Permanent Residency is also known as "Indefinite Leave to Remain." (ILR). It can be applied for in several ways depending upon the applicant's UK Immigration Status when applying.

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) means that you can live in the United Kingdom lawfully with no time limit or condition on the stay. The ILR allows the holder to work without restriction in the UK . It allows the holder to exit & re-enter the UK multiple times.

If a person who holds the ILR status then elects to leave the shores of the UK for a continuous period of two years or more, it is usually deemed by the authorities that the person is no longer present and settled in the UK . In this instance, it can result in the person losing their ILR status.

Some ways in which a person may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain:

• Shortly prior to the expiry of a 2 year Marriage Visa.
• Shortly prior to the expiry of a 5-year Ancestry Visa.
• Once having held Work Permit status in the UK for 5 years.
• Once having legally spent 10 years in the UK .
• Once having spent 14 years in the UK .
• Once having spent continuous 5 years in UK as an "investor."
• Once having spent continuous 5 years in UK as a Writer, Composer, or Artist.
• Once having spent continuous 5 years in UK as a retired person of independent means.
• An EEA national, (except a student) and the family member of said EEA national may apply for ILR if they have been issued with a residence permit or residence document for five years.