Documents Required for ILR 5-Year Route

The documents that are required for indefinite leave to remain applications (also called ILR or settled status in the UK) generally need to show that your circumstances meet the basic eligibility criteria.

This includes your general visa details, time spent in the UK on an eligible visa, time spent outside of the UK within the relevant residential requirement period, and proof that you are suitable for permanent life in the UK.

At a glance you will need to submit the following:

• Your basic documents (this includes biometric information and details of your current visa)
• Documents pertaining to your residential requirements
• Documents related to your life in the UK (such as language test certificates and life in the UK test confirmation)

You will need to make sure that all documents you provide are issued in English or that they are accompanied by an official translation.

It is essential that you provide all necessary documents and translations when you submit your application to avoid possible delays or even risk being rejected.

Page Contents

• What Documents Are Needed for the ILR 5-Year Route?
• Documenting Residential Requirements
• Life in the UK
• Documents Needed When Applying for ILR as a Partner (Family Visa)
• Documents Needed When Applying Based on Employment (Work or Business Visa)
• Other Visas and Documents
• How to Submit Documents for ILR 5-Year Route Applications
• How to Provide Proof of Residence for ILR Applications?
• How to Document Time Spent Outside of the UK?
• How can London Immigration Lawyers Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Documents

While some of the documents you will need to submit depend on your specific immigration route (such as employment or family visas), the general documents most applicants will have to provide show your fundamental eligibility for ILR.

At a glance, the following documents will build the foundation of your ILR application:

• Your current and valid passport (especially the biometric page and any pages containing relevant visa information)
• Any past passports with relevant visa information
• Two photos for your application that meet UK passport requirements
• Your current visa information

• Your biometric residence permit (BRP) or eVisa, if applicable
• Details of any changes in your personal circumstances, if applicable

When applying for ILR you will also need to provide your biometric details. Depending on your visa and nationality (or more precisely, your identity document), you may be able to provide this by scanning your biometric identity document with the official UK Immigration ID Check app.

Alternatively, you may need to make an appointment with UKVCAS (UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services) to submit your biometric details in person. This includes your fingerprints and photo.

You should note that you should also provide a letter from your GP or relevant medical professional if you are dealing with any longstanding health issues that might be relevant to your life in the UK.

As the five-year route for ILR depends on you having lived in the UK for at least five years in a way that corresponds to the minimum residential requirements, you will also need to show details of your time in the UK, including any periods that you have been out of the country for.

Evidence of residence in the UK will usually need to show that you have been present consistently, so it is important that you provide documents that show both the date or valid time period, as well as your name or address.

For time spent outside of the UK, you should compile travel documents that give the dates and ideally the reasons for your travel.

You will need to provide some of the following to prove your residential requirements:

• Details of your address or addresses in the UK for at least five years leading up to your application
• Proof of address such as council tax bills or utility bills, bank statements, proof of rent payments, or official correspondence that includes your name, address, and date
• Details of any travel outside of the UK including dates, durations, and reasons

When Applying for indefinite leave to remain under the five-year route, you will usually also need to show that you are able to integrate well into UK life, culture, and society. Depending on your background, this might mean that you will need to absolve relevant tests such as an English language test with at least B1 Proficiency, showing that you have a reasonably functional grasp of the language.

You may also need to take the Life in in the UK test before you will be able to apply for ILR via the five-year route. You should therefore provide the following documents to show your suitability for life in the UK:

• English language test certificate at B1 level or higher, or other proof of proficiency such as a degree that was carried out in English
• Your Life in the UK Test confirmation (this might be your unique reference number or an official letter with a test reference ID)

You should note that this may not be necessary if you can provide alternative evidence of your English language proficiency. Additionally, applicants who qualify for the five-year ILR application path through the EU-Settlement Scheme will not usually be required to complete the Life in the UK test at this stage.

If you are unsure about the basic documents that you need to provide or how your individual circumstances are best represented, an immigration expert can help you. Our specialists at London Immigration Lawyers have years of experience with all aspects of UK ILR applications. You can call us today at 0204 502 8582 to discuss what you will need to submit. We can help you gather or check your documents and will be happy to assist with any other part of your immigration journey too.

If you are in the UK on a different visa that allows you to apply for indefinite leave to remain once eligible, you may need to provide other documents that are specifically relevant to your visa and circumstances. Documents that you might need to provide could include:

• Your birth certificate (or certificate of your adoption)
• The birth or adoption certificate of any relevant relatives through whom you are applying for status in the UK
• The birth certificate of any children who are applying with you or through you
• Financial details and proof of dependency

Visas this might apply to could include the UK Ancestry visa, child visa, parent visa, or other dependent visas, but it is always best to consider your individual circumstances when considering what document requirements may apply.

When submitting your documents for your indefinite leave to remain application you will usually be able to do so online.

The application process will give you specific guidance on the file type and size, but you should usually make sure to submit commonly supported files such as PDF, JPEG and similar. Your documents should usually be smaller than 6MB.

Keep in mind that you may only upload a limited number of supporting documents so it is important to plan ahead and make a selection of the most compelling documents before applying for ILR.

When applying for indefinite leave to remain, you will need to submit proof that you have met your residential requirements. For the five-year route, this will usually mean that you must have held at least five years of continuous and legal residence in the UK leading up to your ILR application.

Usually, you will be able to upload up to ten documents to show your residence in the UK during your qualifying period, so it is important that you provide documents that cover as large a period as possible.

For each year of qualifying residence, you will be expected to submit proof of at least 6 months of residence in the UK which may consist of bills, bank statements that show transactions in the UK, or other official and dated correspondence that show your name and address.

When submitting this you will need to enter the time period that your document covers. Make sure to provide accurate information there to avoid delays or even a rejection of your ILR application.

If you are unsure how to cover longer periods or if you are having trouble fitting your evidence into the limited available upload slots, you may consider compiling a file of multiple pieces of evidence. However, you should ensure that this is clearly organised and that the documents you provide are not altered. You should seek legal support if you have trouble with your proof of residence documentation.

When providing details of your residential requirements for ILR applications, you must also present any times you have not been in the UK during the last five years or any other relevant period.

To compile adequate documentation, you should usually try to gather any travel information that you might have, including travel arrangements and flight tickets (if applicable), dates of re-entry into the UK, and evidence of your reason for leaving the country.

To qualify for ILR under the 5-year path, you will usually be expected to have lived in the UK for five continuous years, during which you should not have spent more than the maximum permitted time outside of the country.

While it is always good to double check the specific requirements based on your visa category and circumstances, this usually means that you should have spent no more than 180 days outside of the UK in any 12-month period.

Your documents should show that your time in the UK has not been interrupted by more than the permissible time spent outside of the country. You should note, however, that some exceptions to the 180-day limit may be made in case of absence due to endorsed work or research-related activities, medical emergencies, or other circumstances that were not in your control (such as the pandemic).