Latitude Law

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Settlement (ILR) in UK work, business and investment routes: qualifying periods, absences, continuous residence, dependants, English and Life in the UK, criminality, and forthcoming Earned Settlement reforms
PRACTICE NOTES
Settlement (ILR) in UK work, business and investment routes: qualifying periods, absences, continuous residence, dependants, English and Life in the UK, criminality, and forthcoming Earned Settlement reforms
Forthcoming development: The Home Office has released a policy paper and consultation on its ‘Earned Settlement’ plans, set to overhaul who can qualify for settlement across all routes, including lengthening residence periods for many applicants. First trailed in the Immigration White Paper in May 2025, a 12-week consultation opened on 28 November 2025. See: Government announces consultation for earned settlement reforms. This Practice Note outlines the principal shared criteria for settlement applications within the work, business and investment (collectively, ‘economic’) routes under the Immigration Rules. All routes that have been ‘simplified’ for the post-Brexit system now describe indefinite leave to remain (ILR) simply as settlement. Note that some economic routes do not confer settlement, notably Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate and High Potential Individual routes, as well as the Temporary Worker routes. In summary, the general requirements are: absences and
Immigration
VFS Global and TLScontact in UK immigration applications: procedures, document submission, biometrics, premium services, tracking and common issues
PRACTICE NOTES
VFS Global and TLScontact in UK immigration applications: procedures, document submission, biometrics, premium services, tracking and common issues
Procedure for applications when using VFS or TLS This Practice Note outlines the process for applications made through Visa Facilitation Services Global (VFS) or TLScontact (TLS), the Home Office’s designated commercial partners for submitting entry clearance from overseas and for in-country applications to extend leave or settle in the UK. VFS handles applications lodged abroad, whereas TLS is responsible for those submitted within the UK. Where the ‘UK immigration: ID check’ or ‘EU Exit: ID Document Check’ apps are used, no commercial partner takes part. For more detail on applying from abroad, see Practice Note: Procedure for applying from overseas. For applications made in the UK, see Practice Note: Procedure for applying online in the UK. The ID check app is being expanded to additional visa routes and its availability will grow over time. Important note: although this Practice Note provides a broad
Immigration
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