Applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is one of the most important steps in your UK journey. Missing one document can delay your application by months. This checklist covers everything you need to gather before you apply on the Skilled Worker route.
Before you start: check your eligibility date. You can apply after 5 continuous years on a qualifying visa. You can submit up to 28 days before your exact eligibility date. Use the free calculator at Settle Easy UK to find your exact date before you gather any documents.
1. Identity Documents
Identity
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Current valid passport
Must be valid on the date you apply.
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All previous passports
Every passport you held during your 5-year qualifying period. The Home Office needs to see your full travel history.
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Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
Your current BRP and any previous BRPs if you have them.
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Complete travel history
Every trip outside the UK during your qualifying period: departure date, return date, destination.
Do not cut up or dispose of old passports. If you renewed your passport during the 5-year period, you need both. Entry and exit stamps from your old passport are part of your travel history.
2. Continuous Residence Evidence
The Home Office needs to see that you have lived in the UK continuously for 5 years. Any gap in your leave can reset your qualifying period, unless it is covered by Section 3C leave or the 14-day Paragraph 39E grace period. Gather at least two types of evidence for each year of your qualifying period:
Continuous residence
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P60 tax certificates
One per year for each year of your qualifying period.
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UK bank statements
Showing regular activity throughout the period.
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Payslips
Ideally one per month for each year. The more complete, the better.
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NHS registration or GP letter
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Council tax bills or utility bills
In your name, one per year.
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Mortgage or tenancy agreement
Covering the qualifying period.
3. Employment and Salary Evidence
Your employer must confirm you are still in a qualifying role and earning at or above the salary stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship.
Employment
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Employer letter
On company headed paper, signed. Must state your job title, start date, current salary, and that your role is still sponsored under a valid Skilled Worker licence.
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Payslips: last 6 months minimum
12 months is safer. Some caseworkers ask for more.
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Bank statements showing salary credits
Must match payslip amounts.
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P60: most recent tax year
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Evidence from previous employers
If you changed employer during the 5-year period. Each change must have been covered by a valid Certificate of Sponsorship with no gap in sponsorship.
4. Absence History
This is the most common reason ILR applications are delayed or refused. You must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying years.
Absence record
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Complete trip log
Every departure and return date for the full 5-year period.
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Passport stamps or boarding passes
To support your trip log if needed.
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Covering letter
If any 12-month rolling window was close to 180 days. If any absences fell between 23 March 2020 and 18 March 2022, note this specifically. The Home Office may treat COVID-period absences as exceptional circumstances.
The 180-day rule uses rolling windows, not calendar years. A trip spanning two calendar years can affect two separate 12-month windows. Use a proper absence tracker, not a spreadsheet. Read the full guide to the 180-day rule →
5. English Language Requirement
You must show your English is at B1 level or above. You have several options:
English language: choose one
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Approved English test certificate
From a Home Office approved provider (e.g. IELTS Life Skills, Trinity College London). Must not be expired. Check current validity rules on GOV.UK.
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Degree certificate taught in English
If your degree was taught in English, you may be exempt. Check the Home Office list of qualifying qualifications.
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Nationality exemption
Citizens of majority English-speaking countries listed by the Home Office do not need a test. Check the current list before assuming you qualify. It changes periodically.
6. Life in the UK Test
You must pass the test before you submit your application. You cannot sit the test and apply at the same time. Book it at least a few weeks before your application date. Test centres fill up quickly.
7. Financial Documents
8. Family Members (Dependants)
If your partner or children are applying at the same time, each person needs their own documents. Note: your partner and children have their own ILR eligibility dates. They do not automatically qualify when you do.
For your partner
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Passport and BRP
Current and all previous passports covering their qualifying period.
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Proof of relationship
Marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate. If cohabiting, evidence of 2+ years living together (joint bills, joint tenancy, bank statements).
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Their own absence history
For their qualifying period, separate from yours.
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English language certificate
B1 or above, unless exempt.
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Life in the UK test pass
9. The Application Itself
Submitting
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Apply online at GOV.UK
Search for "apply for indefinite leave to remain". Use the SET(O) form for the Skilled Worker route.
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Application fee: £2,885 per person (2025 rate)
Check the current fee on GOV.UK before you apply. It changes without much notice.
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Book a UKVCAS appointment
To submit your biometrics and documents after you apply online. You will receive instructions by email.
You can apply up to 28 days before your eligibility date. Applying early does not affect your ILR date. It is still calculated from the end of your qualifying period.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Missing passport
If you renewed your passport during your 5-year period, you need both the old and new passport. Do not cut up or dispose of old passports before your ILR is granted.
Gaps in payslips
A missing month raises questions. If you had a gap (unpaid leave, a career break, a period between employers), include a covering letter from your employer explaining it.
Assuming your family qualifies at the same time
They probably do not. Each person has their own qualifying period. Check every family member's date individually before you plan the application.
Not tracking absences properly
The 180-day rule is rolling, not calendar-year. A trip that spans two calendar years can affect two separate 12-month windows. Use a proper absence tracker, not a spreadsheet.
Track your ILR checklist, free
Enter your visa history once. Settle Easy UK tracks your absence record, checks your ILR eligibility date, and shows a document checklist for every family member.
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This article is for general information only. Immigration rules and fees change frequently. Always check the current rules on GOV.UK and speak to a qualified immigration solicitor before making any application. Settle Easy UK is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.