Settlement (ILR) and Citizenship
Applying for indefinite leave to remain at the end of a work, family or ECAA route — and citizenship afterwards.
Key facts
Last checked: 6 November 2026- Skilled Worker
- Settlement after 5 years
- Global Talent
- 3 or 5 years depending on field and route
- ECAA permissions
- Settlement after 5 years
- Common requirement
- Continuous residence and limits on absences
- Next step
- Citizenship is a separate application after ILR
Indefinite leave to remain gives you the right to live and work in the UK without a time limit. The qualifying period depends on your route: five years on Skilled Worker and the ECAA permissions, three or five on Global Talent.
Continuous residence is where files fail
Completing five years is not enough on its own — absences from the UK must stay within defined limits, and building that schedule from passport stamps is the most laborious part of the application.
Citizenship is separate
Naturalisation after ILR is a separate application with its own requirements and fee.
Frequently asked questions
Five years on Skilled Worker and the ECAA routes, three or five on Global Talent. Completing the period is not enough on its own — continuous residence must also be satisfied.
No. Naturalisation is a separate application with its own requirements and fee.
Official sources
Fees and rules can be changed by the Home Office at any time. We confirm the current figures from these pages before every application.
Visa decisions rest entirely with the consulate; no consultancy can guarantee an outcome.