ILR as an Unmarried Partner

You can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) as an unmarried partner after completing five years of continuous residence in the UK on the partner route.

To qualify, you must meet all requirements of Appendix FM of the Immigration Rules, including the relationship, financial, English language, Life in the UK, and continuous residence requirements.

You can apply up to 28 days before completing your five-year qualifying period. You must submit applications online from inside the UK via the GOV.UK settlement portal.

Need help with ILR as an unmarried partner? Call Wembley Solicitors on 020 3417 3700 or submit our online enquiry form.

Table of Contents

What Is ILR as an Unmarried Partner?

ILR as an unmarried partner is UK settlement status for the partner of a British citizen or settled person, where the couple live together in a relationship akin to marriage but aren't married or in a civil partnership. Once granted, you can live, work, and study in the UK with no time limits or immigration conditions, and it puts you on the path to British citizenship.

Your relationship must still be genuine and subsisting when you apply. You must also intend to continue living together permanently in the UK.

Can I Apply for ILR as an Unmarried Partner After 5 Years?

Yes. If you have lived in the UK with your British or settled partner in a relationship akin to marriage for at least 2 years before your visa was granted, and you complete a continuous 5-year period of lawful residence on the unmarried partner route, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Requirements for ILR as an Unmarried Partner

To apply for ILR as an unmarried partner under the 5-year route, you must:

• Complete 5 continuous years on the partner route
• Still be in a genuine, subsisting relationship
• Have lived together in a relationship akin to marriage for at least 2 years
• Intend to live together permanently in the UK
• Meet the financial requirement
• Meet the English language requirement, unless exempt
• Pass the Life in the UK Test, unless exempt
• Meet the continuous residence requirement (no excess absences)
• Meet the suitability (good character) requirement

You must satisfy both the ongoing partner-route requirements and the separate settlement requirements to qualify.

Financial Requirement for ILR as an Unmarried Partner

You must show a minimum income of £29,000 per year, or £18,600 if you first applied before 11 April 2024 and have remained on the same route.

This can be met through:

• Your partner's employment or self-employment income
• Combined income from both partners
• Cash savings of £16,000 or more (with additional savings if income falls short)
• Certain disability or welfare benefits received by your partner

The income must come from an accepted source and be evidenced in the specific way the Home Office requires, for example, payslips, employer letters, and bank statements covering the relevant period. Falling short on evidence, even with sufficient actual income, is one of the most common causes of refusal.

Continuous Residence Requirement and the 180-Day Rule

For ILR as an unmarried partner under the 5-year route, you must normally complete five years of qualifying residence in the UK as a partner. Time spent in the UK on other visas generally cannot be counted towards this 5-year qualifying period.

Under the current continuous residence rules, you generally must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period.

Read our Continuous Residence & 180-Day Rule Guide for more information.

English Language Requirement for ILR

Most applicants applying for ILR as unmarried partners need to meet the English language requirement at CEFR B1. From 26 March 2027, the required level will increase to B2 for most routes.

You may not need to take a new English test if you can meet the requirement through a previous qualification or another accepted form of evidence. The requirements and exemptions depend on your circumstances.

The Immigration Rules specify the change from B1 to B2 for settlement applications made from 26 March 2027.

Read our ILR English Language Requirements Guide for information about English tests, qualifications and exemptions.

Life in the UK Test Requirement for ILR

You must usually pass the Life in the UK Test before applying for ILR as an unmarried partner if you are aged 18 to 65, unless an exemption applies. The test costs £50, and you need to score at least 75% to pass.

You may be exempt based on your age, a qualifying medical condition or other circumstances.

Read our ILR Life in the UK Test Guide for information about the test, exemptions, booking and preparation.

Genuine and Subsisting Relationship for ILR as an Unmarried Partner

You must show your relationship is genuine and subsisting and not formed for immigration purposes, throughout your time on the partner route.

Evidence typically includes:

• Joint bank accounts or financial commitments
• Joint tenancy agreement or mortgage in both names
• Correspondence addressed to both of you at the same address
• Photos and communication spanning the relationship
• Shared responsibilities, such as raising children together

For unmarried partners specifically, this evidence also doubles as proof of the 2-year cohabitation period, since there's no marriage certificate to establish the relationship.

Do Unmarried Partners Have to Live Together for Two Years?

Not necessarily. Current Home Office guidance doesn't require couples to have lived together for the entire 2-year relationship period. For example, a couple may have lived apart temporarily for work or other reasons while the relationship remained genuine and continuing.

However, for ILR specifically, you may still need to show you've lived together in the UK since your partner permission was granted, or provide a good reason for any period you didn't.

Documents Needed for ILR Application as an Unmarried Partner

You will typically need to provide:

• Current passport or travel document.
• BRP or eVisa details.
• Evidence of your current immigration status.
• Life in the UK Test reference.
• English language evidence, if required.
• Financial evidence.
• Evidence of your relationship with your partner.
• Evidence that you have lived together in the UK, where required.
• Evidence explaining any periods when you lived apart.
• Evidence of continuous residence, where required.
• Previous passports and immigration documents, where relevant.
• Documents relating to children, if relevant.
• Certified translations for documents that are not in English or Welsh.
• Any additional documents requested by the application or relevant to your circumstances.

How to Apply for ILR as a Parent of a British Child?

To apply for ILR as an Unmarried Partner, you must apply online from within the UK through the official GOV.UK settlement application portal.

To apply, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Check if you are eligible
2. Collect the necessary documents
3. Complete the SET(M) application form online
4. Pay the application fee
5. Submit your application
6. Book & attend a biometric appointment
7. Wait for a decision

Need a step-by-step guide? Read our ILR Application Guide.

When Can I Apply for Unmarried Partner ILR?

You can normally apply for ILR up to 28 days before completing your five-year qualifying period.

For example, if you complete five years of qualifying residence on 1 October 2026, you can normally submit your ILR application from 3 September 2026.

Applying too early can cause problems because you may not have completed the required qualifying period on the date of application.

Do not wait until your current visa expires if you are already eligible for ILR. If your current permission expires before you can qualify and apply, you may need to extend your permission first.

How Much Does Unmarried Partner ILR Cost?

The standard Home Office fee for an ILR application as an unmarried partner is £3,226 per person. Each dependant applying for ILR must also pay the full application fee.

You may also have additional costs, such as the £50 Life in the UK Test fee and fees for optional faster-decision services. Your total cost will depend on your circumstances and whether you use a solicitor.

For a full breakdown of Home Office fees, additional costs and solicitor fees, see our ILR Fees & Costs Guide.

How Long Does Unmarried Partner ILR Take?

A standard ILR application as an unmarried partner is usually decided within 6 months of providing your fingerprints and photograph. If you are eligible, you may be able to use the super priority service for a faster decision.

Read our ILR Processing Time Guide for current standard and faster processing options.

Common Problems with Unmarried Partner ILR Applications

Unmarried partner applications can require careful preparation because there is no marriage certificate to demonstrate the relationship.

Common problems can include:

1. Weak relationship evidence

Providing only a few photographs or messages may not give a complete picture of the relationship.

2. Gaps in cohabitation evidence

If you and your partner have lived apart, you should explain why and provide evidence showing that the relationship continued.

3. Incorrect qualifying-period calculation

Applying too early can cause problems. The five-year period should be calculated from your qualifying partner's permission.

4. Incorrect financial evidence

Meeting the required income level is not always enough. The evidence must also meet the applicable Immigration Rules.

5. Missing English language evidence

If you are required to meet the English language requirement, make sure your evidence is acceptable before applying.

6. Life in the UK Test not completed

You will normally need to have passed the test before applying unless an exemption applies.

7. Travel and absence problems

Long or frequent absences from the UK should be checked carefully against the continuous residence rules.

8. Differences between previous applications and the ILR application

Information about your relationship, addresses, employment or immigration history should be consistent with your previous applications unless there is a genuine reason for a change.

A solicitor can review your immigration history and supporting documents before you submit the application.

Why Choose Wembley Solicitors?

Applying for ILR as an unmarried partner involves more than simply completing five years in the UK. Your immigration history, relationship, financial evidence, continuous residence and other settlement requirements all need to be considered.

Wembley Solicitors is an SRA-regulated law firm (SRA No. 806549) with 17+ years of experience in UK immigration law.

Clients choose Wembley Solicitors for:

• Specialist immigration experience – advice on unmarried partner visas, ILR, citizenship and other UK immigration matters.
• Experience with ILR applications – helping clients understand the five-year qualifying period and settlement requirements.
• Clear, practical advice – guidance on financial evidence, relationship documents, English language and Life in the UK requirements.
• Document checking – helping you identify and prepare the evidence required for your application.
• Transparent pricing – clear information about legal fees before you proceed.
• Local and UK-wide service – based in Wembley and assisting clients across London and the UK.

If you're approaching five years on the unmarried partner visa route and are unsure whether you qualify for ILR, our immigration solicitors can review your circumstances and advise you on the appropriate route.

Need Help with Your ILR Application?

If you're applying for ILR as an unmarried partner after five years, getting your qualifying period, financial evidence and supporting documents right is important. Our immigration solicitors can review your circumstances, check your eligibility and guide you through the application process.

Contact Wembley Solicitors today on 020 3417 3700 or enquire online for professional advice on your ILR application as an unmarried partner.