ILR Eligibility

Dear Moderators,

Could you please check my visa history and let me know if I am eligible to apply for Long residence ILR in a couple of days. I am particularly concerned about if my continuous residence is broken, for the long residence qulaifying period.

Visa 1 - ICT Short term Valid from 06th July 2015 till 09th July 2016
Entered UK on 1st Aug 2015, exited on the last date 09th July 2016
Visa 2 - ICT Long term Applied on 12th Aug 2016
Valid from 22nd Aug 2016 till 01 Sep 2021
Entered UK on 5th Sep 2016
Visa 3 - Extended by 1 year (in time extension)
Visa 4 - Extended by another 2 years (in time extension)
Visa 5 - Skilled worker visa (Applied in time)
Issued on 27th Sep 2024, Valid till 1st Sep 2026

As I completed 10 years and will complete 1 year on current visa by 27th this month, am I eligible to apply for Long residence ILR?
Is the period between my 1st & 2nd visa considered as a break in lawful residence for this calculation? Kindly advise.

There is no break. There is no need to be on the current visa for 12 months.
Refrain from making up your own interpretations from what you've heard

Read: Lawful and continuous residence changes to Long Residence route from 11 April 2024

Thanks Zimba for confirming there is no gap.

For the 12 months period, I was interpreting the guideline (about being in the same immigration route) as Skilled worker & ICT/Global mobility as separate routes. Did I get it wrong? It will be good to confirm

tj123 wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 25, 2025 2:14 pm

Thanks Zimba for confirming there is no gap.

For the 12 months period, I was interpreting the guideline (about being in the same immigration route) as Skilled worker & ICT/Global mobility as separate routes. Did I get it wrong? It will be good to confirm

Click on the link I posted above

Ofcourse I had checked on that link.
LR 11.3. Subject to LR 11.4, the applicant must have had permission on their current immigration route for at least 12 months on the date of application

As I mentioned, I was considering visa under ICT/Global mobility and my latest skilled worker as separate immigration routes. Are they the same? If so, apologies for not undertanding that.

They are separate routes, no need to worry

Thanks Zimba. I have waited for 1 year in my new skilled worker visa anyways, so not worried now. Still unclear though if it was required for me to wait.

Separately, while applying set LR I can see too many documents being mentioned in my checklist & application form had questions about partner details & children details. Checklist mentions documents for the relationship, address proof, immigration status proof etc for them as well.
Wonder if these are required at all. I have them, but how is even relevant to set LR.
My understanding was I need to upload passports covering last 10 years with the immigration stamp pages.
LIUK is a reference number (entered in the application) and Proof of english was already used in my skilled worker visa.
So, only the 2 passports and a consent form required?

Yes, you had to wait as moved routes after April 2024. The document checklist is generic. If you provide family details, it mistakenly thinks you need to provide cohabitation evidence and asks for it. It is an error. SET(LR) has nothing to do with your family. You only need to scan biometric pages and those with stamps over the last 10 years.

Thanks Zimba. Applied with only passports & received approval today (within hours of biometric)!

Dear Moderators,

Could you please advise on the ILR eligibility for my spouse & (Non UK born) children. I have received ILR using the LR route 2 months back.

Spouse:
Visa 1 - ICT Short term dependent valid from 25th Mar 2016 till 09th July 2016
Entered UK on 26th Mar 2016, exited on 30th May 2016
Visa 2 - ICT Long term dependent applied on 12th Aug 2016
Valid from 22nd Aug 2016 till 01 Sep 2021
Entered UK on 5th Sep 2016
Visa 3 - Skilled worker visa
Issued on 21 st Jan 2021 Valid till 14th Apr 2026

Children:
Visa 1 - ICT Short term dependent valid from 25th Mar 2016 till 09th July 2016
Entered UK on 26th Mar 2016, exited on 30th May 2016
Visa 2 - ICT Long term dependent Applied on 12th Aug 2016
Valid from 22nd Aug 2016 till 01 Sep 2021
Entered UK on 5th Sep 2016
Visa 3 - Extended by 1 year (in time extension)
Visa 4 - Extended by another 2 years (in time extension)
Visa 5 - Skilled worker dependent visa (Applied in time)
Issued on 27th Sep 2024, Valid till 14th Apr 2026 (Although they are SW dependent on my visa, their validity is based on my spouse visa earlier end date)

Could you please help me with the below:
1)My spouse is eligible for LR route ILR on 22nd Mar 2026? Please confirm
2)My spouse is also eligible for SW 5 year ILR route on 24th Dec 2025? Please confirm
3)Will the kids have to apply at the same time as my spouse or can they wait?
4)Is there a 10 year citizenship route for my children? If so, can they apply directly and avoid paying hefty fees for their ILR?
5)I suppose if we dont get the citizenship (including ceremony completed) by 14th Apr 2026, we have to apply for ILR. If so, can I save money by applying for normal route and cancel their application once citizenship is sorted (assuming it works) and get back the money? I know I can delay biometrics by a period (donno if its 30 days or 40 days), but biometric is completed will they refund money?
6)What happens to section 3c leave if I cancel the ILR application?
7)I suppose I have to wait 12 months from my ILR date (LR route) for me to apply for citizenship. Please confirm
8)Will my spouse also have to wait 12 months? OR she can apply as soon as I get citizenship?
9)Any other speedy/less costly options for any of us here? Too much money to find in the next 1 year

Sorry, too many questions. Kindly help

• Your spouse and child have been already eligible to apply for ILR since you got ILR, under skilled worker route. A single SET(O) application can be used for both.

• You need to wait at least 12 months from the grant of your ILR to become eligible for naturalisation. Only spouses of British citizens do not have such requirement

• Non-UK born children do not have any automatic entitlement to British citizenship at all. They can settle only when one parent is British and the other parent at least holds ILR. The child is also expected to hold ILR. Both your spouse and the child must secure ILR first. There is no shortcut

Thanks Zimba for the response.

Just a couple of follow up questions to be sure I understand my options.

My spouse was a dependent (I was on ICT visa that time) till 2021. In Jan 2021, she received her own skilled worker visa.
Since she was not a dependent on my skilled worker visa, will she be eligible now as I have now ILR(through LR route)? Please confirm.

If she is not eligible & has to wait for her 5 year SW period or 10 year LR period, can the children apply early under Set O? I suppose not

Is there any benefit of my spouse getting her ILR in her own route (SW 5 year or LR) rather than as my dependent?

In that case, she will be eligible under the skilled worker rules on her own, next month. Your status is irrelevant as she is no longer your dependant. The children always follow the immigration path of the less privileged parent so they can only settle with your spouse

Thank you Zimba. One more question.

Can she apply only for herself using priority route & kids apply under normal route once she gets ILR?
To save money ofcourse

tj123 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 01, 2025 10:07 pm

Thank you Zimba. One more question.

Can she apply only for herself using priority route & kids apply under normal route once she gets ILR?
To save money ofcourse

Yes. Two separate applications