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Indefinite Leave to Remain solicitors in St AlbansSettle in the UK permanently.
We check your date and prepare your application, for a fixed fee.
- Fixed fees, agreed upfront
- Solicitor-led, St Albans office
- Reply within 1 working day
Indefinite Leave to Remain application
£1,950+ VAT
£2,340 including VAT
- Included
- Check your date
- Check the requirements
- Prepare your application
- Submit and keep you updated
- After settlement
- Not included
The Home Office application fee is paid directly to the Home Office.
- Typical timescale
- On most routes you can apply up to 28 days before you complete your qualifying period.
- Award-winningBest Immigration Lawyer in St Albans, Quality Business Awards 2023 (opens in a new tab)
- 4.9 out of 5From 100+ Google reviews (opens in a new tab)
- Since 2009SRA-regulated, no. 635480 (opens in a new tab)
- Fixed feesAgreed in writing before we start
- 1 working dayTo reply to every message
- English, বাংলা, اردو, हिन्दीLanguages we speak
What it costs
A fixed fee, agreed before we start. The Home Office application fee is extra.
| Service | Our fee | Including VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Indefinite Leave to Remain application | £1,950+ VAT£2,340 incl. VAT | £2,340 |
Express serviceFor when your deadline is close.What's included
Timescale: Ready to submit within 5 working days of receiving all your documents | + £500+ VAT+ £600 incl. VAT | + £600 |
Document check (if you're making your own application)What's included
Timescale: Feedback within 5 working days of receiving your documents | £395+ VAT£474 incl. VAT | £474 |
| Immigration consultation (30 minutes)With a solicitor. Credited against our fees if you instruct us. | £150+ VAT£180 incl. VAT | £180 |
Our fees are + VAT at 20%. They don't include Home Office fees, which you pay directly to the Home Office.
Other costs you'll pay
- Indefinite Leave to Remain application£3,226
Per person. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Life in the UK test£50
If you haven't passed it already. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- English language test (if needed)About £150 to £200
Paid to an approved test provider. The price depends on the test and centre. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
- Certified translations (if needed)Usually £30 to £60 a page
Paid to the translator. We'll tell you if any documents need translating.
- Faster Home Office decision (optional)£500 or £1,000
Priority or super priority service, where offered for your visa. Check on GOV.UK (opens in a new tab)
Official fees have no VAT and are paid directly, not to us. Correct at 27 October 2026; the Home Office usually changes its fees in April and October. Estimates are marked "about" or "usually".
The Home Office application fee is paid directly to the Home Office. You may also need to pay for the Life in the UK test, an English language test, and certified translations of documents.
Key stages and timescales
- Free call and fixed-fee quote: Usually within 2 working days of your enquiry
- Preparing your application: Usually 2 to 4 weeks after we receive your documents, or 5 working days with our express service
- Home Office decision: Usually within 6 months GOV.UK processing times (opens in a new tab)
On most routes you can apply up to 28 days before you complete your qualifying period. The Home Office publishes current processing times for settlement applications on GOV.UK.
Your fixed fee, in writing, before we start.
Tell us about your situation on a free call and we'll confirm the fee that applies to you.
Book a free call for your quoteIs this you?
Not sure? Answer 3 quick questions or book a free call and tell us what's happened.
- You're coming to the end of five years on a spouse, partner, or Skilled Worker visa.
- You've lived in the UK lawfully for 10 years, perhaps on a mix of different visas.
- You want to be sure of your date, your absences, and the documents you'll need before you apply.
What's included
Step 1: Check your date
We work out when you can apply, looking at your visa history, your route, and any time you've spent outside the UK.
Step 2: Check the requirements
We confirm what your route needs, such as the Life in the UK test, English language, and any income or employer requirements.
Step 3: Prepare your application
We give you a document checklist for your route, complete the form, and write a cover letter showing how you meet the rules.
Step 4: Submit and keep you updated
We submit your application and keep you updated until the Home Office decides.
Step 5: After settlement
We explain your eVisa and when you may be able to apply for British citizenship.
The main routes to settlement
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also called settlement, lets you live and work in the UK with no time limit on your stay.
On the partner route, you can usually apply after five years with permission as a partner. You'll need to meet the relationship, financial, and English requirements again.
On the Skilled Worker route, you can usually apply after five years. Your employer must confirm they still need you, and you must be paid at the required level.
On the long residence route, you can apply after 10 years' continuous lawful residence in the UK. This can usually be made up of time on different visas.
Continuous residence and absences
Your qualifying period is the time you need to spend on your route before you can apply. It must usually be continuous, meaning you've lived in the UK without long breaks.
On many routes, being outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period breaks continuous residence. Some absences for serious or compelling reasons can be allowed. Gaps between visas can also cause problems, so keep a record of your trips and your permissions.
Check your date
Our free ILR date checker gives you a rough date to apply. Settlement rules are under review and may change, including how long you need to wait before you can apply. Confirm your date with a solicitor before you rely on it.
Who will handle your case
Every matter is supervised by
Sony Sadaf Haroon
Principal solicitor, SRA ID 482574
Your matter is run by one of our SRA-regulated solicitors, with a caseworker preparing documents under their supervision. We'll tell you who your contact is when you instruct us.
Sony supervises our solicitors and caseworkers, and is the firm's Compliance Officer for Legal Practice and for Finance and Administration. She studied at SOAS University of London, was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn in 1997, and qualified as a solicitor in 2008.
Check us on the SRA register (opens in a new tab)In our clients' words
I would really recommend Sony Law for their professionalism, efficiency, understanding, and help…
Read the full reviewHide the full review
I contacted Sony to get advice after my settlement application was refused. Her professional advice helped us to decide what would be the best option for the next step. The whole process was very quick and smooth, the correspondence was fantastic, and I received a positive decision from the HO literally a couple of hours after all necessary documentation was sent off. I would really recommend Sony Law for their professionalism, efficiency, understanding, and help, and I will definitely go back in the future if needed. Many thanks, Sony!
Thanks to their expertise and support, I successfully obtained my visa without any issues.
Read the full reviewHide the full review
I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional service provided by this solicitor firm during my UK visa application process. From the very beginning, they demonstrated a thorough understanding of immigration law and offered clear guidance tailored to my specific situation. Their professionalism and attention to detail made the complex application process much smoother. They were always available to answer my questions, providing timely updates and reassurance along the way. Thanks to their expertise and support, I successfully obtained my visa without any issues. I highly recommend their services to anyone seeking assistance with UK immigration matters. Their dedication truly made a difference!
Believe me, I've been through many solicitors, but none comes close to my experience of working with Sony Law.
Read the full reviewHide the full review
Navigating the complexities of immigration law can be daunting. Believe me, I've been through many solicitors, but none comes close to my experience of working with Sony Law. They were an absolute game changer. From the very first consultation, they demonstrated an extraordinary level of expertise, professionalism, and genuine care for my case…
When can I apply to settle?
Work out the earliest date you may be able to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Free, with no sign-up.
Use the free ilr date checkerNot sure which service you need?
Answer three questions and we'll point you to the right page, or just call and tell us what's happened.
Guides on this topic
- When can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain?Qualifying periods for Indefinite Leave to Remain by route, applying up to 28 days early, and how time spent outside the UK can affect your date.4 min read
- Settlement for victims of domestic abuse explainedHow partners whose relationship ended because of domestic abuse can apply to settle in the UK, the three-month concession, the evidence used, and getting safe.6 min read
- Spouse visa requirements explainedThe main UK spouse visa requirements: your relationship, finances, accommodation, English language and immigration history, and how each one is assessed.4 min read
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for ILR?
On most routes, up to 28 days before you complete your qualifying period. Applying too early can lead to a refusal, so check your date carefully. Our free ILR date checker gives you a rough date.
How long can I spend outside the UK?
On many routes, more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period breaks your continuous residence. The rules differ between routes, and some absences for serious reasons can be allowed, so check yours with us.
Do I need to pass the Life in the UK test?
Usually, yes, if you're aged 18 to 64, and you need to pass it before you apply. Once you've passed, you don't need to take it again for British citizenship.
What English language evidence do I need?
Most applicants need to show their English speaking and listening meets the required level, for example with an approved test or a degree taught in English. Nationals of some English-speaking countries and people aged 65 or over are usually exempt.
Are the settlement rules changing?
Settlement rules are under review and may change, including how long you need to wait before you can apply. Check the current position on GOV.UK, or ask us, before you plan around a date.
How do I prove my status once I have ILR?
Your status is recorded as an eVisa, which you view through your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. You use it to prove your right to live, work, and rent in the UK.
Book a free 15-minute call
Tell us a little about your situation and pick a time. Our team will call you, explain how we can help and what it will cost.
It takes about two minutes. If you'd like us to help after the call, we send you a fixed quote in writing. There's no obligation.
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