Long Residence ILR Solicitor

The 10-year long residence route is one of the most commonly used pathways to Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK. If you have lived lawfully in the UK for a continuous period of at least ten years, you may be eligible to apply for settlement regardless of the type of visa you have held. Law and Justice Solicitors provide specialist advice on long residence ILR applications for clients across London, the West Midlands, and throughout the UK.

What is the Long Residence Route?

The long residence route allows a person who has lived continuously and lawfully in the UK for at least ten years to apply for ILR.. Unlike route-specific settlement applications, the long residence route is available to people who have accumulated ten years of lawful residence across different visa categories.

Eligibility Criteria

• •You have had at least ten years of continuous lawful residence in the UK.
• •You have not been outside the UK for more than 540 days in total during the ten-year period, and not more than 180 days in any 12-month period.
• •You have not been convicted of a criminal offence or been subject to a deportation order.
• •You meet the English language requirement.
• •You have passed the Life in the UK test (unless exempt).
• •There are no reasons to refuse your application on public interest grounds.

What Counts as Continuous Lawful Residence?

All periods of leave to remain during the ten-year period must have been lawful. This means you must have held valid leave throughout. Short gaps between periods of leave, known as section 3C leave, may preserve continuity in certain circumstances. Periods of overstaying will break the continuity of your residence and restart the qualifying period.

Calculating continuous lawful residence can be complex, particularly if you have held different visa categories, had gaps between visas, or spent significant periods outside the UK. Our solicitors will review your full immigration history to assess whether you meet the eligibility criteria.

Documents Required

• •All passports held during the ten-year period, including expired passports.
• •A complete travel history showing all departures from and returns to the UK.
• •Evidence of lawful leave throughout the period, such as visa labels, BRP cards, and Home Office correspondence.
• •Life in the UK test pass notification.
• •English language evidence.

Timeline

ILR applications on the long residence route are submitted online through the UK Visas and Immigration portal. A priority service is available at TLS Contact Centres and a decision is usually made within 24 hours following biometrics. Standard online applications can take up to six months. We recommend using the priority service at a TLS Contact Centre where possible.

Appealing a Refusal

If your long residence ILR application is refused, you may have the right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal or seek an administrative review. The available remedy will depend on the grounds of refusal. We can advise on the merits of challenging a refusal and represent you at any hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What counts as continuous residence for long residence ILR?

All residence during the ten-year period must have been lawful. You must not have spent more than 540 days outside the UK in total, or more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period. Any period of overstaying will break the continuity of your residence.

Does time spent on a student visa count towards long residence?

Yes. Time spent in the UK on a student visa counts towards the ten-year qualifying period for long residence ILR, provided your leave was lawful throughout.

Can I apply early for long residence ILR?

You cannot apply before you have completed the full ten-year qualifying period. However, you can apply as soon as you reach the ten-year point provided you meet all other requirements.