No, you cannot directly apply for an Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from India, as one cannot apply for an ILR outside the UK. To be eligible for an ILR, one must have resided in the UK for at least five continuous years. Indians must first apply for a valid UK visa to enter the country. Some UK visa options that lead to the ILR pathway in the long term are dependent visas, skilled worker visas, family visas, and ancestry visas. However, the residency criteria before applying for ILR are based on the type of UK visa you hold. Individuals are also required to fulfill other eligibility requirements to apply for an ILR.
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Which UK Visas lead to ILR?
Specific UK visas allow applicants to apply for an ILR upon eligibility. Individuals in the UK with a valid visa for five years can qualify for an Indefinite Leave to Remain. With the ILR, they can live, study, or work for as long as they want without any restrictions.
To know more about the UK visas that lead to ILR, Also, read…
UK ILR Requirements
Here is a general checklist of requirements that one has to fulfill before applying for ILR in the UK:
- Have continuously resided in the UK for five years
- Have continuously lived in the UK for three years (Innovator Founder Visa and Global Talent Visa holders)
- Cleared the Life in the UK test
- Must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in 12 months
- Have at least a B1 level of English language proficiency level
- Be of good character
- Fulfill the visa-specific requirements (may vary based on the UK visa type)
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