Build Your Future in the UK
Professional immigration advice and application assistance for individuals looking to settle in the UK or extend their permission to stay.
Your UK Future,
Properly Prepared
We help you understand the relevant settlement or further leave route, assess your circumstances and prepare the supporting evidence required for your application.
Plan Your Next Immigration Step
Settlement and further leave applications can involve detailed requirements. The correct route depends on your current immigration status, your residence in the UK and your individual circumstances.
We provide practical guidance to help you understand the relevant requirements and prepare an application that accurately reflects your circumstances.
How We Can Help
We provide personalised immigration advice and practical application assistance based on your individual circumstances.
Settlement Eligibility
We help assess whether you may qualify for indefinite leave to remain based on your current immigration route and residence history.
Qualifying Residence
Guidance on qualifying periods, continuous residence and relevant absences from the UK.
Life in the UK & English
Guidance on applicable Life in the UK and English language requirements, including the evidence that may be required.
Financial & Employment Requirements
Assistance in understanding route-specific salary, employment, financial or other eligibility requirements.
Document Preparation
Assistance with organising and reviewing supporting evidence before your settlement or further leave application is submitted.
Application Review
We can help identify inconsistencies, missing information or supporting evidence that may need further attention.
Settlement Depends on Your Route
There is no single settlement requirement for everyone. The qualifying period and eligibility criteria depend on the immigration route under which you are applying.
Work Routes
Some work routes can lead to settlement after a qualifying period. For example, Skilled Worker applicants generally need five years of qualifying continuous residence, subject to the applicable requirements.
Official GOV.UK guidanceFamily Routes
Partners, parents, children and other family applicants may have different settlement requirements depending on the route and their immigration history.
Official GOV.UK guidanceLong Residence
If you have lived legally in the UK for 10 continuous years, you may be able to apply for settlement under the long residence route, subject to the relevant requirements.
Official GOV.UK guidanceImportant Areas to Consider
The exact requirements vary by route, but settlement applications commonly require careful consideration of residence, immigration history, language and supporting evidence.
Continuous Residence
Check the qualifying residence period and whether your absences from the UK meet the applicable continuous residence rules.
Immigration History
Previous visas, periods of leave and changes of immigration route may affect which settlement route is available to you.
English & Life in the UK
Where required, you may need to demonstrate your English language ability and pass the Life in the UK Test.
Route Requirements
Some routes include additional salary, employment, financial or other eligibility requirements.
Your Time in the UK Can Matter
Settlement applications can require you to demonstrate a qualifying period of continuous residence. The rules governing absences and which periods count can depend on the route.
Keep Your Residence History Clear
For many settlement routes, continuous residence is an important part of the application. For example, Skilled Worker settlement generally uses a five-year qualifying period and includes rules concerning time spent outside the UK.
Long residence has its own rules and is generally based on 10 years of lawful continuous residence.
Check official continuous residence guidanceKnowledge of Language & Life
Where these requirements apply, applicants may need to demonstrate sufficient knowledge of English and pass the Life in the UK Test.
Official English language guidancePrepare for the Settlement Requirements
Depending on the route and your circumstances, you may need to meet English language and Life in the UK requirements before applying for settlement.
If You Are Not Yet Ready for Settlement
If you do not yet qualify for indefinite leave to remain, you may need to extend your existing permission or apply under another appropriate route.
Keep Your Immigration Status Secure
The correct application depends on your current immigration permission and individual circumstances. It is important to understand the consequences of changing or extending your route.
Check official GOV.UK guidancePrepare Your Settlement Evidence
The documents required depend on your immigration route and personal circumstances. Your evidence should be consistent, complete and relevant to the application.
Identity & Status
Passport, immigration status information and other identity documents relevant to your application.
Residence Evidence
Evidence relevant to your qualifying residence, travel history and immigration permissions.
Route-Specific Evidence
Employment, salary, financial, family or other evidence required for your particular route.
Language & Test Evidence
Where required, evidence relating to English language and the Life in the UK Test.
From Eligibility to Application
Initial Consultation
We discuss your current immigration status, residence history and future plans.
Assess Your Route
We identify the relevant settlement or further leave route and key requirements.
Prepare Evidence
We assist with organising the relevant information and supporting documents.
Final Review
We help review the application before submission, where this forms part of your agreed service.
IAA-Regulated
Adviser
SLA Immigration Services provides immigration advice and assistance within the scope of its IAA authorisation.
Our services are tailored to the individual circumstances of each client. No immigration adviser can guarantee the outcome of an application.
Level 1
Advice & Assistance
Important Information
Settlement and further leave requirements can vary significantly depending on the immigration route. The information on this page is provided for general guidance and does not replace individual immigration advice.
Residence history, immigration status, English language, Life in the UK, financial, employment and other requirements may apply depending on your route. Appropriate advice should be obtained before submitting an application.
Let's Prepare Your Next Application
Speak to our immigration adviser about your current status, settlement plans or further leave requirements and find out how we may be able to assist.