A complete guide on how to be a permanent resident of the UK.

The United Kingdom is a country of culture, art, and history. It is also ranked among the top 10 highest-paying countries in the world. If you are already working there, it is obvious that you may want to spend the rest of your life in the same place. For that, you need a permanent residency in the UK. 

We have put all the necessary information together in this blog for you. It will guide you through the process step-by-step. Let’s get started.

How to be a permanent resident of the UK

You must have applied and received a work permit to pursue a career in the UK. Your stay in the UK must have been determined on the basis of your work. If you have lived for more than 5 years in the UK, then you are eligible to apply for permanent residency. 

The United Kingdom is a country of opportunities. With this permanent residency, you will be able to explore as many opportunities as you want. There won’t be a time limit hanging over your head. The permanent residency status is granted to a person who naturally doesn’t have the Right to Abode. 

The application process for permanent residency can take a significant amount of time. You need to be patient with it. At the same time, if you are granted a residence permit, and you spend two years outside the UK continuously, then it may affect your PR status. 

PR or ILR?

PR, which is Permanent Residency, and ILR, which is Indefinite Leave to Remain, are the same. It is a type of status of the international person who can live, earn, and study in the UK. 

Who can apply?

There are many categories of people who can apply for the PR status. The basic requirement is that the person must have lived for at least 5 years in the UK. The categories of people who can apply are as follows.

No.	Categories that can apply for PR in the UK
1	Tier 1 personnel
2	Tier 2 personnel who is a skilled-professional from overseas
3	Businessperson
4	Investor
5	Research fellows or international students
6	Representatives of the media house and PR agency
7	Private servant in a diplomatic household
8	Domestic worker in a diplomatic household
9	Overseas government employee
10	Self-employed lawyers
11	UK ancestry
12	Person under the Highly Skilled Migrant Program(HSMP)
13	Retired person of independent means
14	Sole representatives of an overseas firm
15	Married or unmarried partner to a UK citizen

Eligibility criteria to settle as a family member of a UK citizen

There are sub-categories in this kind of application. You need to have a family visa for 2 to 10 years. If you are married, you can apply for the PR based on your relationship with your spouse. If you are just living together and want to continue, you need to provide proof of it, such as a joint bank account, tenancy agreement, etc.

It is necessary to pass the ‘Life in the UK’ test. This test is to understand your experience of British life and see if you are compatible with it. You must pass an English test if English isn’t your first language. It is necessary to prove your fluency in English. 

Documentation

You will need to submit a few documents with your application. Here’s a list of these documents.

• Current pay slip
• Bank account statements
• Address proof
• Council tax letters
• Proof of the other source of income 
• Appointment letter from an employer on the company letterhead
• Registered business address and valid permits for the business person

Application process

There are two types of forms for the permanent residency application. Before applying, check the documents and eligibility criteria to make sure you have everything. Let’s know about the application form.

Set (O) application form

You can fill out this application form if you are a partner to a British citizen or a parent of a child settled in the UK. You will need a marriage or birth certificate, documented photo, or video with the relative to prove your relationship with them. 

Set (M) application form

This is for individuals who have worked and lived in the UK for more than 5 years. The necessary documents for this application are mentioned above. 

The application process is pretty simple if you have all the documents ready. The process is as follows.

Step 1- You just need to visit the official website https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration. Fill out all the necessary information and attach documents. Check your answers and click on submit. You will have to pay the application fee of £ 2,389 for a single person.

Step 2- It will take over 6 months to get a response to your application. Once you do, you will need to book an appointment at the UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) to submit your biometric. You can send your documents by post too.

Step 3- You will be notified about your permanent residency application status via email or post. 

Key takeaways

• The application process for a permanent residency in the UK can take more than 6 months, depending on your profile and documents.
• The permanent residency permit comes with certain conditions. It can be taken away if you disobey those conditions.
• This residency permit gives you the right to buy or sell property in the UK. 

We hope you find this information useful. Write to us about your comments. Click here to read more such articles.

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FAQs 

Q1. Does the permanent residency permit expire?

Answer: No, it doesn’t expire. That is why it is also called Indefinite Leave to Remain.

Q2. Does the UK allow dual citizenship? 

Answer: Dual citizenship is allowed in the UK. 

Q3. What is a golden visa in the UK?

Answer: The Tier1 visa is called the golden visa. It is allotted to the people who invest more than £2 million in the UK.