ILR Processing Time 2026: Complete Timeline Guide

The standard ILR processing time in 2026 is up to 6 months from the biometric appointment date, applying to all settlement routes — Spouse / Partner (SET M), Skilled Worker (SET O), Long Residence (SET LR), Private Life, BN(O), and other ILR categories. Priority Service: 5 working days for £500 (available on most categories). Super Priority Service: next working day for £1,000 (available on SET M and SET O; limited elsewhere; not available where biometrics were taken via the UK Immigration: ID Check app). Most straightforward applications are decided well within the 6-month standard — 93-99% depending on category. Non-straightforward cases requiring security checks, document verification, or criminal history assessment may take longer.

All major ILR categories share the same UKVI service standard of up to 6 months from biometric appointment. Actual processing performance varies by route: Long Residence (SET LR) — approximately 99% within 6 months; Domestic Violence (SET DV) — approximately 99%; Skilled Worker (SET O) — approximately 95-96%; Spouse / Partner (SET M) — approximately 93%; BN(O) settlement — approximately 94%. Most decisions are issued well within the 6-month target. Cases involving criminal history, security checks, or complex residence calculations typically take the longest. Priority and Super Priority services are available on most categories.

Priority Service costs £500 and delivers an ILR decision within 5 working days of biometric appointment. Super Priority Service costs £1,000 and delivers a decision by the end of the next working day after biometrics. Both services are added to the standard £3,226 ILR fee (from 8 April 2026). Availability varies by ILR category — SET M (Spouse) and SET O (Skilled Worker) routinely offer both services; Long Residence and BN(O) typically offer Priority but rarely Super Priority. Super Priority is not available where biometrics were captured via the UK Immigration: ID Check app rather than a UKVCAS / SSC appointment. See our UK priority visa pathways guide.

Spouse / Partner ILR (SET M) applications follow the standard 6-month UKVI service target. Approximately 93% are decided within 6 months of biometrics — straightforward applications often within 8-12 weeks. Both Priority Service (£500 / 5 working days) and Super Priority Service (£1,000 / next working day) are routinely available for SET M applications. Most refusals or delays relate to the financial requirement under UK Spouse visa rules (£29,000 income threshold since March 2024), gaps in cohabitation evidence, or absences from the UK exceeding the 180-day annual limit during the 5-year qualifying period. The HC 1691 B2 English settlement standard applies to SET M from 26 March 2027.

Skilled Worker ILR (SET O) applications follow the same 6-month UKVI service standard. Approximately 95-96% are decided within 6 months of biometrics. Both Priority Service (£500 / 5 working days) and Super Priority Service (£1,000 / next working day) are routinely available. Common SET O delay triggers: gaps or discrepancies in salary evidence (the sponsored salary throughout the qualifying period must meet the relevant threshold for each year); absences exceeding 180 days in any consecutive 12-month period; sponsor licence issues; PAYE / National Insurance discrepancies. The Skilled Worker sponsored employment framework continues to drive significant ILR volumes — Skilled Worker is now the largest ILR-driving route by application volume.

Long Residence ILR (SET LR — 10 continuous years lawful residence) applications also follow the 6-month standard, and have the strongest historical performance with approximately 99% decided within 6 months. The 10-year Long Residence route under paragraph 276B of the Immigration Rules allows ILR for applicants who have been continuously and lawfully resident for 10 years. The 20-year Private Life route (different paragraph framework) is also possible where continuous residence is 20 years; the Private Life processing time also follows the 6-month standard but Super Priority is typically not available. See our 180-day absence rule for continuous residence guide for the qualifying-period framework.

BN(O) settlement applications follow the standard 6-month UKVI service target, with approximately 94% of decisions issued within 6 months. BN(O) status holders qualify for ILR after 5 years of continuous residence on the BN(O) route. The BN(O) settlement route delivered 10,012 grants in year ending September 2025 at a 94% grant rate. Priority Service (£500) is available; Super Priority Service is typically not available for BN(O). See our British National (Overseas) settlement pathway guide for the eligibility framework, the new Adult Child route (renamed from Household Member, with 1979 eligibility expansion), and the £206 (30-month) / £285 (5-year) BN(O) fees from 8 April 2026.

The Private Life route to settlement typically follows the standard 6-month UKVI service target. Private Life route applications are made under Appendix Private Life of the Immigration Rules and require applicants to demonstrate they meet either the qualifying residence period for their circumstances (typically 20 years continuous residence for adults, or 5+ years for some young person cases) AND that removal would breach Article 8 ECHR private life rights. Private Life applications can be more document-heavy than other ILR routes and therefore may take longer to decide. Priority Service is sometimes available; Super Priority typically is not. Most Private Life refusals retain First-tier Tribunal appeal rights on Article 8 grounds — see our Article 8 ECHR family and private life rights guide.

ILR applications can exceed the 6-month standard for several reasons. Incomplete documentation — missing payslips, bank statements, or continuous residence evidence. Security checks — additional verification required for certain backgrounds. Criminal history — disclosed convictions requiring further assessment. Document verification — suspicion of fraudulent documents triggering investigation. Travel history gaps — unexplained absences from the UK exceeding 180 days in a qualifying year. English language evidence — issues with SELT certificate validity or Life in the UK settlement test results. Peak periods — higher application volumes in spring / autumn typically slow processing. UKVI will write to the applicant if the case is treated as non-straightforward and expected to exceed the standard. See our UK visa delay troubleshooting guide.

You can check your ILR application status through several channels. UKVI online portal: log in to your application account using the email address and application reference number; you'll see status updates at key stages. Email notifications: UKVI sends automatic email updates when biometrics are received, when the application is allocated to a caseworker, and when a decision is issued. Direct UKVI enquiry: if your application exceeds the 6-month standard, you can contact UKVI through the online enquiry form. MP enquiry: your Member of Parliament can make enquiries on your behalf for cases significantly exceeding the standard. For status-check questions specifically, the UKVI online portal is the canonical source.

The standard ILR application fee from 8 April 2026 is £3,226 per applicant (raised from £2,885 — a £341 increase). Optional add-ons: Priority Service +£500 (5 working days); Super Priority Service +£1,000 (next working day). Biometric enrolment: typically included; some categories require a £19.20 biometric fee at the UKVCAS appointment. Immigration Health Surcharge: NOT payable on ILR applications (the IHS is only payable on time-limited leave). The full Home Office fee schedule for ILR, BRP / eVisa, and citizenship is detailed in our Home Office fees overview guide.

Two major 2026 ILR policy developments are in flight. Earned Settlement consultation: closed on 12 February 2026; the outcome is pending (expected May 2026). The consultation proposed reforms to the ILR qualifying framework — including extending the qualifying period from 5 to 10 years for some routes, and requiring adult dependants to qualify for ILR in their own right rather than tracking the principal applicant. HC 1691 (laid 5 March 2026): introduces a B2 English settlement standard from 26 March 2027 across most ILR routes — applicants will need to demonstrate B2 (rather than the current B1) under the CEFR framework. Existing applicants in qualifying periods are protected by transitional arrangements. Always check current Home Office guidance for the specific rules in force when you apply.