ILR (Long Residence). Simplified.

You must have been lawfully resident in the UK for at least 10 years continuously,  without absences of 180 days at one time, or a total of 540 days over the 10 year period.

You must meet the knowledge of language and life requirement which involves completing the Life in the UK Test and achieving level B1 English language qualification (CEFR) (unless you are exempt).

You will need to complete the application online and pay the fee.

You will also be asked to make an appointment at a UKVCAS service point to provide your fingerprints and have a photo taken (biometrics).

You will need to either submit your supporting documents online or take them to your UKVCAS appointment and have them scanned.

The long residency application costs £2404 at the time of writing. However, the fees do increase annually.

It is sometimes possible to get a quicker decision if you pay for the priority or super priority service.

You will need to provide the following information in the ILR form:

• Your current address and recent address history

• National Insurance number

• Length of time lived in the UK, and date of entry

• UK immigration history (types of permission held, including dates from and to)

• All absences from the UK during 10 year period

• Details of any family in your country of birth, nationality, or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years

• Details of any friends in your country of birth, nationality, or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years

• Details of any social groups or cultural ties in your country of birth, nationality or any other country where you have lived for more than 5 years

• Life in the UK test unique reference number

• How you meet the English language requirement

• Details of any employment/self-employment, including job title, earnings, organisation name, telephone number, when you started working

• Details of any previous immigration issues, including

  • Visa refusals
  • Refusal of entry at the border
  • Refusal of permission to stay or remain
  • Refusal of asylum
  • Deportation or removal or otherwise being required to leave
  • Exclusion from the UK or banned from entry

• Details of any of the following, in the UK or in another country

  • A criminal conviction
  • A penalty for a driving offence, for example disqualification for speeding or no motor insurance
  • An arrest or charge for which you are currently on, or awaiting trial
  • A caution, warning, reprimand or other out-of-court penalty
  • A civil court judgment against you, for example for non payment of debt, bankruptcy proceedings or anti-social behaviour
  • A civil penalty issued under UK immigration law

• Any other good character issues

You will need to provide full scans of your current passport and any other passports that you have held whilst in the UK.

You should also provide scans of your current and any previous BRPs or visas showing that you have held lawful residence throughout the 10 year period.

You will also need to provide proof of completing the Life in the UK Test (if this was taken when certificates were still issued), and your English language qualification/certificate, if applicable.

You may also have to provide evidence to prove relationships with your child/children (for example full birth certificates) and any document(s) showing your child/children's immigration status such as passports, biometric residence cards, or vignettes.

The Home Office provides a processing time of 6 months to make a decision on your long residency application.

If available, you may be able to pay an extra £800 for the super priority service so that you can get a decision the next working day after your UKVCAS appointment.