The Skilled Worker visa can lead to permanent settlement in the UK. Here is what you need to know about Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) and the route to British citizenship — including the "earned settlement" reform the government has proposed but not yet implemented.
For the Skilled Worker route today, the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) remains 5 continuous years. In May 2025, the government's immigration white paper proposed moving most routes to a 10-year "earned settlement" model (with the possibility of qualifying sooner through a points-based contribution system). A consultation on this proposal closed in February 2026, but as of June 2026 it has not been laid as a formal Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules and is not in force. We will update this page as soon as any change is confirmed.
Indefinite Leave to Remain — often called "settlement" or "permanent residence" — means you have the right to live and work in the UK permanently without any visa conditions. Once you have ILR, you are no longer subject to immigration controls and can stay in the UK indefinitely.
ILR is not a citizenship, but it is an important step towards it. After holding ILR for a qualifying period, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship through naturalisation.
| Situation | Qualifying period |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa holders (current rule, June 2026) | 5 continuous years |
| If the proposed "earned settlement" reform comes into force | Likely 10 years for most routes, with an unconfirmed faster route via a points-based contribution system — not yet decided or in force |
If the 10-year proposal is eventually brought into force, the government has not yet confirmed whether people already on the Skilled Worker route at that point would be protected at the current 5-year qualifying period, or moved onto the new timeline. Nothing has been decided, so do not make plans on the assumption either way. We will update this page the moment a formal Statement of Changes is laid before Parliament.
To qualify for ILR on the Skilled Worker route, you must meet all of the following:
You can be outside the UK for up to 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period without affecting your ILR eligibility. Exceeding 180 days in any 12-month window will restart the qualifying clock. Keep records of all your travel — flights, boarding passes, passport stamps.
| Application | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|
| ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) — main applicant | £3,226 |
| ILR — dependant (per person) | £3,226 |
ILR applicants do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge — once you have ILR you have full access to the NHS as a permanent resident.
Once you have held ILR for 12 months, you may be eligible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation, provided you meet the requirements:
If you are married to a British citizen, you may be able to apply for naturalisation after just 3 years of residence in the UK with ILR (subject to the same absence limits).
Both ILR and naturalisation applications require you to pass the Life in the UK test — a 24-question multiple-choice test covering British history, law, government, values and culture. The test costs £50 and is taken at a test centre. You must score at least 18 out of 24 to pass.
Official study materials are available from the Home Office. Many applicants use the official handbook to prepare.