Settlement (sometimes referred to as indefinite leave to remain (ILR)) confers the right to live in the UK on a permanent basis without any further immigration permission. It also confers rights regarding claiming benefits and free NHS healthcare. However, a migrant who holds settlement is deemed to be “under immigration control” and may lose their status if they stay for too long outside the UK (either two years or five years, depending on the case).

In many cases settlement can be acquired by holding a visa(s) for a period of years, for example a working visa, family visa or Pre-Settled Status visa. In many cases it is possible for a migrant to apply for settlement after five years: they may have been granted a visa for five years or they may have been granted a visa for a lesser period and extended it. Exceptionally settlement can be granted in less than five years. Very exceptionally a migrant may be granted settlement immediately (indefinite leave to enter (ILE)).

A migrant can also qualify for settlement if they have spent ten continuous years lawfully in the UK, on one type of visa a combination of different types of visas.

There is in most cases an English language requirement for settlement (but which may in some cases have been satisfied already) and a Life in the UK Test requirement. And there is in most cases a requirement that the applicant has not spent too long outside the UK during the qualifying period.