Indefinite leave to remain if you have a business, investor or talent visa

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Overview

You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you have one of the following visas:

  • Global Talent
  • Tier 1 (Investor)
  • Tier 1 (Entrepreneur)

Indefinite leave to remain is a way you can settle in the UK. It’s also called ‘settlement’. Getting it means you can live, work, study or claim benefits in the UK without time restrictions. You can use it to become a British citizen.

The Global Talent visa has replaced the Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa. If you have a Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent) visa, apply for indefinite leave to remain as someone with a Global Talent visa.

Eligibility

Time in the UK and financial requirements

You must:

  • have lived in the UK for long enough - this can be from 2 to 5 years
  • meet the financial requirements

The specific eligibility depends on your visa - check the time in the UK and financial requirements.

If you’re not eligible using one of these visas, there are other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

Time on other visas

If you have a Global Talent visa, you can include any time you’ve spent on the following visas to meet the requirements for time spent in the UK:

  • any Tier 1 visa - except Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)
  • Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker
  • Scale-up Worker
  • Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) or T2 Minister of Religion
  • International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson)
  • Innovator Founder
  • Representative of an Overseas Business

If you have a Tier 1 (Investor) or Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa, you cannot include time you’ve spent on other visas.

Time outside the UK

You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months.

If you think you’re affected by this rule, find out how to calculate your time in the UK (‘continuous residence’).

If you have a Global Talent visa, time you’ve spent outside the UK doing work related to your job may not count towards this 180-day limit. This rule applies if you were endorsed by the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering, British Academy or UK Research and Innovation. It also applies if you did not need an endorsement for your visa because you had won an eligible award in the fields of science, engineering, humanities or medicine.

Knowledge of language and life in the UK

If you’re 18 to 64 you’ll need to book and pass the Life in the UK Test.

You’ll also need to meet the English language requirements if you’re applying with a Global Talent visa or Tier 1 (Investor) visa.

When to apply

The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you’ve met the requirements for the time you need to have lived in the UK - check the time in the UK and financial requirements. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.

Do not wait until your current visa expires. If your visa expires before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, you’ll need to renew it first.

Fees and how long it takes

It costs £2,885 for each person applying. You can include your partner and children on the same application form, if they’re eligible.

You’ll each need to have your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) taken - there’s no fee for this.

You’ll usually get a decision within 6 months if you apply using the standard service.

You must not travel outside of the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get a decision. Your application will be withdrawn if you do.

Get a faster decision on your application

If you’re applying using your Tier 1 (Investor visa), you can pay an extra £500 to use the priority service to get a decision within 5 working days.

If you’re applying using your Tier 1 (Investor) or Global Talent visa, you can pay an extra £1,000 to use the super priority service to get a decision:

  • by the end of the next working day after providing your fingerprints and photo (known as ‘biometric information’) if your appointment is on a weekday
  • 2 working days after providing your biometric information if your appointment is at the weekend

Working days are Monday to Friday, not including bank holidays.

The priority and super priority services are not available if you’re applying with a Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) visa.