Indefinite leave to remain (private life)
Eligibility
The eligibility criteria you have to meet are different depending on whether you’re applying as an adult or a child.
Children and young adults
If you were born in the UK and have lived here for 7 continuous years since your birth, you can apply immediately for indefinite leave to remain on the basis of your private life.
Otherwise you can apply for indefinite leave to remain on the basis of your private life if all of the following are true:
- you arrived in the UK as a child
- you’ve lived in the UK for 5 continuous years on a relevant visa
- you got your most recent visa on the basis of your private life
You must have got this private life visa either:
- as a child
- when you were aged between 18 and 24, because you’d spent half of your life in the UK
Adults
You can apply to settle as an adult on the private life route if you:
- are aged over 18
- have lived in the UK for 10 continuous years with a relevant visa
- have previously been given a visa on the basis of your private life
Continuous years in the UK
Your continuous years in the UK can include time spent on:
- a family or private life visa
- any visa which leads to indefinite leave to remain
If you’re including time which was not spent on a family or private life visa, you must have had a private life visa for at least one year on the day you apply.
Knowledge of language and life in the UK
If you’re aged 18 to 64 you’ll need to book and pass the Life in the UK Test.
You’ll also need to meet the English language requirements. This means you must have either:
- a recognised English qualification with at least level B1 in speaking and listening
- a degree taught or researched in English
If you’re not eligible on the basis of your private life
There are other ways to apply for indefinite leave to remain, for example if you currently have a family visa or dependant visa as a spouse or partner. Check if you can get indefinite leave to remain another way.