Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) from Outside the UK as a Bereaved Partner

You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) from outside the UK as a bereaved partner if your British citizen / settled partner who was a member of HM Forces dies whilst you are on a spouse/partner visa. You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) from outside the UK as a bereaved partner of a member of HM Forces any time after your partner’s death, and you do not have to wait until your current spouse/partner visa is about to expire. To apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner, you must be outside the UK when you apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner. An application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner is made in accordance with eligibility requirements as set out in Appendix Bereaved Partner of the Immigration Rules.

Appendix Bereaved Partner of the Immigration Rules makes provision for spouses, civil partners, unmarried partners, same-sex partners who are bereaved during the probationary period to be granted Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) if the deceased partner was a member of HM Forces, provided that the relationship was subsisting and that they intended to live together permanently in the UK at the time of the deceased partner's death.

Free Immigration Advice For Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) As A Bereaved Partner

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide one-off free immigration advice online regarding your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors concerning your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner.

How To Apply For Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) As A Bereaved Partner?

The step-by-step process to apply for an Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner from outside the UK is as follows:

1. Complete the application form online for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner on the UKVI website;
2. Submit your completed application form for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner online by paying the application fee.
3. Book an appointment with the UK visa application centre to enrol your biometrics and hand over your passport for the processing of your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner.
4. Upload all supporting documents online in PDF format before you attend your biometrics enrolment appointment so that they can be considered in support of the Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application.
5. Attend your biometrics enrolment appointment and wait for a decision on your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application, which will be made within 30 working days if you apply through Priority Service or within 60 working days if you apply through standard service.

What Are The Requirements For Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) As A Bereaved Partner?

To qualify for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner, you should meet the following eligibility requirements: 

Applicant outside the UK: The applicant must be outside the UK at the time of submission of an application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner;

Valid application: The applicant must have made a valid application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner. An application which does not meet all the validity requirements for the Bereaved Partner route may be rejected as invalid and not considered.

Suitability requirement: The applicant must not fall for refusal under Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules;

Immigration status requirement: An applicant who is overseas on the date of application must have, or have last been granted, permission as:

(a) a partner under Appendix HM Armed Forces or Part 7 (except for permission as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner), of one of the following:

(i) a person who at the time of their death was a British citizen; or

(ii) a foreign and commonwealth citizen who was at the time of their death a serving member of HM forces; or

(iii) a member of HM Armed Forces who, at the time of their death, had applied for, and would have been granted if they had not died, or had been granted, permission to stay or settlement as a foreign and commonwealth citizen discharged from HM Armed Forces.

Partner's death: The person who was the applicant’s partner at the time of the applicant’s last grant of permission as a partner, must have died.

Relationship requirement: The applicant and their partner must have been in a genuine and subsisting relationship immediately before the partner’s death.

You do not need to pass the Life in the UK Test or prove your English language skills.

A ‘partner’ is one of the following:

• your spouse (husband or wife)
• your civil partner
• your unmarried or same-sex partner with whom you were living in a relationship that’s like a marriage or civil partnership

Tuberculosis (TB) Test Requirement: Where a person is applying for entry clearance on the Bereaved Partner route, they must, if Appendix Tuberculosis applies, provide a valid medical certificate confirming that they have undergone screening for active pulmonary tuberculosis and that this tuberculosis is not present in them.

What Are The Documents You Must Provide?

How We Can Help

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation on a fixed fee basis in relation to your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner. Our fixed fee for your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner to succeed.

Advice on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner.

Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner are in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Completing the application form and submitting your application: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application as a bereaved partner and submit your application online.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After you submit your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner online, our immigration lawyers will book an appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.

Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner, explaining how all the legal requirements are met for the approval of your application.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner.

Follow-up work: Our immigration lawyers will carry out all the follow-up work until a decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner.

Why Choose Us For Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a Bereaved Partner?

There are a number of reasons to choose our family visa solicitors and lawyers in London to handle your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application as a bereaved partner from inside the UK. The main reasons include the following:

High-Quality Legal Services: Our team of the best family visa solicitors in London provides high-quality legal services for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner from inside the UK. The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is self-evident from the 5-star Google Reviews rating by 99% of our clients.

Remote Legal Services: Our specialist family visa solicitors and lawyers can provide you with expert immigration advice and legal representation remotely from our London offices. Using modern technology, our specialist family visa solicitors and lawyers can handle your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application as a bereaved partner remotely, without you needing to visit our offices. Whilst we are more than happy to welcome clients into our offices, if this is their preference, we are proud to offer our legal services for an Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application remotely, saving them time and travel costs.

Open 7 Days A Week: We are open seven days a week and pride ourselves on providing dedicated immigration advice and legal representation for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) applications for bereaved partners.

All Work Carried Out By Qualified Specialist Immigration Solicitors: Our specialist team of fully qualified and experienced family visa solicitors, who have extensive experience dealing with Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) applications, will carry out all the casework on your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner.

Free Immigration Advice Online: Our specialist team of family visa solicitors and lawyers can provide one-off free immigration advice online for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) through our website enquiry form.

Fixed Fees With Payment Plan: Our family visa solicitors and lawyers charge reasonable and affordable fixed fees for an application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner with the option to pay our fixed fee in two instalments whereby you pay half of the agreed fixed fee when we start our work on your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application and the remaining half when we have fully prepared the Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application and it is ready for submission to the Home Office UKVI.

Our Team of Specialist Immigration Solicitors

Our immigration solicitors are specialists in entry clearance applications for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as bereaved partners from outside the UK. As one of the best immigration solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients obtain ILE as a bereaved partner. Our highly experienced and fully qualified immigration solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your bereaved partner entry clearance application from outside the UK. 

The high quality of UK visa and immigration legal services provided by our best team of immigration lawyers is evident in the 5-star Google Reviews rating from 99% of our clients. Our London-based immigration solicitors are available 7 days a week, 365 days a year, offering unwavering dedication and exceptional legal support for a wide range of UK visa and immigration cases. Our team of highly regarded immigration solicitors brings together more than 6 decades of collective, specialised expertise in successfully handling UK visa and immigration applications.

Meet Our Team of immigration solicitors in London

At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our immigration solicitors in London. We understand that immigration matters are life-changing events, and our team is here to guide you through every step of the legal process with professionalism and care. 

Our team comprises a diverse group of immigration solicitors, each bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.

Our team of expert immigration solicitors and lawyers is proficient in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Marathi, Farsi, Italian, and German, enabling us to communicate effectively with you regarding your immigration matters.

Schedule Your Consultation With Our Immigration Solicitors

Are you seeking expert immigration advice and consultation from our highly experienced and qualified team of immigration solicitors and lawyers in London? It's easy to secure an appointment with our dedicated immigration law specialists. Our expert team of immigration solicitors and advisors can provide detailed immigration advice and consultation, face-to-face in our offices in London and Birmingham or virtually via Zoom, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, or Phone. Book your appointment today using the appointment booking link provided below:

• Book An Appointment Online With Our Immigration Solicitors in London

Our immigration lawyers are ready to assist you with your UK visa and immigration matter. Book your appointment today for personalised guidance and support.

How Much Does Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a Bereaved Partner Cost?

The costs associated with your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application as a bereaved partner are outlined below:

Our Fixed Fees for Your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) Application

Our fixed fee for processing your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application as a bereaved partner ranges from £1,000 (no VAT) to £1,500 (no VAT). Our fixed fee will cover all our work on your application, including advising on documents, checking your documents, completing the application form and submitting the application online, booking an appointment for biometrics enrolment, preparing a cover letter in support of the application, uploading all supporting documents to be considered in support of the application, and carrying out all other follow up work until decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application.

Our agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of your case and the volume of work involved in your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application. You will make an initial payment of half our fee when we start working on your matter, and the remaining half is due once we have fully prepared the Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application and it is ready for submission.

Unable to afford the cost of the full service? You have the option to book an appointment online for our one-off immigration advice and consultation service for a fixed fee of £100 (including VAT) or our immigration document checking service for a fixed fee of £300 (including VAT).

UKVI Fees for Your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) Application

In addition to our fixed fee for assisting you with your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) application as a bereaved partner, you are also required to pay the Home Office UKVI fees.

Get a Fixed Fee Quote for Your Immigration Matter

Other Related Services

• ILR as a Bereaved Partner
• Family Visa UK
• Administrative Review of UK Visa Refusal
• Naturalisation as a British Citizen After ILR Grant

FAQs - Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a Bereaved Partner

The following are the various Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about an application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner:

What is Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a Bereaved Partner?

Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a Bereaved Partner allows a person who was granted entry clearance as the spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner or same-sex partner of a member of HM Forces to apply for settlement if their partner has passed away before they could complete the normal probationary period.

This route enables the applicant to obtain UK settlement without having to meet any further financial or cohabitation requirements after the sponsor’s death.

The bereaved partner visa route allows settlement where a person has, or was last granted, permission as a partner on a specified route and their partner has died.

The applicant must be in the UK unless they were last granted permission as a partner under Appendix HM Armed Forces. Dependent children can also apply on this route.

Who is eligible for ILE as a bereaved partner?

You may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a Bereaved Partner if:

• You were granted entry clearance or limited leave as a partner under Appendix HM Armed Forces of the Immigration Rules.
• Your UK partner has died.
• Your relationship was genuine and subsisting at the time of your partner’s death.

Our specialist immigration solicitors at Premium Solicitors assess eligibility carefully to ensure compliance with UKVI requirements.

When can you apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner from outside the UK?

You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner from outside the UK any time after your partner’s death. You do not have to wait until your current visa expires.

What is the definition of partner for the purposes of applying for ILE as a bereaved partner?

A ‘partner’ is one of the following:

• your spouse (husband or wife)
• your civil partner
• your unmarried or same-sex partner with whom you were living in a relationship that’s like a marriage or civil partnership

What is the difference between Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for a bereaved partner?

• Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) applies when you are outside the UK at the time of application.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applies if you are already inside the UK.

The legal criteria are similar, but the place of application differs. Premium Solicitors can assist with both entry clearance and in-country settlement applications.

Do I need to meet the financial requirements for ILE as a bereaved partner?

No. You are not required to meet the minimum income threshold or English language requirement under the bereaved partner route.

However, you must demonstrate that your relationship was genuine and subsisting at the time of your partner’s death.

What documents are required for an ILE bereaved partner application?

The documents required to apply for ILE as a bereaved partner may vary depending on the applicant's personal circumstances. Typical supporting documents may include:

• The death certificate of your partner
• Evidence of your relationship (marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate)
• Proof that the relationship was genuine and subsisting (joint documents, correspondence, photos, etc.)
• Evidence of your partner’s status
• Previous visa grant documentation

Premium Solicitors provides a comprehensive document checklist tailored to your case and conducts detailed document reviews before submission.

Can I apply for ILE as a bereaved partner if I am currently outside the UK?

Yes. If you are outside the UK, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter under the bereaved partner provisions.

Our immigration solicitors at Premium Solicitors provide remote legal services worldwide, including assistance with online application forms, document preparation, and priority service submissions where available.

How long does an ILE bereaved partner application take?

An application submitted through standard service is normally decided within 12 weeks, and an application submitted through Priority Service is usually processed within 6 weeks.

Processing times may vary depending on:

• Country of application
• Whether priority service is available
• Complexity of the case

Premium Solicitors can advise you on the fastest available processing route and ensure the application is properly prepared to avoid delays.

What if my relationship had temporary difficulties before my partner’s death?

The key legal test is whether the relationship was genuine and subsisting at the time of death. Temporary separation for work, health, or personal reasons does not automatically disqualify you.

Immigration Solicitors at Premium Solicitors prepare detailed legal representations addressing any potential issues to minimise the risk of refusal.

Can I include my children in an ILE bereaved partner application?

Yes, dependent children may apply alongside you, provided they meet the relevant requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Our team ensures that each dependent child's application is correctly structured and supported by appropriate documentation.

What happens if my ILE bereaved partner application is refused?

If your application for ILE as a bereaved partner is refused, you can either:

• Ask for an Administrative Review of the refusal decision, or
• Submit a fresh application addressing the refusal reasons.

Premium Solicitors can review refusal decisions and advise on administrative reviews or reapplications.

How can I challenge the refusal of my Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner? 

You can challenge the refusal of your application for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner by filing an Administrative Review (AR) of the Home Office UKVI refusal decision.

Do I need to complete five years in the UK before applying as a bereaved partner?

No. Unlike the standard spouse visa route, there is no requirement to complete the five-year qualifying period if your partner has passed away.

You may apply immediately under the bereaved partner provisions, provided you meet the criteria.

Can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter as a bereaved partner through Priority Service?

Yes, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner from outside the UK via the Priority Service option to receive a faster decision within 30 working days. 

Do I have to pass the English test or the Life in the UK test to apply for ILE as a bereaved partner from outside the UK?

No, you do not have to pass the English test or Life in the UK test to apply for Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) as a bereaved partner from outside the UK. 

Why choose Premium Solicitors for an ILE Bereaved Partner application?

Premium Solicitors Ltd is a specialist UK immigration law firm: