Welcome back to my blog! It’s been a while since my last post, but I’m excited to be back and share my thoughts and insights with you again. I’ve been away for a little while, but during that time, I’ve been thinking a lot about the direction I want to take this blog, and I have some exciting information that I can’t wait to share with you.
It’s great to be back in the swing of things, and I’m looking forward to connecting with my readers again. Thank you for sticking with me, and I hope you enjoy what’s to come! This post will have multiple parts about the Documents Required for a UK [United Kingdom] ILR – Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you’re applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK, you’ll need to provide a range of documents to support your application. It’s important to note that the exact documents you’ll need will depend on your individual circumstances and the route you’re applying under. It’s always a good idea to seek advice from an immigration lawyer or advisor to ensure you have all the documents you need before submitting your application.
Disclaimer: I am not a Lawyer to advise on the documents. This is an exhaustive list just for landscape preparation for an individual.
Please review the up-to-date information about obtaining the ILR at the Gov.UK official website at: https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain, and this post was correct at the time of posting.
Application Documents
These documents give the outline of your application. You can download these documents when you have applied at gov.uk official website. Please check the official website for more updated and live information.
- Checklist
- Cover Letter
- Verification Consent Document
- Family Consent Document
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Finance Documents
Finance Documents are likely to be asked for the period of stay. Usually, you can find the statements for the previous 6 years on the High Street Bank websites. If you haven’t stored your statements, please reach out and request the statements for a small fee.
- Bank Statements: The entire period of legal stay.
- P60s and P45s: Ask your employers for these documents. All your employers should be able to give you.
- HMRC Documents: All correspondences from the HMRC
- NiNo / DWP Information: Assignment of the National Insurance number or other public funds benefits letters.
- Tax Statements
- Accountant Letters
- Payslips: Ensure that all the payslips are arranged according to the pay period.
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Educational Qualifications
Perform a basic check of the validity of the educational documents. Certain documents will be valid only for a specified period. For example, IELTS is valid only for 2 years.
- University Certificates
- University Transcripts
- ECCTIS Document
- NARIC Document
- IELTS or an equivalent one
- Qualification Certificates
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Proof of Identity
All the dated documents will help in scoring the application well.
- Passport Details (Current and Old)
- National Identity Card (if issued in your Home Country)
- UK Driving License / Provisional Driving License
- Biometric Residence Permit (BRP Card)
- Immigration Status Document (ISD)
- UK Travel Document
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Evidence of Continous Legal Residence
All the applicable documents mentioned in this post from the first entry date until 28 days before the eligibility should be produced. If you had been illegal in between, please speak to an immigration solicitor for further proceedings.
- Bank Statements
- Council Tax documents
- Copies of VISA / BRP granted
- House Deeds
- Mortgage Statement
- Rent Agreement
- Utility Bills
- Land Registry Letter
- Electoral Roll Letters
- DVLA Letter / V5C Books
- Home Office correspondences
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Life Events / Official Documents
While you are in the United Kingdom, you and your family will have several life events. Curated copies of those documents should be included.
- UK Birth Certificate
- UK Marriage Document(s)
- UK Divorce Document(s)
- UK Death Certificate
- UK Adoption Certificate
- UK Change of Name Deed
- Home Country or Foreign Birth Certificate
- Home Country or Foreign Marriage Document(s)
- Home Country or Foreign Divorce Document(s)
- Home Country or Foreign Death Certificate
- Home Country or Foreign Adoption Certificate
- Home Country or Foreign Change of Name Deed
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Medical Information
Starting November 2021, the UK V&I is asking for information on all your visits to the GP and A&E during your legal stay in the country to determine various information about you. Please ensure that you have that information handy while filling out the application.
- Doctor Letter
- NHS Registration Letter
- Medical Exemption Certificate
- Medical Insurance Documents (private, if any)
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Sponsor/Employer Documents
One of the critical pieces of information that the UK Home Office looks into while assessing your application is the Sponsor/Employer documents.
- Employer Offer / Appointment Letter
- Certificate of Service
- Ministry of Defence Service Certificates
- Sole Trader Registration
- Companies House Information
- Continuous Employment Letter
- Character Assessment Letter from Company
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Life in the UK
Life in the UK (LIT UK) test is a test to test knowledge about the United Kingdom. It has 24 questions, of which at least 18 should be attempted correctly to obtain the pass number. You can read more about it at https://www.gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test and take the test. It has lifetime validity, so anytime during the continuous legal stay period, you can attempt it.
You do not need to take the test if you:
- are under 18
- are 65 or over
- have passed it before – for example, if you’re applying to become a citizen and have already passed it as part of your settlement application
- have a long-term physical or mental condition – you must provide either a form or letter from a doctor confirming your physical or mental condition
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
English Language
As said earlier, you need to have the English language eligibility test taken as per the requirements of the UK Home Office.
Certain documents will be valid only for a specified period. For example, IELTS is valid only for 2 years.
- IELTS or an equivalent one
- ECCTIS Document
- NARIC Document
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Period of Stay
This is one of the most critical areas of the application. The requirements of ILR say you should have a continuous legal stay in the UK.
To be eligible to apply for ILR, you will need to evidence in your application that you have not spent 180 days or more outside of the UK in the 12 months before your application.
Short trips away (24 hours or longer) from the UK during weekends or other non-working days consistent with the basis of stay and do not break the continuity of leave will have to be counted towards the 180-day limit.
In limited circumstances, excessive absences may be deemed allowable and not counted toward the 180-day limit, such as any absence related to the original purpose of entry to the UK and absences based on serious, compelling or compassionate grounds.
Serious or compelling reasons could include:
- Serious illness of the applicant or a close relative
- A conflict
- A natural disaster, such as a volcanic eruption etc
- COVID travel disruption
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Other Documents
Other documents may be any document that should be appropriate for the application.
- Court Letters
- DBS Disclosures
- Police Letters – ACRO
- Police Registration
- Local Authority Letters
- Evidence of Relationship
- Screenshots of Conversations
- Oath of allegiance
- Translated documents
- Others
This is an exhaustive list of information. Please check with your solicitor or lawyer for the documents before proceeding with your ILR application.
Application Fees
The UK Home Office fee is £2,404 for each applicant applying for ILR. Correct as of the date of this article.
Usually, you will get the decision in 6 months, with an exceptionally limitless timeframe for complex applications. You may be able to pay for a faster decision on a visa or settlement (‘indefinite leave to remain’) application if you’re applying from inside the UK. Check the official website for more details on the timelines.
Depending on the solicitor’s experience, they may charge you around £1500 to £5500 + VAT for a new ILR application.
