Apply for Permanent Residence in the UK

Indefinite Leave To Remain (ILR) confirms your right to live in the UK permanently, without any time limit and free from immigration control. Indefinite Leave to Remain is also sometimes understood as Settlement or Permanent Residence. In most cases, obtaining Indefinite Leave to Remain is necessary to be eligible for British Citizenship.

About Permanent Residence

Permanent Residence (PR) is confirming your rights to live in the UK as a settled person indefinitely, free from immigration restrictions. Since Brexit and now that the EU Settlement Scheme has come to an end, you must now find a route to PR through channels such as visas or citizenship. If you are looking to come to the UK, QC Immigration can assist with all types of visas, citizenship or Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you would like to discuss the best route for you to obtain the right to permanently reside in the UK, please get in touch.

Residence Following the EU Settlement Scheme’s End

If you were unable to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme before the 30 June 2021 cut-off and do not have a family member that has successfully completed their application, you will no longer be eligible to obtain the pre-settled status or settled status through the scheme and will have to consider the other routes available that can grant you permanent residence.

If one family member has one of these statuses, you will still be able to apply through the scheme.

Other Routes To Permanent Residence

There are a number of options available should you decide to seek permanent residence in the UK following the end of the EU settlement scheme, two of the most popular of which are visas that allow for residency in the UK and an eventual path to citizenship which will ensure a permanent right of residing in the UK.

Visas

There are a number of visa options available for EU Nationals who are looking to work towards a permanent residence in the UK. They all feature different requirements and can be valid for different amounts of time.

We can help find the visa that is most likely to get you residency in the UK and put you on the path towards a permanent residence, some of our most popular options include:

Work Visas – If you are coming into the UK for work you must apply for the visa most applicable to your situation. There are different types of Work Visas depending on a number of factors including the nature of your work, the amount of time that you will be in the UK, and the reason tour work is based here among others.

Business Visas – For those who are coming to the UK but are not traditionally employed, individuals filling roles such as investors, innovators, or entrepreneurs can apply for a relevant visa that will grant them the right to work in the UK for a period of time.

Family Visas – If you are the legitimate spouse – or civil partner, fiancé, proposed civil partner or even unmarried partner – of a UK citizen or an individual with permanent UK residence, you may be able to apply for certain types of Family Visas.

There are also options available for both the parents and children of UK Permanent Residents should they meet the necessary requirements. These visas ensure that families can remain together in the UK should one member be a permanent resident.

Study Visas – Students from Europe can still come to the UK but must now apply for a Student Visa. Student Visas differ depending on the age of the student, as there are separate visas for children and adults, and the type of study that the student is carrying out as there are both long and short-term visa options.

There are of course other types of visas available and if none of these seems applicable to you please contact us so that we can help find a route that is right for you and offers the best chance for permanent residency.

Citizenship

If you have been living in the UK for the past 3 years we can help in ensuring that you are eligible and meet the requirements for British Citizenship. Whether you have been born in the UK, are married to a British citizen, or are looking towards naturalisation, you must be sure that you meet all of the requirements that are needed for British Citizenship.

That includes valid proof that you were in the UK for at least 3 years prior to your application as well as proof that you have passed the Life in the UK Test, good knowledge of the English language through an approved test, and a provably good character, meaning no criminal record and past respect of immigration laws.

There are also much more specific requirements on top of the general points covered above. For information, support, and the construction of a clear case that proves that you meet all requirements that you are eligible for, it would be best to consult and collaborate with a specialist law team such as QC Immigration with ample experience in these areas.

Examples of our successful Permanent Residence client cases

Permanent Residence Card granted in 2 months: A Dutch client who has spent over 20 years in the UK working in multinational firms as a qualified Chartered Accountant and as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) in various tech start-ups. We presented his historic 5 years’ continuous period including a combination of employment and self-employment.

Permanent Residence Card granted in 3 months: An Italian client had accumulated nearly 10 years of UK residence, however, he had approximately 6 months’ gap in his latest year due to business travels in Spain. We managed to persuade the Home Office with strong legal arguments and court precedents.  

A Thai client who resided in the UK for 5 years under the EEA Residence Card, as the spouse of her French national husband. Her Sponsor (the French husband) worked as an employed and self-employed person throughout the 5 years’ continuous period, however, he had several months of inactivity as a jobseeker.  The Permanent Residence Card was granted due to comprehensive documentation showing that he never stopped exercising EU Treaty Rights despite the temporary gaps

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How we work

1
consultation.

We start a discussion by understanding your history, and we will clearly outline the best option available and any recommendations to save you time and costs.

2
instruction.

Once you instruct us to be your legal representative, we will start preparing your case. We may require more information about you to help you more effectively.

3
documents.

Documentation is a crucial part of an immigration application. We will customise a document list to guide your preparation. Your dedicated lawyer will check the documents and advise of any improvements needed.

4
application.

We will complete your application to the Home Office and may also write a cover letter with strong legal arguments where relevant. We may discuss this with you to confirm the final details.

5
submission.

We will submit your application to the Home Office, Court authorities securely. We will represent you as the main point of contact with them for any further requests.

6
interview.

You may sometimes be invited to attend a Home Office interview or Court hearing. While this may sound daunting, we will help you prepare and provide guidance on what questions to expect.

7
decision.

As soon as we receive a decision from the Home Office, we will get in touch with you to share the news.

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What clients say

We did multiple assignments with QC and were very happy with the fast response and results we achieved on our applications.

manish rungta
manish rungta
Google five star client rating

Qiyin was very quick to respond to my inquiries. She was very professional, supportive and helpful. Highly recommended!

Ainul Nadhirah Hanafiah
Ainul Nadhirah Hanafiah
Google five star client rating

Qiyin listened very attentively to my concerns and reassured me. Gave me a lot of insight into how I need to plan my application in a very personal way. Would definitely highly recommend.

Sashi Ganes
Sashi Ganes
Google five star client rating

Very professional team, who helped me gain EU Settled status pre-Brexit using a new Android app. It is refreshing to see that QC-immigration team adopts fast the technology and is on top of all changes in legislation. They got my full trust.

Victoria Rusnac
Victoria Rusnac
Google five star client rating

Hafsah made my application look so simple and easy even though i was doubtful about my case before approaching QC. I can’t believe my ILR application got approved by Home office within 24 hrs of biometric appointment. Thank you Hafsah for helping me get this done.

Shubha Shet
Shubha Shet
Google five star client rating

It was a pleasure working with Qiyin and her team. They were very helpful and responsive all the time. They helped me with my Permanent Residence which was succesful and was received in less than a month. I will work with them again in the future, so I strongly recommend this Immigration office to everyone.

Nasos Balasis
Nasos Balasis
Google five star client rating

Definitely the best law firm I've ever dealt with. Hafsah Awan is an amazing lawyer, she is extremely professional, she truly cares, and gives great advise to ensure all goes smoothly. My entire process with Hafsah went really well, and we successfully got our Start-up visas to the UK, many thanks to Hafsah for her great efforts. I also loved that they are very responsive, to emails, calls, etc. Qiyin Chuah, the founder, actually helped me in the last moment during her weekend, I was very thankful for that, as not many people would even get back to you during the weekend. Overall, an amazing law firm, I'm very pleased, and I truly wish Hafsah, Qiyin, and the rest of QC Immigration team all the best, God bless you all :)

Ahmad Agha
Ahmad Agha
Google five star client rating

I had an exploratory conversation with QC Immigration. Qiyin was professional and personable throughout our conversation, explaining clearly the current criteria and regulatory considerations to keep in mind. I would have no reservations in appointing them for representation should there ever be a need, as Qiyin provided from the outset, the calm assurance of having the knowledge, experience and an individual approach that I strongly value.

May Loke
May Loke
Google five star client rating

Very good service and professional company! I contact them trough a friend because I had problem with a Family Visa in Scotland, they helped me and advised in all the process and they solved what I needed to solve so quick. Specially Qiyin and Marianna. I would always come back to them again if I needed and also recommend them. As I said, very good and Professional.

Martin Nicolas Camaño Martin
Martin Nicolas Camaño Martin
Google five star client rating

Both my fiancé and I used QC Immigration this year for our new visa and naturalisation applications, respectively, and were very happy with the service. Our main point of contact was Marianna, who was very prompt and thorough in her preparation of our applications and helpful throughout every step of the process with our concerns, etc. Highly recommend QC Immigration. Thank you again, Marianna!

Sarah Monaco
Sarah Monaco
Google five star client rating

My friend had recommended QC Immigration and I was not disappointed! Marianna was my main point of contact and she was kind, prompt and very efficient. I had a lot of questions and Marianna was very quick in replying to me. I would definitely recommend QC Immigration.

Malulie Tongprasert
Malulie Tongprasert
Google five star client rating

They were extremely professional and thorough throughout the application process. I even shared my travel plans and they worked based on my timelines, which based on experience, most companies don't prioritise. Highly recommend working with them if you want to be stress free and want your application handled with care.

Shruthi Padmanabhan
Shruthi Padmanabhan
Google five star client rating

I have been using QC Immigration to help prepare for my partner's Proposed Civil Partnership Visa application. We have been dealing with Marianna since January, and have found her to be extremely professional, knowledgeable and personable. She has always responded to my queries and concerns, (however neurotic!) and she has paid great attention to detail. It has been an invaluable service, and should our application be successful in this instance, I will not hesitate to appoint QC Immigration again to assist with the next stages. Many thanks again for your hard work and for showing us such an understanding and caring attitude! :)

Bethany Taylor-James
Bethany Taylor-James
Google five star client rating

My partner and I recently used QC Immigration when applying for a UK partner visa. They were very professional throughout and dealt with all questions and queries accordingly. Marianna was our main point of contact and was extremely diligent and reassuring throughout the process. We appreciated their attention to detail and extensive knowledge of UK immigration law and would highly recommend them to any prospective clients.

Eliot Parker
Eliot Parker
Google five star client rating

FAQ

Do I need to renounce my nationality to apply for British Citizenship?

You can possess dual nationality in the UK so if you decide to work towards British citizenship you will not be required to renounce your current nationality. This, however, also depends on whether your current country of residence allows you to have dual citizenship.

My British Citizenship application was refused. What can I do?

If your application has been unsuccessful, you can ask the Home Office to reconsider their decision through a form NR, at an additional cost. Again in this instance, it is key to meet every deadline and submit a very strong case, you will strongly benefit from an experienced law team like QC Immigration for this.

I applied for the EU Settlement Scheme before the deadline, is there anything else that I need to do?

No, if you have obtained a pre-settled status or settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme, you do not need to apply for a new residence card and can continue using your current card.

Can I appeal a visa that has been refused?

If your visa application has been refused you must act swiftly. The home office may reconsider but a strong case is essential in order to convince them to overturn their decision. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you work alongside immigration lawyers or an experienced team in order to ensure everything is done on time and your case is strong enough to potentially change the decision.

How do I apply for a UK visa?

UK visa applications can vary depending on what kind of visa you need. Firstly you must be certain that you can tick off all the boxes in regard to eligibility, and you must gather all possible evidence and documentation to support your application case to the Home Office.

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