Once you have lived legally in the UK for a specific amount of time, you may be eligible to apply for permission to settle here, granting of this permission is known as Indefinite Leave to Remain.

You will need to meet all of the requirements of the Immigration Rules in place at the time of your application for settlement, and you will normally also need to pass a Life in the UK test and an English language test, unless you are exempt from doing so.

Apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK in various immigration categories.

Eligibility criteria

Tier 2 / Skilled Worker
You can apply if:
  • you have a Tier 2 (General) or Skilled Worker visa
  • you have been living and working in the UK for 5 years and spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 month period (continuous residence )*
  • the College still needs you for your job for the foreseeable future
  • you get paid the relevant salary listed in Appendix Skilled Workers(SW 24.3)
Points to note:
  • *Tier 2 / Skilled Worker visa holders sponsored to fill a ‘PhD-level’ role under specified SOC codes are exempt from the 180 day rule for UK absences, where the absence(s) taking them over 180 days absence in a 12 month period was due to the individual undertaking research for the job they are sponsored. This will apply to any period(s) the individual was sponsored under a designated PhD-level SOC code (Occupations listed under Appendix Continuous Residence (CR 2.3 d)
  • Appendix Continuous Residence also details any other exceptions to the usual 180 day absence rule, including ‘travel disruption due to pandemic’.
  • When making your settlement application you will need to list details of your absences from the UK, including the reasons for those absences. You will need to provide this information for the full 5-year continuous residence period.  Providing you have kept your absence history up-to-date in the College absence and leave recording system Teamseer, this information will be easily accessible to you from the system.
  • The Staff Compliance Team will be able to provide a letter of support for your application, including confirmation that your job is needed for the foreseeable future, and your College leave and absence information. Please request the support letter approximately 2 weeks before you will need this for your application, to allow for processing.
  • Applications for settlement will usually take up to 6 months under standard processing timescales. Subject to availability at date of application, there may be options to expedite the decision: Super Priority offers next working day service for an additional fee of £800. Priority service offers a 5-day service standard for an additional fee of £500.