UK indefinite leave to remain for Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa holders

People in the UK with a qualifying Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2, Tier 2 or other visa listed in the route guidance who meet the residence, salary and other requirements.

• Hold a qualifying visa

  The route covers Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker or Tier 2 (General); T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion); and International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visas.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Live and work in the UK for five years

  You must have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years. The guidance lists which combinations of visas can count towards that period.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the absence limit

  You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Do not count time as a dependant

  You cannot include time spent in the UK as a partner or child dependant in your own 5-year qualifying period.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the salary requirement

  You must meet the salary requirement for your visa and job. The amount differs for some healthcare and education jobs, Immigration Salary List jobs, certain earlier Skilled Worker sponsorship, sportsperson visas and minister of religion visas.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Remain needed for your job

  You must continue to be needed for your job and meet the salary requirements after getting indefinite leave to remain; your employer sponsor must provide a document confirming this.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the usual salary threshold, if applicableSometimes needed

  You will usually need to be paid at least whichever is higher: £41,700 per year or the standard going rate for your work.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the healthcare or education threshold, if applicableSometimes needed

  For some healthcare or education jobs with going rates based on national pay scales, you must be paid whichever is higher: £25,000 per year or the going rate based on the national pay scale.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the different Health and Care salary rules, if applicableSometimes needed

  For the specified Health and Care Worker occupation codes, the page says you must be paid whichever is higher out of £31,300 per year, £25,000 per year if the job is or was on the Immigration Salary List, and the lower going rate for the work.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the Immigration Salary List rule, if applicableSometimes needed

  For a Skilled Worker job on the Immigration Salary List now or when you applied, the page says you must be paid at least either £33,400 per year or the standard going rate for the work.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the earlier sponsorship rule, if applicableSometimes needed

  If you got a certificate of sponsorship for your first Skilled Worker or equivalent visa before 4 April 2024 and have continually held Skilled Worker visas since, the page says you must be paid whichever is higher out of £31,300 per year, £25,000 per year if the job is or was on the Immigration Salary List, and the lower going rate for the work.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the specified Tier 2 occupation rule, if applicableSometimes needed

  For the listed science, research and higher education occupation codes sponsored under Tier 2 (General), you must be paid whichever is higher: £25,000 per year or the different going rate for the work.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the sportsperson salary rule, if applicableSometimes needed

  If you have an International Sportsperson, T2 Sportsperson or Tier 2 (Sportsperson) visa, you must be paid £35,800 or more a year. Only earnings from your sponsored main job count, and hourly-paid earnings count for up to 48 hours a week.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet the minister of religion pay rule, if applicableSometimes needed

  If you have a T2 Minister of Religion or Tier 2 (Minister of Religion) visa, you must be paid at least the same as UK workers in the same role and meet national minimum wage requirements.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Pass the Life in the UK Test, if aged 18 to 64Sometimes needed

  If you are aged 18 to 64, you need to book and pass the Life in the UK Test.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet partner conditions, if including a partnerSometimes needed

  Your partner must have UK permission as your dependant, have lived in the UK with you as your dependant for at least 5 continuous years, have a genuine relationship with you, intend to keep living together, have enough income with you to support yourselves and your dependants, and not use public funds. If aged 18 to 64, they must also pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English language requirements.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Meet child conditions, if including a childSometimes needed

  Your child must have UK permission as your child dependant, not be married or in a civil partnership, and live with and be supported by you without public funds. Both parents must be applying to settle or already settled, unless one of the exceptions on the page applies. Additional evidence is required for children over 16; a child aged 18 or over must also meet the page’s conditions for older children, pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English language requirements.

  gov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource

• Indefinite leave to remain applicationgov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource£3,226 per person
• Indefinite leave to remain application for an eligible partner or childgov.uk · checked 5 days agoSource£3,226 per family member

1. Get ready

   • Check your qualifying time

     Check that you have lived and worked in the UK for five years and that your visas count towards the qualifying period.

   • Check your time outside the UK

     Check that you spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months.

   • Check your salary

     Check the salary rule for your visa and job, including any applicable going rate or different threshold.

   • Get confirmation from your employer

     Ask your employer sponsor for a document confirming that you are still needed for your job and will meet the salary requirements after settlement.

     You’ll need: Employer sponsor’s confirmation document

   • Pass the Life in the UK Test if required

     Book and pass the test if you are aged 18 to 64.

     You’ll need: Evidence of passing the Life in the UK Test

   • Check any family members’ eligibility

     Check the separate conditions for any partner or children you want to include on your application.

2. Apply

   • Apply online and pay

     Apply online no earlier than 28 days before completing five years on a qualifying visa, pay the application fee and provide the documents requested in the application.

     You’ll need: Documents requested in the online application

   • Provide your fingerprints and photo

     Attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services appointment and upload your supporting documents or have them scanned there.

     You’ll need: Supporting documents

3. Settle in

   • Wait for the decision

     Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before the decision, or your application will be withdrawn.

The right to live, work and study in the UK indefinitely, and the ability to apply for British citizenship.

• gov.uk/government/publications/settlement-customer-service-standards/…Official
• gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-tier-2-t2-skilled-worker-visa/applyOfficial
• gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-tier-2-t2-skilled-worker-visa/after…Official
• Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa: Overview - GOV.UKgov.ukOfficial
• Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa: Time in the UK - GOV.UK gov.ukOfficial
• Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa: Salary requirements - GOV.UK gov.ukOfficial
• Indefinite leave to remain if you have a Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, T2 or Tier 2 visa: Your family members - GOV.UKgov.ukOfficial

Japper is an AI immigration assistant. It gives general information from official sources, not legal advice, and it can be wrong. For your own case, ask a licensed advisor.