ILR requirements today
- 5 continuous years on Skilled Worker, Health and Care, Scale-up or most Global Talent routes (3 years for some Global Talent applicants). Graduate, High Potential Individual and Student time do not count.
- Absences: no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12 months.
- Salary: Skilled Workers must still meet the salary requirement and the sponsor must confirm the job continues.
- Life in the UK test (ยฃ50, 24 questions, 75% pass mark) for ages 18โ64.
- English: visa-stage proof counts today; B2 is required for applications from 26 March 2027.
- Fee: ยฃ3,226 per person, plus ยฃ500 priority or ยฃ1,000 super-priority if you want a faster decision.
British citizenship
After ILR: 12 months' wait (unless married to a British citizen), 5 years' residence (3 if married to a British citizen), no more than 450 days abroad in 5 years (270 in 3 years for spouses) and 90 in the last 12 months, good character, Life in the UK test and English. Fee ยฃ1,839 including the ยฃ130 ceremony. India does not allow dual citizenship, so becoming British ends Indian citizenship; most people then apply for an OCI card.
Sources: GOV.UK: Indefinite leave to remain (Skilled Worker) ยท GOV.UK: Earned settlement consultation ยท GOV.UK: Higher standard of English to settle ยท GOV.UK: Citizenship after ILR ยท GOV.UK: Citizenship if married to a British citizen ยท GOV.UK: Life in the UK test ยท GOV.UK: Home Office immigration and nationality fees (8 October 2026) ยท GOV.UK: Global Talent visa.