UK Permanent Residence/Indefinite Leave to Remain

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Generally speaking you should not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in a 12 month period during the period of residence in the UK.

The length of time you must spend in the UK before being eligible for Permanent residence in the UK:

Permanent residenceTime needed to gain permanent residency
Skilled Worker visa and former Tier 2 visa5 years
Ancestry5 years
Marriage or Civil Partnership5 years
Unmarried partners5 years
Investors Now discontinued2-5 years
Family Visa5 years
Global Talent3 or 5 years
Innovator or Innovator Founder3
Persons establishing themselves in business5 years
Lawful stay on any basis10 years

 

Since 02 April 2007, persons requesting permanent residence will be required to take the "Life in the UK" test.

Once permanent residence (properly known as indefinite leave to remain) has been granted, there are no longer any immigration related restrictions on the work or business you may do in the UK, and no time limits on your stay in the UK.

You should note that to keep your permanent residence you should not spend longer than two years outside the UK. You should maintain ties to the UK and should consider the UK as your home. If you continue to only spend short periods of time in the UK over many years it is likely that there will come a time when you will lose your indefinite leave to remain in the UK. It is therefore beneficial in most cases to apply for UK citizenship. You can normally apply for naturalisation as an UK citizen one year after being granted indefinite leave to remain and as long as you meet the residence requirements.