Indefinite leave to remain (armed forces)

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Family members

Your partner and children may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain.

If they’re eligible, they can apply either:

  • as part of your application if you’re leaving the armed forces and settling
  • separately if you’re still serving, settled already or a British citizen

Eligibility

Your partner and children may be eligible if you either:

  • have been discharged in the past 2 years
  • are currently in the UK armed forces and have at least 5 years service

You must either be:

  • applying to settle in the UK
  • already settled, or a British citizen

There are different rules if you’re a former Gurkha or Hong Kong military unit veteran.

Your partner must have been in the UK for 5 years with permission as your partner on your visa. Postings outside the UK can be included in the 5 years.

Financial requirements

You must prove you and your partner intend to live together and have a combined income of at least £23,496 per year.

You will not need to prove you have this money if you or your partner get certain disability benefits or Carer’s Allowance, but you’ll need to adequately accommodate and support yourselves and any dependants.

Read the guidance on the financial requirements.

Knowledge of life and language

Your partner must:

Eligibility for children

Children under 18 can apply if you’re still serving in the armed forces, a British citizen, settled or settling as ex-armed forces and one of the following applies:

  • their other parent is either serving in the armed forces or settling as ex-armed forces
  • their other parent is applying or has applied to settle as your partner
  • you have sole responsibility or their other parent has died
  • there are serious and compelling reasons why the child should be allowed to stay in the UK

They must also:

  • have previously been given permission to stay in the UK as your child
  • not be married, in a civil partnership or leading an independent life
  • be going to live with you and be supported by you without using public funds

Your child’s application may be refused for other reasons, for example their previous immigration history. Read more about why applications can be refused.

Children 18 and over

Your child 18 or over may be eligible to settle if they were given permission to be in the UK as your child when they were under 18.

They must meet the same eligibility as a dependent child under 18. They may also need to:

Your child must apply separately if they’re over 18.

If your partner died and was in the armed forces

You can apply if your partner died while they were either:

  • serving in the armed forces
  • applying to settle as a former member of the armed forces
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