There are a number of routes available for work related settlement in the UK:
- Tier 1 General Highly Skilled Worker
- Tier 2 General Skilled Worker
- Tier 2 Intra-Company Transfer
- Sole Representative of an Overseas Business
- UK Ancestry
To apply for settlement (ILR) under a work category you must:
- You have been lawfully in the UK under a permitted category for a continuous period of 5 years;
- You must not have been outside of the UK for over 180 days in any rolling 12 calendar month periods preceding the date of application;
- You have adequate knowledge of the English language;
- You have taken and passed the Life in the UK test.
Each work related category has additional eligibility criteria.
Additional Criteria for Settlement for Partners and Family Member:
Once granted settlement or ILR, there are no limits on the time that you cn remain in the UK.
However, if you leave the UK for more than 2yrs your status will end. You may be able to apply for a Returning Resident visa.
In order to qualify for a British passport, you will need to show you have permanent resident status, see our Naturalisation section for the requirements.
English language and the Life in the UK test are not necessary if you are under 18 or 65 years of age or over. There are other limited discretionary criteria which may enable you to be exempt if you can show that it would be unreasonable due to a mental or physical condition. Other exemptions also apply.
How can AIB help?
AiB frequently advise and assist employees and skilled workers of SME and larger companies in all industries to secure work related settlement in the UK.
We can advise you on prospects of success, what you will need to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules, and can prepare your application so you avoid common mistakes which can result in delays and refusals.
AiB provide expert independent assessment of the prospects of qualifying for settlement and a professional preparation service for applications for indefinite leave to remain.
We are approachable, responsive and proactive; taking pride in our commitment to meet the needs of our clients by providing sincere, clear, and reliable immigration advice.
Other ways we can help:
We can also advise you on the following related issues:
- Indefinite leave to remain as a Tier 1 General Highly Skilled Worker;
- Indefinite leave to remain as a Tier 2 General Skilled Worker;
- Indefinite leave to remain as a Tier 2 Inter-Company Transfer Worker;
- Indefinite leave to remain as a Sole Representative of an Overseas Business;
- Naturalisation as a British Citizen;
- Indefinite leave to enter as a Dependent Family Member(s);
- Indefinite leave to remain as a Person with UK Ancestry.