Settlement as Refugee

If you are a refugee in the UK, applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can be the next crucial step in securing your long-term status and the right to remain in the country permanently.

Settlement as Refugee

If you are a refugee in the UK, applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can be the next crucial step in securing your long-term status and the right to remain in the country permanently.

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is an immigration status granted by the UK Home Office that allows you to live and work in the UK without any restrictions on your length of stay. It is essentially permanent residence, granting you the right to remain in the UK for as long as you want. ILR is a significant milestone for refugees as it leads to full rights as a resident, including access to healthcare, social services, and the ability to apply for British citizenship after a certain period.

Eligibility Requirements for ILR as a Refugee

To apply for ILR as a refugee, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Five Years of Refugee Status: You must have held refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK for at least five years. The five-year period starts from the date your refugee status or humanitarian protection was granted.

  • Continuous Residence: During the five years, you must have remained in the UK without long periods of absence. Generally, you should not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the five years.

  • Good Character Requirement: You need to demonstrate good character, meaning you should not have a criminal record or any immigration-related issues during your stay in the UK.

  • Knowledge of English: You may be required to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. You can do this by passing an approved English language test or providing evidence of your education or work experience in English.

  • Pass the Life in the UK Test: The Life in the UK Test is a required exam that assesses your knowledge of British culture, history, and society. You will need to pass this test as part of your ILR application.

How do I apply for permanent residence?

To facilitate a seamless shift, it’s crucial to submit your application within the final month before your current UK residence permit expires. The entire application process is conducted online, and the specific form you need to fill out varies based on your unique situation. You have the flexibility to start filling out the form and save your progress to finish at a later time. As you work through the application, you will receive guidance on the necessary supporting documents. Typically, the outcome of your application will be decided within a six-month period.

For individuals who have received protection status, like refugees or those with humanitarian protection, there is a dedicated form for this group. Should your family members, such as a spouse or children, qualify, the application will indicate if you can include them in your application.

If inclusion in the primary application is not possible, they are required to submit individual applications.

  • For Partners – they can choose to apply in the capacity of being the partner to an individual who has been granted refugee status or humanitarian protection.
  • For Children – they have the option to apply as the child of someone who has obtained refugee status or humanitarian protection.

How can we help?

Applying for indefinite leave to remain as a refugee in the UK presents numerous challenges, particularly for those with refugee status. By consulting with Sterling Law, you will benefit from:

  • expert guidance from professionals who have a deep understanding of refugee and immigration law;
  • assistance in accurately and promptly gathering all required paperwork;
  • an enhanced likelihood of being granted permanent residency;
  • the ability to sidestep frequent errors which could cause your ILR application to be rejected.


At Privity Legal, every client is important to us, and we are committed to delivering superior assistance throughout the entire ILR procedure.

How we help

Overview In the UK, children born in the country who have lived here continuously for seven years may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This route acknowledges the strong ties a child develops with the UK over time and offers a path to settlement based on their best interests and long-term […]

Section 3(1) of the British Nationality Act 1981 is a crucial provision that grants the Home Secretary a broad discretionary power to register a child as a British citizen. Unlike other sections of the Act that set out clear entitlements, Section 3(1) allows for flexibility and consideration of individual circumstances. Here’s a breakdown of its […]

Overview Under UK immigration rules, a parent may be eligible for Leave to Remain if their child has lived in the UK continuously for at least 7 years and it would be unreasonable to expect the child to leave the UK. This is part of the private life route and reflects the UK’s commitment to […]

Areas of focus

Partner & Family Visas

UK Family Visa allows you to bring family members (eligible foreign nationals) to join you in the UK for an extended period of 6 months or more. You can bring your spouse or partner, fiance or proposed civil partner, child, parent, or a relative to who you will provide long-term care.

Global Business Mobility Visas

The Global Business Mobility visa is an umbrella category of five different types of UK work visas. These visas are designed for employees of overseas companies to undertake specific types of work or assignments in the UK.

Short Term Visit Visas

Our lawyers act for schools, colleges and universities across the world. We understand your context and are able to advise on any legal and regulatory matters, as well as international projects.

Short Term Work Visas

The UK Temporary Worker Visa is a work visa that permits you to work in the UK temporarily. The time you can stay in the UK for a Temporary Worker Visa varies depending on the category you apply for and ranges from 6 months to 2 years.

EEA Nationals & Family

EEA nationals are required to obtain leave to enter or remain in order to visit or live in the UK. Unless a person is coming to the UK for a short visit, they will need to apply for a visa in advance of their arrival.

business Visas

Whether you wish to recruit a foreign worker, establish a UK branch of an overseas company or effect an intra-company transfer, our immigration barristers can assist. Our expertise covers immigration routes for individual investors and entrepreneurs, small and medium businesses, as well as multinational companies.

Global Talent Visas

Well versed in both the legal and technical languages of decentralized finance, our global team can support anyone wanting to navigate the fast-changing world of blockchain, cryptocurrency and digital assets.

Settlement in the UK

Often people want to come to the UK to settle in the UK, without a specific idea as to what they want to do when they are here. In fact, our clients regularly ask us, what is the quickest way to settle in the UK?

British Citizenship

With British citizenship you can apply for a British passport and you will be free of immigration control, allowing you to travel into and out of the UK freely without the need for a visa.

Student & Graduate Visas

The UK Graduate visa allows international students to remain in the UK after completing their studies for up to two years, or three for doctoral graduates.

Immigration appeals

If your UK visa or immigration application has been refused, our immigration appeal lawyers can advise you on the merits of appealing to the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber), prepare your immigration appeal and represent you at your immigration appeal hearing.

Human Rights

Applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK can be made, in certain circumstances, on the basis that to require the individual to leave the UK or to not allow them entry into the UK would be a breach of the individual’s human rights.

Asylum & Protection

Applications for leave to enter or remain in the UK can be made, in certain circumstances, on the basis that to require the individual to leave the UK or to not allow them entry into the UK would be a breach of the individual’s human rights.

Hong Kong (BNO) Visa

The Hong Kong BN(O) route allows BN(O) status holders and certain family members to live, work and study in the UK. After 5 years, applicants will be able to apply for settlement, and after a further year, British citizenship, providing they meet the requirements.

Get in touch

Our website will give you a flavour of the advice we provide - if you would like to talk to us for more information, please contact our client services team who will be happy to assist.