the best starting point.
FAQs
What is UK PR?
It is indefinite leave to remain (ILR). It lets you live, work and study in the UK with no time limit, but you are not a British citizen.
How long does it take to get UK PR?
Most work and family routes usually need 5 years. Long residence needs 10 years. A proposal would raise the usual period to 10 years.
How much does UK PR cost?
Reports put the ILR fee at £3,226 per applicant from 8 April 2026. The Life in the UK test costs £50, and priority services cost extra.
Do I need the Life in the UK test for ILR?
You may. GOV.UK says the test costs £50 and has 24 questions. People under 18, aged 65 or over, or with certain conditions are exempt.
Has the 10-year rule for ILR started?
No, not as of early October 2026. A law firm article says the five-year period still applies and the final policy is due before February 2027.
How many days can I spend outside the UK?
For most work and family routes, reports say 180 days in any 12-month period. Long residence has a different limit.
Does UK PR give me citizenship?
No. ILR is permanent residence. British citizenship is a separate application with its own requirements.
Conclusion
UK PR means indefinite leave to remain, and most work and family routes take 5 years, though the government has proposed longer waits. Count your qualifying years and absences, budget about £3,226 plus extras, prepare for the English and Life in the UK requirements and check GOV.UK for the final earned settlement rules before you apply.
