UK ILR Visa Free Countries

Overview

You will usually need a valid visa when you travel outside of the UK, unless you are a British citizen, able to visit 192 countries visa-free. A valid visa will ensure you have entry clearance. However, there are exceptions for when you are visiting British territories. Meanwhile, exceptions will apply in some cases for visits to EU or EEA countries. The sections below outline how these exceptions work.

Please note that even if an exception applies, you will still need a valid passport to leave the UK and enter another country.

Visiting British Territories with ILR Status

You will not require a visa if you are visiting one of the 14 British overseas territories. Although these territories are not formally part of the UK and are self-governing, they share foreign policy with the UK. The territories are:

• Anguilla
• Ascension
• Bermuda
• British Antarctic Territory
• British Indian Ocean Territory
• British Virgin Islands
• Cayman Islands
• Falkland Islands
• Gibraltar
• Montserrat
• Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands
• South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
• St Helena and its dependencies
• Turks and Caicos Islands

Please note that you will need a visa if you want to take up permanent residency in one of these territories.

Visiting EU or EEA Countries with ILR Status

Citizens of non-EEA and non-EU nations will usually need a valid visa to enter the country even if they have been granted ILR in the UK.

Visiting Non-EU European Countries

While on ILR status, you can also visit non-EU European nations as listed below:

• Albania: entry without a visa so long as you have a passport valid for at least three months and don’t stay longer than 90 days in six months.
• Armenia: visa-free entry for passports from just under 70 nations.
• Georgia: 90 days of visa-free visiting within a 180-day period. Your passport must have at least two blank pages and be valid for three months.
• Montenegro: a 30-day visa waiver if you have three months or more of passport validity.
• North Macedonia: 15-days visa-free visiting. Your passport must not expire in three months when you arrive and ensure your ILR is at least five days beyond your expected stay.

Visiting the Americas with ILR

ILR holders in the UK can travel to Mexico visa-free for travel shorter than 180 days. You may need to show your travel itinerary and proof of return travel.

You can also visit the Republic of Panama as an ILR holder for a maximum of 30 days. However, you will need to show you have at least $500 USD to prove you can financially support yourself.

Chinese or Indian nationals with UK ILR can also visit Peru without a visa for up to 180 days. Your ILR must be valid for at least six months from your date of arrival.

Visiting the Caribbean

Most Caribbean locations have been mentioned previously as British territories. However, there are other Caribbean islands that are not under British control that you can visit visa-free while you have ILR. These are listed below:

• Aruba: visa-free stays of up to 30 days so long as you have valid travel documents throughout your stay.
• Bonaire: visa-free stays of 14-30 days. Your passport must have at least six months of validity on entry to Bonaire.
• Curacao: stays up to 90 days without a visa.
• Dominican Republic: 90 days without a visa. However, you will need to purchase a Tourist Card.
• Saint Martin: 30-day visa-free visits. Your ILR must be valid for at least 30 days on arrival.

ILR Holders Visiting Asia

The final continent with countries you can visit visa-free as an ILR holder is Asia. The nations and conditions are listed below:

• Philippines: Indian nationals can visit visa-free for up to 14 days.
• Singapore: entrance for up to four days visa-free.
• South Korea: visits from transit passengers for up to 30 days. 24 nationalities are excluded from this policy.
• Taiwan: ILR holders with Cambodian, Indian, Indonesian, Laos, Myanmar, or Vietnamese nationalities can visit visa-free for 14 days. You will need an ROC Travel Authorization Certificate. Apply for this online free of charge.

Overview

Indefinite leave to remain or enter is the ability to stay in the UK as long as possible. It comes after your initial UK visa, and you are considered to have settled in the UK.

Leave to remain comes with many rights beyond the ability to travel that has been described in this article. This includes the rights to the following:

• Work.
• Study.
• Access the National Health Service (NHS) in most cases
• Some personal benefits (welfare).
• Have dependents join you.
• Apply for British citizenship after one year.

Furthermore, children you have in the UK while you have indefinite leave to remain will automatically have British citizenship.

Eligibility Criteria for ILR Status

Not everyone who has a UK visa can get leave to remain status. You will usually have to prove a continuous residency period of five years while legally living in the UK. The following visas are valid for the five-year route:

• Some Work visas.
• Business visas.
• Family visas.
• Ancestry visa.

The continuous residence period is shortened to three years if you are on a Global Talent visa or Innovator Founder visa, known as accelerated ILR. If you have not been in the UK on any of the named UK visas, you will need to have ten years of continuous residence.

Your continuous residence period refers to time spent in the UK where you have not spent more than 180 days outside the UK. If you have, the period will be reset.

You will also need to fit the following criteria for the ILR application process:

• You have been living legally in the UK.
• You have good character and have not broken laws while in the UK.
• You have passed the Life in the UK test.
• You have achieved level B1 or higher on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

ILR Application Process

Once you have confirmed that you fit the eligibility criteria for ILR holders, you can make your application online.

To begin, complete the application form. Then, pay the application fee for ILR and for your biometric residence permit and submit your documentation.

Once your application is submitted, attend an appointment at your nearest UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) service point. Here, your biometric information will be taken.

In some cases, you must attend an interview to explain anything that isn’t clear in your application.

Overview

Once you lived in the UK for five years and have had indefinite leave to remain for at least 12 months, you can apply for British citizenship. The application process also requires you to fit the following eligibility criteria:

• You are over 18.
• You have knowledge of a language spoken in Britain (English, Welsh, or Scottish Gaelic).
• You have passed the life in the UK test.
• You will continue living in the UK.
• You are of good character.

You will also need to pay the citizenship application fee.

Travel Rights with British Citizenship

Once you have British citizenship, you will be issued a British passport and will no longer be subject to the immigration rules for ILR holders in terms of leaving the country. You will be allowed to travel long-term to other countries and still be able to return to the UK afterward once your visa expires.

Please note that British citizenship does not mean you aren’t subjected to immigration laws when entering other countries. With a British passport, you can enter 192 countries visa-free for short-term travel. In most cases, you will need a visa for long-term travel or to enter a country that doesn’t have visa-free entry for UK travellers.