Table Of Contents:
- What is ILR on Skilled Worker Visa
- ILR after 5 Years in Skilled Worker Visa
- Eligibility
- How to Apply for ILR on Skilled Worker Visa
- When to Apply for an ILR on Skilled Worker Visa
- Fee and Decision Time for ILR through a UK Skilled Worker Visa
- What If Your Skilled Worker Visa Expires During Your ILR Application
- Summary
ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) or settlement is an immigration status in the UK that is granted to non- UK nationals. There are various visas that lead to settlement, and one of those is skilled worker visa. People wish to obtain ILR because after having settled status in the UK, they can live, work, and study here permanently without any immigration restrictions.
They can also access certain benefits, such as access to public funds and the NHS (National Health Service) for free. Acquiring ILR on a skilled worker visa means having lived in the UK as a non-UK skilled worker for a continuous period of 5 years. You also need to meet other ILR eligibility requirements for an ILR.
It is important to note here that in a White Paper released by the UK government in May 2025, the government proposed to increase the continuous residence requirement for ILR from five to ten years for some migrants, including skilled worker visa.
What is ILR on Skilled Worker Visa?
ILR on skilled worker visa means you have been in the UK with permission as a skilled worker and you have stayed here for 5 years continuously. A skilled worker visa lasts for 5 years after which you can extend it, switch to another visa, or apply for ILR.
A Skilled Worker visa will allow overseas nationals to work in the UK with a licenced sponsor in an eligible job role for up to 5 years before they need to apply for an extension. This visa also provides a path to settlement in the UK. This means that if you have stayed in the UK for 5 years where you currently have or got the Skilled Worker, you may be able to apply for ILR. You can meet the qualifying continuous residence of 5 years requirement following your initial grant of leave with a skilled worker visa or after any extension(s) of stay.
ILR after 5 Years in Skilled Worker Visa
Most non-UK nationals who enter the UK for work, business, start-up, study, joining a family member, or as a dependant family member wish to finally obtain ILR status in the UK. UK skilled workers visa allows overseas nationals to work in the UK and build their career and finally settle and become British citizens.
For ILR on a skilled worker visa, you must have stayed in the UK working for single or multiple UK-based employers. You must be working for a licenced sponsor with a skilled worker visa at the time of ILR application.
You need to meet various other requirements for ILR under Appendix Skilled Worker of the UK’s Immigration Rules, including a continuous residence of 5 years requirement, a job sponsorship and minimum salary requirement, and a knowledge of life in the UK requirement.
Eligibility
You may be able to settle permanently in the UK if you have a skilled worker visa when you apply. You need to meet the following eligibility requirements for an ILR on a skilled worker visa.
1. Continuous Residence
You have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years, although this 5-year continuous residence period does not have to be made up solely of time spent in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa. However, when applying for ILR, you must have, or have last been granted, permission to stay as a Skilled Worker.
2. Salary Threshold Requirement
You must meet the salary threshold requirement. Effective from 22 July 2025, the general salary threshold for a UK skilled worker visa has increased from £38,700 to £41,700. This means those who received their Certificate of Sponsorship between 4 April 2024 and 22 July 2025 must have an offer of a minimum salary of £38,700, or the going rate for their occupation—whichever is higher.
You may be paid less if you have a PhD degree relevant to the job, a PhD degree in a STEM subject relevant to the job, you are a new entrant in the UK labour market, your job is on the immigration shortage list or newly launched temporary shortage list.
3. Sponsorship Requirement
Your sponsor continues to need you for the job, and the job meets the salary requirements even after you get the ILR status. To confirm this, you’ll need to provide a document from your employer (sponsor).
4. Life in the UK Test Requirement
If you’re aged 18 to 64, you must meet, as set out in Appendix KOL UK, the knowledge of Life in the UK requirement. For this, you’ll be required to book and pass the Life in the UK test.
How to Apply for ILR on Skilled Worker Visa?
You must apply to switch to ILR from UK Skilled Worker visa online before your current visa expires. And you must be in the UK when you apply. You may need to book an appointment to re-enroll your biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph). However, there is a provision under the rules to re-use biometric data from previous applications in many cases.
You will need to submit various documents, including a valid passport or other valid travel document, in support of your ILR on skilled worker visa application. You will also need evidence from your UK sponsor that they continue to need you to work for them in your job role for the foreseeable future, and the job meets the salary threshold requirements for Skilled Workers.
Your sponsor should not assign a new certificate of sponsorship for this purpose. Either a letter or an email will be sufficient, provided this can be verified by the sponsor if necessary.
When to Apply for an ILR on Skilled Worker Visa?
You cannot make an application to switch from a Skilled Worker visa to ILR sooner than 28 days before you reach the end of the qualifying 5-year continuous residence period. If you apply any sooner than 28 days before the completion of this period, the Home Office will refuse it.
Fee and Decision Time for ILR through a UK Skilled Worker Visa?
You need to pay a fee of £3,029 to switch to ILR from a skilled worker visa.
It will usually take 6 months to get a decision on your application after you have completed your ILR on skilled worker visa application and submitted the supporting documents.
You may also get a faster decision, where eligible, by paying an extra amount in addition to the ILR application fee.
You can select a priority service or super priority service. With a priority service for which you will need to pay £500, you will get a decision within 5 working days. On the other hand, with a super priority service for which you will need to pay £1,000, you will get a decision at the end of the next working day.
What If Your Skilled Worker Visa Expires During Your ILR Application?
If your existing skilled worker visa expires while your application to switch to ILR from a Skilled Worker visa is under progress, you can stay in the UK and continue working for your sponsor in your existing job role. However, you must have submitted a valid ILR application before your existing leave to remain expires to continue to live in the UK until you get a decision.
Summary
After having lived in the UK for 5 years continuously with your skilled worker visa, you can apply for an ILR, also known as settlement. However, you also need to meet the other eligibility requirements for indefinite leave to remain.
You can apply for ILR on Skilled Worker Visa no more than 28 days before you have been in the UK on a qualifying visa for 5 years.
You don’t need to have resided for a qualifying period of 5 years completely on a skilled worker visa, as time spent in the UK on certain other visa categories, such as the Tier 2 (General) visa, can also count towards the 5-year continuous residence requirement.
If you have dependent family members who have lived in the UK with you for 5 years as your dependants can also apply for ILR if they meet the eligibility criteria.
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