We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies.
You have rejected additional cookies.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if both:
There’s a different way to stay in the UK if:
The eligibility criteria are different depending on if you’re on the:
If you’re not sure which route you’re on, check the letter you got from the Home Office when your ‘leave to remain’ was last approved.
Your current visa must be based on your relationship with your partner. You must be either:
You must also:
If you’re on the 10 year route, you must have had permission to be in the UK based on this relationship for at least one year.
You must have been living in the UK on your family visa as a partner for at least:
You cannot include time you’ve spent in the UK:
You must have been living in the UK for at least 10 continuous years. You can include time you’ve spent on any other visas which lead to indefinite leave to remain.
You cannot include time you’ve spent in the UK as a fiancé, fiancée or proposed civil partner.
You and your partner must usually have a combined income of at least £18,600 a year.
You must prove you have extra money if you have children who:
If you need to prove extra money for your children, you’ll need to earn an extra:
This is called the ‘minimum income requirement’.
If you get Personal Independence Payment, Carer’s Allowance or Attendance Allowance or certain other disability benefits, you only need enough money to house and support yourself and your children. This is called the ‘maintenance requirement’.
You must prove your income as you did when you applied for your family visa.
You must have enough money to house and support yourself and your children without using public funds.
There are no financial requirements.
If you’re 18 to 64 you’ll need to:
You can include your children on your application if they’re eligible – the eligibility criteria are different for children under or over 18.
You can add your child to your application if all of the following are true:
Your partner must be your child’s other parent unless:
Parent means a biological parent, adoptive parent, or step-parent where the biological parent has died.
Children 18 and over must have had permission to be in the UK as a dependant on your family visa before they turned 18. They must still not be living an independent life.
They also need to:
You cannot include your children in your application.
Your children may still be able to apply separately.
You’ll be told which documents you need to provide when you apply. You’ll need to:
You must apply online. The form you use depends if you’re on the:
The earliest you can apply is 28 days before you meet the requirements for the time you need to have lived in the UK. Your application may be refused if you apply earlier.
Do not wait until your current visa expires. If your visa expires before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, you’ll need to renew it first.
Once you’ve started your application, you can save your form and complete it later.
You can get help with completing the online form if you:
You can only use this service if you’re applying in the UK.
You cannot get immigration advice through this service.
Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.