Indefinite leave to remain in the UK: your rights and status

If you would like to find out how to apply for
ILR
please go to the
application guidance
to find out if you are eligible.
If you have indefinite leave to remain or enter (
ILR
or
ILE
)
If you have
ILR
or
ILE
there is no longer any time limit on your ability to stay in the UK.
If you have
ILR
or
ILE
and your home is in the UK you are regarded as settled in the UK.
If you do not have a document to prove your
ILR
or
ILE
If you believe that you have
ILR
or
ILE
but do not have a document to prove it, you can make a
no time limit (
NTL
) application
for confirmation of your status in the form of an
eVisa
. An eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status.
You can apply for
NTL
if:
your passport containing your status or previous
NTL
endorsement has been lost, stolen or has expired
you have
ILR
or
ILE
but you do not have any documentary evidence confirming this
you have legitimately changed your identity since being granted indefinite leave and want this confirmed
Windrush Scheme
If you or your parent were settled in the UK on 1 January 1973, or arrived in the UK before 1988, you should check if you are eligible to apply for evidence of your status under the
Windrush scheme
.
If you have ‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme
If you have
ILR
(settled status) granted under the EU Settlement Scheme
, you will not need to apply for a document confirming your status. The Home Office will have emailed you a link to an online service that you can use to view and prove your status.
EU Settlement Scheme
guidance provides further information on what you’ll be able to do.
For more information, including where you might be given a physical document to prove your status, visit the ‘
after you’ve applied
’ chapter of the EU Settlement Scheme guidance.
Your biometric residence permit (
BRP
)
If you are settled in the UK your
BRP
will either say:
‘Indefinite leave to enter’
‘No time limit’
All BRPs are now expired. You can use it for 24 months after the expiry date printed on your card or until 31 December 2026, whichever comes first.
We are replacing physical documents, such as BRPs and vignette stickers, with a digital record of your immigration status. This is known as an
eVisa
.
If you have permission to stay in the UK longer than the expiry date of your
BRP
, you need to create an account to
get an eVisa
. Access to your eVisa will not be automatically set up.
You should keep your expired
BRP
as it may help with future applications to stay in the UK.
You should
update your UK Visas and Immigration (
UKVI
) account
if you’ve changed your personal details such as your name or gender, or if your facial appearance changes significantly.
If your
BRP
is lost or stolen in the UK you must
report the loss or theft to the Home Office
. The
BRP
will be cancelled. This is to protect your identity and ensure your status is not misused.
If your
BRP
is lost or stolen abroad, you must
report it lost or stolen
and you may need to apply for a
temporary visa
to return to the UK.
Working in the UK
You are free to work in the UK in any business, profession or employment, including self-employment. You must comply with the law and any statutory regulations for that business, profession or employment.
If you are thinking of going to live or work on the Isle of Man or Channel Islands, you should consult the immigration authorities of those islands first.
Studying in the UK
You are free to study in the UK.
Voting in the UK
Types of election, referendums, and who can vote
provides information about whether you can vote in the UK.
Access to healthcare
The
NHS entitlements: migrant health guide
provides information about when and how you can access healthcare in the UK.
Generally, healthcare is available free to a person who is settled in the UK.
Access to benefits and services
To find out about individual benefits and who is entitled to access them visit the GOV.UK
benefits
section.
The new State Pension
guide provides information on State Pensions for people who have lived and worked abroad.
You usually need 10 years of UK National Insurance contributions to be eligible for the new UK State Pension.
Children born in the UK while you are settled
If you have a child in the UK while you are settled here they will normally be a British citizen automatically at birth. If you have a child who was born in the UK after 1 January 1983 and who is not a British citizen, they may be entitled to be registered as a British citizen once you are settled in the UK. You can
check if you can become a British citizen
.
Family members who want to live with you in the UK
Family members who are not British citizens may be able to join you in the UK. Information on this is available in the section on
family in the UK
.
If you have status under the EU Settlement Scheme you can find more information about family members joining you in the UK in the guidance
EU Settlement Scheme
.
Travelling outside the UK
If you stay outside the UK, Ireland or the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey), for 2 or more years at a time your
ILE
or
ILR
will automatically end.
If you have been granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, your leave will automatically end if you stay outside the UK, Ireland or the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey) for 5 or more years. If you’re a Swiss citizen with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you and your family members can spend up to 4 years in a row outside the UK, Ireland or the Crown Dependencies before your leave automatically ends. Your family members do not have to be Swiss citizens.
If this happens you will need to apply for entry clearance as a returning resident before coming back to live in the UK. Further information is available in the guidance on
returning residents visas
.
If you have an eVisa
Sign in to your
UKVI
account
to check that your eVisa is linked to your current passport or travel document. You’ll still need to carry your current passport or travel document with you.
You should also
get a share code to prove your immigration status
before you travel. Your carrier may ask for it. A share code is valid for 90 days.
If your
BRP
or BRC expired on or after 31 December 2024
You will need an eVisa to demonstrate your permission to travel to the UK.
Before travelling internationally you should:
set up access to your eVisa
by creating a
UKVI
account, if you have not done it already
make sure your current travel document is linked to your
UKVI
account
Can my indefinite leave to enter or remain be taken away?
If you are deported from the UK your indefinite leave will be invalidated.
Indefinite leave can also be taken away (revoked) if you:
are liable to deportation but cannot be removed for legal reasons, such as the UK’s obligations under the Refugee Convention or the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
obtained leave by deception
were granted leave as a refugee and cease to be a refugee
Your indefinite leave will lapse if you stay outside the UK for 2 or more years (5 or more, if granted settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme) at a time. If you’re a Swiss citizen with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme your indefinite leave will lapse if you stay outside the UK for 4 years or more in a row.
Becoming a British citizen
To apply for citizenship, you must usually have been living in the UK for at least 12 months after being granted indefinite leave. There are also other requirements. Visit
Check if you can become a British citizen
for more information on eligibility and how to apply.