You can apply for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route 28 days before completing 5 years of residence in the UK with leave to enter or remain under a spouse visa for the 5-year route. An application for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route is submitted to the Home Office UKVI in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules. You can apply for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route via Super Priority Service to get a decision within 24 hours.
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Free Immigration Advice For ILR As A Spouse
Our specialist spouse visa solicitors can provide free 5-minute immigration advice on your application for ILR as a spouse (5-year route). Ask a question to our specialist team of spouse visa solicitors for free immigration advice online or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice with our specialist spouse visa solicitors for your application for ILR as a spouse (5 years route).
Specialist Solicitors for ILR as a Spouse (5 Years Route)
Our spouse visa solicitors specialise in ILR applications under the 5-year spouse visa route. As one of the best spouse visa solicitors, we have successfully helped thousands of clients with their spouse visa ILR applications under the 5-year spouse visa route. Our highly experienced and fully qualified spouse visa solicitors offer fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee advice and legal representation for ILR applications as a spouse.
Meet Our Team of Spouse Visa Solicitors in London
At Premium Solicitors, our strength lies in the expertise, dedication, and unwavering commitment of our spouse visa 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 ILR application process with professionalism and care.
Our team comprises a diverse group of spouse visa solicitors with extensive experience and knowledge. We are united by a shared goal: to deliver the highest level of legal support and advocacy tailored to your immigration needs.
Arshad Mahmood
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Tushita Scalzullo
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Nargis Khodadady
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Asad Malik
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Alina Rizvi
Specialist UK Immigration Solicitor
Victoria Gbenoba
Specialist UK Immigration SolicitorOur team of expert spouse visa 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.
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Requirements For ILR as a Spouse (5-Year Route)
The requirements for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a spouse under the 5-year route from inside the UK include the following:
Valid application: The applicant must submit a valid application for ILR as a spouse (5-year route) in accordance with the requirements set out in Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules.
5 years' residence: The applicant can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain 28 days before completing 5 years' residence in the UK under a spouse visa (5 years' route). The applicant must have completed the required qualifying period of 4 years, 11 months, and 2 days at the time of online submission of the ILR application as a spouse.
Immigration status requirement: The applicant must be currently in the UK on a spouse visa and must apply for ILR before their leave expires.
Relationship requirement: The applicant must be the spouse of a person who is either a British Citizen, a person with ILR / settled status, an EU national with pre-settled status, a refugee / humanitarian protection status holder, a Turkish Businessperson visa holder or a Turkish Worker visa holder. The applicant's relationship with the UK sponsor must be genuine and subsisting, and appropriate evidence of the genuineness and subsistence of the marriage should be provided in support of the application for ILR as a spouse.
Suitability requirement: The applicant should meet the suitability requirements as set out in Appendix FM to the Immigration Rules.
Financial requirement: The applicant should meet the financial requirement for ILR as a spouse (5-year route). The financial requirement can be met through
- income of the applicant and/or UK sponsor from employment or self-employment; and/or
- savings of the applicant and/or the sponsor; or
- through the rental income of the applicant and/or the sponsor.
Accommodation requirement: The applicant must provide evidence that there will be adequate accommodation, without recourse to public funds, for the family, including other family members who are not included in the application but who live in the same household, which the family owns or occupies exclusively.
English language requirement: The applicant must meet the English language requirement to demonstrate English proficiency at CEFR level B1, as required by the UK Immigration Rules.
Life in the UK Test Requirement: The applicant must pass the Life in the UK test.
Super Priority Service for ILR as a Spouse (5 Years Route)
As specialist spouse visa solicitors based in London, we are registered with the Home Office, UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) and its commercial partners UKVCAS Sopra Steria to provide Super Priority Service for ILR as a spouse, whereby a decision on your ILR spouse visa application will be made within 24 hours if you submit your ILR application through Super Priority Service.
Our spouse visa Solicitors can prepare and submit your ILR spouse visa application faster and secure a decision more quickly through Super Priority Service. This way, you will not have to wait months (sometimes years) for a decision on your ILR application.
How To Apply for ILR as a Spouse Under the 5-Year Route?
To apply for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route, you should take the following steps:
- Complete the online SET (M) application form on the UKVI website.
- Submit the completed ILR application online by paying the Home Office UKVI fees for the ILR application.
- Book your biometrics appointments with the UKVCAS by creating an account on the UKVCAS web portal.
- Upload all the supporting documents online before the biometrics enrolment appointment date.
- Attend your biometrics enrolment appointment. You should take your BRP card, your passport, and your biometrics appointment letter with you to your biometrics appointment.
- Wait for a decision on your ILR application, which will normally be made within 3 to 6 months if submitted through the standard service and within 24 hours if submitted through Super Priority Service.
Transitional Financial Requirement for ILR as a Spouse
The Home Office UKVI has introduced the transitional financial requirements for an applicant who made their first application as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner, or as a partner before 11 April 2024 and who was granted permission as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or as a partner on the five-year route to settlement as a result of that application. According to paragraph E-LTRP.3.5 of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, a person who has permission as a partner on the five-year route to settlement, or as a fiancé(e) or proposed civil partner, at the date of application, must meet the transitional financial requirement of income which is £18,600 gross per year if they made an application for entry clearance or permission to stay as a fiancé(e), proposed civil partner or partner under Appendix FM before 11 April 2024, which was successful. Under the new rules, where the financial requirement exceeds £29,000 due to the number of children in the family, the applicant will only need to provide evidence of a gross annual income of £29,000.
The applicant must provide evidence that the UK sponsor's gross annual income is at least equivalent to the income as given in the table below:
| Applicant | Income Required |
| Applicant applying with no children | £18,600 gross per annum |
| Applicant applying with 1 non-settled / non-British child | £22,400 gross per annum |
| Applicant applying with 2 non-settled / non-British children | £24,800 gross per annum |
| Applicant applying with 3 non-settled / non-British children | £27,200 gross per annum |
| Applicant applying with 4 or more non-settled / non-British children | £29,000 gross per annum |
What Are the Various Sources of Income to Meet the Financial Requirements?
Where the applicant has to meet the minimum income threshold, the financial requirement can generally be met in the following 5 ways:
- Income from salaried or non-salaried employment of the partner (and/or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work). This is referred to as Category A or Category B, depending on the employment history.
- Non-employment income, e.g. income from property rental or dividends from shares. This is referred to as Category C.
- Cash savings of the applicant’s partner and/or the applicant, above £16,000, held by the partner and/or the applicant for at least 6 months and under their control. This is referred to as Category D.
- State (UK or foreign), occupational or private pension of the applicant’s partner and/or the applicant. This is referred to as Category E.
- Income from self-employment, and income as a director or employee of a specified limited company in the UK, of the partner (and/or the applicant if they are in the UK with permission to work). This is referred to as Category F or Category G, depending on which financial year(s) is/are being relied upon.
Adequate Maintenance Requirement for ILR as a Spouse Under the 5-Year Route
Where the applicant’s partner is in receipt of any of the following benefits or allowances in the UK, the applicant will be able to meet the financial requirement at that application stage by providing evidence of “adequate maintenance” rather than meeting an income threshold of £18,600 or above:
- Carer’s Allowance.
- Disability Living Allowance.
- Severe Disablement Allowance.
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
- Attendance Allowance.
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
- Armed Forces Independence Payment or Guaranteed Income Payment under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
- Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement or War Disablement Pension under the War Pensions Scheme.
- Police Injury Pension.
If the applicant’s partner is receiving one of the above benefits or allowances on behalf of their child, the applicant will be able to qualify by meeting the financial requirement through “adequate maintenance.” The evidence required to demonstrate that the applicant’s partner is in receipt of a specified benefit or allowance is specified in Appendix FM-SE.
What is the Formula for Calculating Adequate Maintenance?
The Home Office UKVI will use the following formula to determine whether you meet the adequate maintenance requirement for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route:
A – B ≥ C (A minus B is greater than or equal to C)
Where:
A is the net income (after deduction of income tax and National Insurance contributions);
B is housing costs (Rent and Council Tax); and
C is the amount of Income Support an equivalent British family of that size can receive.
Do I Have To Meet the Life In The UK Test and English Language Requirement?
The applicant must meet the Life in the UK test and English language requirements, unless the applicant is over the age of 65 or is exempt from these requirements due to health reasons.
To meet the English language requirement, the applicant must provide specified evidence that he/she:
- is a national of a majority English-speaking country; or
- has passed an English language test in speaking and listening at a minimum of level B1 of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for Languages with a provider approved by the Home Office, UKVI; or
- has an academic qualification recognised by UK Ecctis to be equivalent to the standard of a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree or PhD in the UK, which was taught in English; or
- is exempt from the English language requirement because at the date of application:
- the applicant is aged 65 or over;
- the applicant has a disability (physical or mental condition) which prevents the applicant from meeting the requirement.
Appeal Against the Refusal of ILR as a Spouse (5 Years Route)?
If your application for ILR as a spouse has been refused by the Home Office UKVI and you have been given the right to appeal against the refusal decision, you should file an appeal with the First Tier Tribunal within 14 days of the refusal decision. The appeal against the refusal decision can be successful on the grounds that the decision to refuse is not in accordance with rules or in contravention of your right to private and family life as envisaged under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). An Immigration Judge at the First Tier Tribunal will hear and determine the appeal. Our specialist spouse visa solicitors can provide the legal services you need to represent you in your spouse visa appeal to challenge the refusal decision.
When Can I Apply For Naturalisation As A Spouse Of A British Citizen?
You can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen as a spouse or a civil partner of a British Citizen immediately after you have been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK if you have been lawfully resident in the UK for at least 3 years preceding the date of application. You do not have to wait for 12 months after the ILR grant date when applying for naturalisation as a spouse or civil partner of a British Citizen. Our specialist team of spouse visa solicitors can provide immigration advice and legal services for your application for naturalisation as a spouse of a British Citizen after the grant of ILR as a spouse. Read More
How Can Our Spouse Visa Solicitors 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 ILR as a spouse. Our fixed fee for your application for ILR as a spouse will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your application for ILR as a spouse until a decision is made by the Home Office UKVI on your application for ILR as a spouse. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your application for ILR as a spouse will entail the following:
Advice on requirements: Our spouse visa solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your application for ILR as a spouse to succeed.
Advice on documents: Our spouse visa solicitors will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your application for ILR as a spouse.
Assessment of documents: Our spouse visa solicitors will assess your documents to ensure that all documents you provide in support of your application for ILR as a spouse comply with the Immigration Rules.
Completing the application form: Our spouse visa solicitors will complete the relevant application form for your ILR application as a spouse.
Submitting an application through Super Priority Service: Our spouse visa solicitors will submit your online ILR application as a spouse through Super Priority Service to obtain a decision within 24 hours.
Booking an appointment with the application centre: After you submit your online application for ILR as a spouse, our spouse visa solicitors will book your appointment with the application centre to enrol your biometrics.
Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist spouse visa solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of your application for ILR as a spouse, explaining how all the legal requirements are met and outlining the supporting evidence.
Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our spouse visa solicitors will upload all supporting documents online to support your application for ILR as a spouse.
Follow-up work: Our spouse visa solicitors will carry out all the follow-up work until the Home Office UKVI reaches a decision on your application for ILR as a spouse.
Why Choose Us For ILR As A Spouse (5 Years Route)?
There are several reasons you can choose our London-based spouse visa solicitors and lawyers to handle your ILR application as a spouse from inside the UK. The main reasons include the following:
High-Quality Legal Services: Our team of the best spouse visa solicitors in London provides high-quality legal services for ILR as a spouse 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 spouse visa solicitors and lawyers can provide you with expert spouse visa advice and legal representation remotely from our offices in London. Using modern technology, our specialist spouse visa solicitors and lawyers can handle your ILR application as a spouse 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 spouse visa applications remotely to save you time and travel costs.
Open 7 Days A Week: We are open seven days a week and pride ourselves on providing dedicated spouse visa advice and legal representation.
All Work Carried Out By Qualified Specialist Immigration Solicitors: Our specialist team of fully qualified and experienced spouse visa solicitors will carry out all the casework on your application for ILR as a spouse. They have extensive experience handling spouse visa applications.
Fast Track Visa Service: Our experienced and qualified spouse visa solicitors can prepare and submit your ILR application as a spouse in the shortest possible time using the fast-track process. Our spouse visa solicitors will submit your ILR application as a spouse through the Super Priority Visa Service to obtain a faster decision within 24 hours.
Free Immigration Advice Online: Our specialist team of spouse visa solicitors and lawyers can provide one-off free immigration advice online for ILR through our website enquiry form.
Fixed Fees With Payment Plan: Our spouse visa solicitors and lawyers charge reasonable and affordable fixed fees for an application for ILR as a spouse with an 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 ILR application and the remaining half when we have fully prepared the ILR application and it is ready for submission to the Home Office UKVI.
How Much Does ILR As A Spouse (5 Years Route) Cost?
The costs associated with your ILR application are outlined below:
Our Fixed Fees for Your ILR Application
Our fixed fee for processing your ILR application ranges from £1,000 + VAT to £1,500 + 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 ILR 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 ILR 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 ILR Application
In addition to our fixed fee for assisting you with your ILR application, you are also required to pay the Home Office UKVI fees for your ILR application. The UKVI fee for your ILR application is £3,226.
Additionally, you can pay an additional fee of £1,000 for Super Priority Service to get a decision on your ILR application within 24 hours.
Get a Fixed Fee Quote for Your Immigration Matter
At Premium Solicitors, we believe in transparency and simplicity. We offer fixed-fee quotes for our specialist UK visa and immigration services.
Ready to get started? Use the link below to request a fixed-fee quote tailored to your needs.
How to Engage Us for Your Immigration Matter?
You can instruct immigration solicitors in London at Premium Solicitors for your immigration matter by getting in contact with us using one of the following means of contact:
Call Us: 0044 20 3930 3900
Email Us: info@premiumsolicitors.co.uk
Complete Enquiry Form: Send your enquiry through our website enquiry form
Book an Appointment Online: You can book an appointment with one of our specialist immigration solicitors in London for detailed immigration advice and consultation on your immigration matter.
What Are Our Other Spouse Visa-Related Services?
- Spouse Visa UK
- Entry Clearance for Spouse Visa UK
- Switching to a Spouse Visa UK (5 Years Route)
- Switching to a Spouse Visa (10 Years Route)
- Extension of Spouse Visa (5 Years Route)
- Extension of Spouse Visa (10 Years Route)
- ILR as a Spouse (10 Years Route)
- Family Visa UK
- In-Country Immigration Appeals
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for ILR as a Spouse (5 Years Route)
The following are various frequently asked questions (FAQs) about an application for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route:
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as a spouse under the 5-year route allows individuals on a spouse or partner visa to settle permanently in the UK after completing 5 years (60 months) of lawful residence under Appendix FM.
To qualify for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route, you must:
- Hold a valid spouse/partner visa under the 5-year route
- Have completed 5 years of continuous residence in the UK
- Be in a genuine and subsisting relationship
- Meet the financial requirement
- Satisfy the English language requirement (B1 level)
- Pass the Life in the UK Test
- Meet the suitability and good character requirements
You must complete 60 months (5 years) in the UK on a spouse visa under the 5-year route before becoming eligible to apply for ILR.
You can apply up to 28 days before completing your 5-year qualifying period.
You must meet the minimum income threshold under Appendix FM, which generally includes:
- A minimum income of £18,600 per year (subject to updates) if your initial spouse visa application was submitted before 11 April 2024
- Additional income requirements if you have dependent children
- Alternatively, sufficient savings may be used to meet the requirement
Yes, applicants must pass the Life in the UK Test, which assesses knowledge of British history, culture, and values.
You must demonstrate English language ability at CEFR Level B1 or higher unless exempt.
The documents required for ILR as a spouse (5-year route) may vary depending on the applicant's circumstances. Typical documents may include:
- Valid passport and eVisa
- Proof of cohabitation (joint documents over 2–5 years)
- Marriage/civil partnership certificate
- Financial evidence (payslips, bank statements, employment letter, etc)
- English language certificate
- Life in the UK Test pass notification
You must not have excessive absences from the UK and must have lived together with your partner continuously during the 5-year period. The requirement of not being absent from the UK for more than 180 days during any 12 months does not apply to an ILR application as a spouse under the 5-year route.
Generally, no. You must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship at the time of application. However, exceptions may apply in cases such as:
- Domestic violence
- Bereavement of a partner
If you do not meet the ILR requirements, you may:
- Extend your visa under the 10-year route
- Submit further evidence
- Seek legal advice to explore alternative immigration options
- Standard processing: up to 6 months
- Super Priority: decision within 1–2 working days
Yes, you can continue working while your ILR application is pending, provided you submitted it before the expiry of your leave to remain as a spouse.
No. Leaving the UK before a decision is made will result in your application being treated as withdrawn.
Once granted ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route:
- You can live and work in the UK without restrictions
- You may become eligible to apply for naturalisation as a British citizen
You can apply for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route by completing the online SET (M) application form.
You can apply for ILR as a spouse under the 5-year route within 28 days before completing 5 years of residence with leave to remain as a spouse under the 5-year route.
Yes. At Premium Solicitors, our experienced immigration lawyers:
- Provide free initial assessments
- Offer fixed-fee services with no hidden costs
- Prepare and submit fully compliant ILR applications
- Provide Super Priority Service for a decision within 24 hours
- Assist clients 7 days a week, 365 days a year, including remote services
- Specialist UK immigration solicitors
- High success rate in spouse visa and ILR applications
- Transparent and affordable fixed fees
- Multilingual legal support
- Offices in London & Birmingham with nationwide service
- Available 7 days a week
- Super Priority Service for a decision within 24 hours