Explained: Is permanent settlement under threat?
The Government’s recent immigration white paper shows that they want to make it harder for people already living and working here to secure permanent settlement - Indefinite Leave to Remain. This would do nothing to cut net migration or appease Reform UK. But it would punish people who are already integral members of our society, people whose families and long-term futures are here. People who are British in everything but their paperwork.
Let’s take a closer look at Indefinite Leave to Remain and why it’s so important.
What is indefinite leave to remain?
Indefinite leave to remain is the legal term for permanent settlement in the UK. It means you are a legal resident in the UK without any immigration restrictions. You no longer have to apply for short-term visas, and you can access the social security net, if you need it and are eligible for support.
When can you apply for indefinite leave to remain?
When you can apply for indefinite leave to remain depends on the kind of visa you hold. For many people, that’s five years but for others it’s decades. During this time, you are locked out of the social security net and have to pay thousands in visa fees every couple of years, on top of income tax, VAT and national insurance.
Who is applying for indefinite leave to remain?
People who’ve lived and worked in our communities for many years, whose long-term future and families are here. That includes people working in NHS and parents of British children.
How much does it cost to apply?
Currently, it costs a huge £3,029 per person to apply for indefinite leave to remain. For a family of four, that’s over £12,000 to secure permanent settlement. This is on top of the fees and charges people will have had to pay over the years before they qualify for indefinite leave to remain. The Home Office has a policy of charging applicants more than the processing cost for many types of visas. For indefinite leave to remain, the cost of processing one application is just £646, meaning people are charged almost five times the processing cost.
Can you get help with the cost?
In contrast to some other visa applications, there is no fee waiver available for indefinite leave to remain applications. This means many people living and working in our communities are locked out of permanent residency simply because of how much it costs to apply.
They're trapped in a constant cycle of reapplying for short-term visas, unable to feel secure about the future. The high cost particularly affects groups who already face other forms of disadvantage, such as women, people of colour, single parents and those with disabilities, who are more likely to be earning lower wages.
How long does it take for a decision on your application?
We’re seeing people waiting longer to hear back on their application for indefinite leave to remain. The Home Office state they will respond to an application within six months but we’re seeing some decisions take even longer than six months.
Why is Indefinite Leave to Remain important?
Indefinite leave to remain gives people a sense of security over their lives. It means they no longer have to apply for short-term visas, pay thousands in fees, and can access the social security net.
It is also a key step towards securing citizenship in the UK. Both settlement and citizenship enable people to settle and flourish in our society, and to truly feel like they belong. This means that any restriction on indefinite leave to remain is a restriction on our rights to citizenship. It would punish people who are already valued members of our communities.
8th May 2025