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If you’ve lived in the UK for five continuous years as a recognised refugee or under humanitarian protection, you may now be eligible for Refugee Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR). Our experienced Refugee Settlement solicitors in London, Manchester, and Birmingham help you prepare a strong ILR application, ensuring no errors delay your permanent status.
For expert assistance, call us now at 020 3384 4389
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Confused About the Process UK? Let Us Guide You
Refugee Settlement, also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), is a process that allows recognised refugees or individuals with humanitarian protection to gain permanent residency in the UK after living there continuously for five years. This status removes the need to renew visas and provides the right to live, work, and study in the UK without any time restrictions. It represents an important step toward long-term stability and integration into the community.
Quick Facts You Shouldn’t Miss
What Is Refugee Settlement (ILR)?
Refugee Settlement allows those recognised as refugees or holders of humanitarian protection to stay in the UK permanently after five years of lawful residence. It grants Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) offering freedom from immigration control.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you: Have completed five continuous years in the UK under refugee or humanitarian protection status. Have no breaches or revocations of your protection status. Meet the good character and criminality requirements.
Criminal Record and Good Conduct Rules
Your application may be refused if you: Received a prison sentence of four years or more. Are deemed a persistent offender or pose a threat to public safety. Provided false or misleading information during your asylum process.
Humanitarian Protection and Dependants
If your partner or children under 18 were granted protection as dependants, they can also apply for settlement after five years of lawful residence in the UK.
The Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) is a fee paid by most visa and immigration applicants for over six months to access the National Health Service (NHS). It is not required for British citizenship applications, as permanent residents contribute via taxes like National Insurance.
- Live and work in the UK without restriction.
- Access NHS, education, and benefits like British citizens.
- Apply for British citizenship after 12 months (subject to eligibility).
- Travel abroad freely using a Refugee Travel Document.
When applying for a Spouse visa, you must pay the Immigration Health Surcharge to cover your healthcare costs while in the UK. Since February 2024, the surcharge has been £1,035 per year, following a 86% increase. For in-country application, it will be for 30 months and out-country application, it will be for 33 months.
The Home Office may refuse or revoke ILR if you:
- Commit serious crimes or war crimes.
- Pose a security risk to the UK.
- Provided false information in your application.
- Travel back to the country you originally fled from.
British citizenship applications are typically processed within six months. However, some applications may take longer, especially if more information or checks are required by the Home Office.
If refused, you may receive limited leave (three years) instead, depending on your protection needs. You can appeal or reapply once issues are resolved.
This visa allows you to get married or register a civil partnership, but you cannot work, study, or live in the UK. You must use this visa solely to visit and get married.
- Refugee Status Letter or BRP showing five years of leave.
- Proof of residence and absence of serious offences.
- Travel history and police clearance certificate (if applicable).
- Updated biometric and identity information.
Trusted Refugee Settlement Lawyers
At UK Immigration Solicitors, we have extensive experience helping refugees and humanitarian protection holders obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
97.37%
Success Rate
37,573
Applications Approved
93.7%
Immigration Appeal Win Rate
4.9/5
Average Rating
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
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Evidence-based case preparation
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Home Office compliance checks
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Success rate optimisation
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Risk mitigation strategies
From Consultation to Visa Approval
Our immigration specialists streamline your application process by clearly identifying which evidence and strategies will strengthen your case.
By aligning your unique circumstances with Home Office requirements, we help you focus on high-impact preparations while addressing any potential weaknesses in your application.
Maximising Your Approval Chances
Our goal is to maximise the chances of your visa being approved the first time. By carefully reviewing your circumstances, identifying potential weaknesses, and preparing strong supporting evidence, we significantly reduce the risk of refusals. Every application is checked by senior immigration solicitors who apply their expertise to make your case as clear, accurate, and persuasive as possible. This attention to detail is what improves success rates and helps our clients move forward with confidence.
Success Rate Optimisation
We carefully analyse every detail of your application to maximise the chances of approval. By addressing weaknesses, strengthening supporting evidence, and ensuring full compliance with Home Office rules, we optimise your case for success. This thorough approach significantly improves approval rates and gives you confidence throughout the process.
Risk Mitigation Strategies
We identify potential risks in your application early and put safeguards in place to address them. By preparing strong evidence, clarifying complex points, and anticipating Home Office concerns, we minimise the chance of delays or refusals.
Work With Trusted, SRA-Regulated UK Immigration Experts
Your immigration journey is too important to risk on unqualified or unregulated help. Every case we handle is prepared by SRA-regulated solicitors who apply structured legal reasoning, precise documentation checks and full compliance with Home Office and UKVI rules.
Our accreditations are your assurance that you are working with a reputable, experienced and highly trained legal team. We combine decades of immigration expertise with strict professional standards to give you clarity, confidence and complete peace of mind — no matter which visa or application route you are pursuing.
Who is eligible for Refugee Settlement?
Refugees and persons granted humanitarian protection who wish to remain indefinitely in the UK must:
- In a continuous period of five years in the UK, you have held a residence permit as a refugee or a person with humanitarian protection status (or their dependant)
- The permit has not been cancelled or revoked
- No jail sentence of more than four years has been imposed on you;
- If it has been less than 15 years since your sentence ended, you will probably receive a sentence of 12 months or four years imprisonment
- In the last two years, you received a non-custodial sentence (such as a fine or a community sentence) or another out-of-court disposition (such as a caution or penalty notice) on your criminal record
- Your offending is not considered serious harm by the Secretary of State
- Despite persistent offenses and a disregard for the law, the Secretary of State does not consider you to be a persistent offender
- Based on your conduct, character, or associations, the Secretary of State does not consider that it would be undesirable to grant you settlement in the UK.
Refugee Card Revocation Criteria
The Secretary of State may revoke or not renew your residence card as a refugee if it is determined that you are excluded from the Refugee Convention for any of the following reasons:
- The United Nations should prohibit you from being a refugee (for example, if you committed a war crime, a crime against humanity, or acts contrary to its purpose and principles)
- There has been a misrepresentation, falsified documents, or omission of crucial facts determining the grant of asylum;e are reasonable grounds for regarding you to be a danger to the security of the UK
- As a result of your conviction for a particularly serious crime, you represent a threat to the community of the United Kingdom.
There could be analogous reasons for revoking or not renewing the grant of humanitarian protection.
In the event that the Home Office rejects your settlement application but does not revoke your status as a refugee or a holder of humanitarian protection, as you still need protection, you will be granted limited leave for up to three years, and you can renew it.
How can UK Immigration Solicitors help me?
In addition to offering immigration services, our immigration lawyers assist individuals from around the world to defend their Human Rights and live in the UK
In order to obtain leave to remain under Human Rights, our immigration lawyers can be of assistance to you in assessing the merits of the application, overcoming challenges, assisting in preparing the application or representing you in challenging a decision to refuse an application.
Having a proactive approach to understanding and meeting the needs of our clients is something we take pride in. Our team is committed to providing clients with clear and reliable immigration advice within a professional and friendly environment.
By now you would have realised that when it comes to defending your Human Rights, we are the go-to experts.
Human rights for refugee settlement
At UK Immigration Solicitors, we are passionate about all thing’s immigration. As a multi award winning nationwide law firm, we are proud to offer a truly global service. We have assisted clients from more than 120 countries over the last 10 years. We are proud to innovate and lead the immigration law industry.
Back in 2012, after carefully listening to the frustrations of clients who could not find reliable immigration advice online, we pioneered the provision of legal representation for immigration cases online. This was a revolutionary transition and since our innovations, there have been a whole multitude of online immigration service providers.
UK Immigration Solicitors are immensely proud of our reputation and our ability to deliver a truly global, comprehensive service to our clients without the need for them to step foot outside of the comfort of their own home in most cases.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
Refugees can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) as part of the settlement process, granting them permanent residence in the host country.
Refugees can apply for indefinite leave to stay (ILR) by following the established immigration procedures in the host country, demonstrating eligibility and meeting specific criteria.
To register as a refugee, individuals typically apply through the relevant national immigration or refugee agency, providing the necessary documentation to support their asylum claim.
The right to remain for refugees refers to the legal permission to stay in a host country, often granted through the asylum or resettlement process, and can lead to more permanent statuses like indefinite leave to remain.
Yes, refugees can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) once they meet the eligibility criteria, indicating their successful integration and fulfillment of residency requirements in the host country.
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