Indefinite leave to remain in the UK: your rights and status
Source: gov.uk (2025-06-01)

Information about what it means to have indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK, also known as settlement.

If you would like to find out how to apply for ILR please go to the application guidance (https://www.gov.uk/settle-in-the-uk) 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 (www.gov.uk/evisa-no-time-limit) for confirmation of your status in the form of an eVisa (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/windrush-scheme).

If you have ‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme

If you have ILR (settled status) granted under the EU Settlement Scheme (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/eu-settlement-scheme-view-and-prove-your-rights-in-the-uk), 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 (https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/what-settled-and-presettled-status-means) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families/after-youve-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 18 months after the expiry date (https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits) printed on the card in certain circumstances.

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 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/online-immigration-status-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 (https://www.gov.uk/get-access-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 (https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/biometric-residence-permits/). 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 (https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/country-selection) and you may need to apply for a temporary visa (https://visas-immigration.service.gov.uk/visa-type) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/elections-in-the-uk) provides information about whether you can vote in the UK.

Access to healthcare

The NHS entitlements: migrant health guide (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/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 (https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits) section.

The new State Pension (https://www.gov.uk/new-state-pension/living-and-working-overseas) 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 (https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship).

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 (https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration/family-visas).

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 (https://www.gov.uk/family-permit/).

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 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/returning-residents).

If you have an eVisa

Sign in to your UKVI account (https://www.gov.uk/update-uk-visas-immigration-account-details/update-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 (https://www.gov.uk/view-prove-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 (https://www.gov.uk/get-access-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 (https://www.gov.uk/british-citizenship) for more information on eligibility and how to apply.