Indefinite Leave from Ancestry or BNO Visas

The UK Ancestry Visa is available to Commonwealth citizens with a grandparent born in the UK, who wish to live and work in the UK. It is also available to those who are British Overseas citizens, British Overseas Territories citizens, British Nationals (overseas) and citizens of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. After living in the UK for 5 years on this visa, you can apply for ILR if you meet the relevant criteria:

• Continuous residence: You must have lived in the UK for 5 years without absences exceeding 180 days in any 12-month period.
• Employment: You must show that you have been working, seeking work, or are self-employed in the UK during your time on the Ancestry Visa. Evidence can include payslips, tax records, or other evidence of self-employment.
• English language requirement: You must meet the English language proficiency requirement, typically by: passing an approved English test; holding a degree taught in English; or holding a passport of a country on the list of English speaking countries.
• Life in the UK Test: You must pass the Life in the UK Test, which assesses your knowledge of UK history, culture and values.
• Financial stability: While there is no specific income threshold, you must demonstrate that you can support yourself without needing to rely on public funds.

The BNO Visa route was introduced for British National (Overseas) citizens from Hong Kong and their eligible family members. It allows them to live, work, and study in the UK. After 5 years on the BNO Visa, you can apply for ILR if you meet the relevant criteria:

• Continuous residence: You must have lived in the UK for 5 years without absences exceeding 180 days in any 12-month period. You can count time spent on any UK visa that allows you to apply for settlement, as long as the last visa was a BNO visa.
• Residence and activity: You must have maintained a continuous presence in the UK, whether through employment, self-employment, or study.
• English language requirement.
• Life in the UK Test: You must pass the Life in the UK Test to demonstrate your understanding of British culture and values.
• Financial stability: While there is no fixed financial requirement, you must prove that you can support yourself and your dependants without relying on public funds.

Dependants of UK Ancestry Visa holders or BNO Passport holders can also apply for ILR after 5 years of residence in the UK. Eligible dependants include spouses, partners, and children aged under 18 on the date visa was issued:

• Continuous residence: Dependants must have lived in the UK for 5 years as a dependant, with absences of no more than 180 days in any 12-month period.
• Relationship requirement: You must prove that your relationship with the main visa holder has remained genuine and subsisting throughout the 5-year period.
• English language proficiency: Dependants aged 18 or over must meet the English language requirement.
• Life in the UK Test: Dependants aged 18 or over must pass the Life in the UK Test.
• The dependant application should be made with that of the principal applicant. BNO indefinite leave to remain applications for children aged under18 should be made at the same time as both parents, unless one or both parents are already settled or have British citizenship.