After spending 5 years (60 months) in the UK as the spouse or civil partner of a British citizen or settled person, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

In order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain as a spouse or civil partner you will need to demonstrate that:

• You have lived together with your spouse or civil partner in the UK since your grant of leave or there is good reason, consistent with a continuing intention to live together permanently in the UK, for any period when you have not done so;

• You meet the higher English Language requirement that applies to settlement applications;

• You have passed the Life in the UK test.

After spending 5 years (60 months) in the UK as the unmarried partner of a British citizen or settled person, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK.

In order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain as an unmarried partner you will need to demonstrate that:

• You have lived together with your partner in the UK since your grant of leave or there is good reason, consistent with a continuing intention to live together permanently in the UK, for any period when you have not done so;

• You meet the higher English Language requirement that applies to settlement applications;

• You have passed the Life in the UK test.

In order to qualify for indefinite leave to enter the UK as an Adult Dependant Relative, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are the parent aged 18 years or over, grandparent, brother or sister aged 18 years or over or son or daughter aged 18 years or over of a person who is in the UK and that person is over 18 and either a British citizen, settled in the UK or a person with refugee leave or humanitarian protection status;

• As a result of age, illness or disability, you require long-term personal care (that is help performing everyday tasks, e.g. washing, dressing and cooking);

• You are unable, even with the practical and financial help of your family member in the UK, to obtain the required level of care in the country where you are living because it is not available and there is no person (close relative, home-help, housekeeper, nurse, carer, care or nursing home) in your country who can reasonably provide it, or because it is not affordable;

• You will be adequately maintained, accommodated and cared for in the UK by your family member, without recourse to public funds (If your family member is a British citizen or settled in the UK, they will be required to sign a 5-year undertaking to this effect).

An application for indefinite leave to enter the UK as the child of a settled parent or relative may be appropriate in the following circumstances:

• Where the child is coming to the UK to live with both parents and either:

  • Both parents are British citizens or have indefinite leave to remain, or are being admitted on the same occasion for settlement; or

  • One parent is a British citizen or has indefinite leave to remain, and the other parent is applying to come to the UK.

• Where the child is coming to the UK to live with only one parent and either:

  • One parent is a British citizen or has indefinite leave to remain, and the other parent is dead; or

  • One parent is a British citizen or has indefinite leave to remain, and that parent has had sole responsibility for the child’s upbringing; or

  • One parent is a British citizen or has indefinite leave to remain, and there are serious and compelling family or other considerations that mean that it would be undesirable to exclude the child from the UK.

• Where the child is coming to live with another relative who is not their parent and:

  • The relative is a British citizen or has indefinite leave to remain, and there are serious and compelling family or other considerations that mean that it would be undesirable to exclude the child from the UK.

Additionally, the child will have to show that they satisfy the following requirements:

• They are related to the parent or other relative as claimed;

• They are under 18 at the date of application;

• They are not married, in a civil partnership or leading an independent life;

• There is adequate accommodation and maintenance for the child, without relying on public funds.

A child with limited leave to remain as the child of a parent with, or applying for, limited leave as a partner may also qualify for indefinite leave to remain as the child of a parent, parents or a relative present and settled in the United Kingdom if able to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• Both parents are British citizens or settled in the UK;

• One parents is settled or settling in the UK and the other parent is dead;

• One parent is settled or settling in the UK and has sole responsibility for looking after the child;

• One parent or relative is settled or settling in the UK and there are compelling reasons why the child should be allowed to stay.

Additionally, the child will have to show that they satisfy the following requirements:

• They are related to the parent or other relative as claimed;

• They are under 18 at the date of application;

• They are not married, in a civil partnership or leading an independent life;

• There is adequate accommodation and maintenance for the child, without relying on public funds.

  
  

If you are at least 18 years old and have been granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK, you may be eligible to apply for Naturalisation as a British citizen.

In order to be naturalised as a British citizen, you will need to meet certain statutory criteria with regard to your immigration status, length of residence in the UK, future intentions, knowledge of the English language and life in the UK, and good character.