ILR As An Unmarried Partner (5 Years Route)
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as an Unmarried Partner – 5-Year Route allows someone in the UK on a partner visa (as the unmarried partner of a British citizen or a person settled in the UK) to apply for permanent residency after five continuous years of lawful residence on that route.
To qualify, the couple must have lived together in a genuine and subsisting relationship similar to marriage for at least two years before the visa and throughout the 5-year period, meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK Test, and demonstrate that they still meet the financial and accommodation requirements.
If approved, ILR removes immigration time limits, allowing the person to live and work in the UK permanently without needing further visas.
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You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years in the UK under the Unmarried Partner Visa (5 Years Route). According to Home Office UKVI Guidance, you can submit an ILR application as an unmarried partner within 28 days of completing your five years’ residence in the UK under this route.
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You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as an unmarried partner online using the SET (M) form. Once you submit your online application, the Home Office UKVI fees are paid and an appointment for document verification and biometrics enrolment is also made online through the UKVCAS portal. All supporting documents must be uploaded online before your biometrics enrolment appointment at the UKVCAS application centre. At the centre, the staff will verify the online-uploaded documents and enrol your biometrics.
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An unmarried partner under five years old applying for ILR receives a decision from the UKVI within the service standards for processing their application. Those using the Super Priority Service typically receive a decision within 24 hours while standard service applicants usually receive one within 3 to 6 months.
