This is a permanent UK visa that is officially called Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and allows a person to stay in the UK indefinitely (forever).
You can apply for an ILR under all categories within 28 days before the end of your ‘qualifying period’, not earlier. For spouses/partners of UK citizens and their dependants it is 2 or 5 years of being resident in the UK depending on the visa issue date.
For most others applicants it is 5 years and for Long Residence applications it is 10 years of lawful residence.
Naturalisation and Registration for British Citizenship
It is possible to become a British citizen by naturalisation or registration. Generally, naturalisation as a British citizen will occur after residing for a qualifying period of time in the UK when holding Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
Generally 12 months after holding ILR will a person be eligible for Citizenship however this will normally be when you enter your 6th year of being resident in the UK as the majority of ILR applications are granted after 5 years.
Another aspect to consider is that you must pass the British Citizenship Life in the UK Test and where required a B1 level English Test however you may have already done this as part of an ILR application. We can help with the B1 Level English Test as we are an approved test centre.
Once your Naturalisation application is approved by the Home Office, you will be invited to attend a British Citizenship ceremony. This ceremony will take place in your local council area in the UK only. Once you have done this, you will be eligible to submit an application for a British passport to the Identity and Passport Service.
