ILR Processing Time 2026: 6 Months or Faster Options

Standard ILR applications in the UK take up to 6 months to process in 2026. The Home Office aims to decide most straightforward applications within this timeframe. A Priority service (additional fee) aims for a decision within 5 working days. Super Priority aims for a decision the next working day.

Key Facts

Service Level	Processing Time	Fee (2026)
Standard	Up to 6 months	£3,226 (ILR fee — no extra processing fee)
Priority	5 working days	£3,226 + £500 priority fee
Super Priority	Next working day	£3,226 + £1,000 super priority fee
Biometric enrolment	Required before decision	Included
ILR fee — refundable if refused?	No	Non-refundable

Quick Overview

✅ Standard ILR processing takes up to 6 months in 2026
✅ Priority and Super Priority services are available for an additional fee
⚠️ The £3,226 ILR fee is non-refundable even if your application is refused
⚠️ You cannot travel internationally while your application is pending without a travel document
📌 Biometric enrolment is required — this must happen before the Home Office can decide your case
📌 Complex cases, missing documents, or absences may cause delays beyond 6 months
💡 The Home Office does not give regular updates — use the online tracking service
💡 Do not book international flights until you have received your ILR decision

Introduction

Getting ILR is one of the most important milestones in your UK immigration journey. But once you submit your application, the waiting period can feel uncertain. Understanding what happens after you apply — and how long it realistically takes — helps you plan your life around the process. If you want to check whether you are ready to apply, use our ILR risk check and ILR calculator before submitting.

How Long Does ILR Take in 2026?

The standard processing time for an ILR application in 2026 is up to 6 months.

The Home Office publishes this as its target. Most straightforward applications — where documents are complete, absences are within limits, and there are no character concerns — are decided within this period.

In practice, many straightforward applications are decided faster than 6 months. But the Home Office does not guarantee this, and you should plan financially and logistically for the full 6-month wait.

Priority and Super Priority Services

If you need a faster decision, two upgraded services are available.

Priority service

Target processing time: 5 working days
Additional fee: £500 (on top of the £3,226 ILR fee)
Not available for all application types — check GOV.UK for your specific route
The 5 working days is a target, not a guarantee

Super Priority service

Target processing time: next working day (if you submit and attend biometrics by 11:45am)
Additional fee: £1,000 (on top of the £3,226 ILR fee)
Also not available for all application types
Again, this is a target — the Home Office may take longer in complex cases

If your Priority or Super Priority application takes longer than the stated target, you may be able to request a refund of the priority fee. You cannot request a refund of the main ILR fee.

What Happens After You Submit Your Application?

Once you submit your ILR application online, the process works like this:

Submit the online application and pay the fee. This locks in your application date.
Book your biometric appointment. You will receive instructions to attend a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre to give your fingerprints and photo.
Upload supporting documents. You upload your documents through the UKVCAS system, either at the appointment or in advance.
Home Office review. A caseworker reviews your application. If everything is in order, they issue a decision. If they have questions, they may request additional documents — this pauses the clock.
Decision issued. If approved, your eVisa is updated to show ILR status. Your eVisa account will reflect your new status. If refused, you will receive a refusal letter explaining the reasons.

How to Track Your ILR Application

The Home Office provides an online status checker where you can see the current status of your application.

You will receive a reference number when you submit. Use this to check your status at www.gov.uk/track-your-application.

The tracker shows basic status information — it does not give a predicted decision date. Most applicants see the status stay at "in progress" for the majority of the wait period, with the decision appearing without advance warning.

What Causes Delays?

Some applications take longer than others. The most common causes of delay are:

Missing or unclear documents If your document upload is incomplete or the caseworker cannot verify something, they will contact you for more information. This pauses processing. Gather every required document before you submit.

Complex absence history If you have had significant time outside the UK — even if within the 180-day limit — the caseworker may spend more time reviewing your case. See our guide on the 180-day rule for ILR.

Good character concerns If you have criminal convictions, civil penalties, or other matters that the Home Office needs to review, these add time to the process.

High volume periods The Home Office receives more applications at certain times of year. Applications submitted in January-March and September-October may take longer due to volume.

Nationality-specific checks For some nationalities, additional security checks are required. These are outside your control and can add weeks to processing time.

Read our guide on ILR refusal reasons to understand what the Home Office looks for in your application.

Can You Travel While Waiting for an ILR Decision?

This is one of the most important practical questions — and the answer requires care.

If you travel internationally while your ILR application is pending, you may be treated as having abandoned your application. Your visa will expire, and you may not be able to re-enter the UK.

The general rule: Do not travel internationally while waiting for an ILR decision.

If you have an urgent need to travel, you may be able to apply for a No Time Limit (NTL) stamp or seek urgent advice. But in most cases, the safest approach is to wait until your ILR decision arrives before booking any international flights.

Domestic travel within the UK is fine.

What to Do While You Wait

The 6-month wait is a good time to:

Make sure your UKVCAS document upload is complete. Review the list of required documents. See our guide: ILR documents required 2026.
Check your eVisa regularly. Once a decision is made, it will appear in your eVisa account. There is no advance notification for most applicants.
Do not book international travel. This cannot be stressed enough. Wait until you have your ILR confirmation.
Continue working and living normally. Your right to work and remain in the UK is protected while your application is pending under Section 3C leave.
Start preparing for British citizenship. ILR is not the final destination for most people. Use our citizenship planner to prepare for the next step.

What Happens If It Takes More Than 6 Months?

If your application goes beyond 6 months without a decision, you can:

Contact the Home Office to request an update — use the online inquiry form on GOV.UK
Contact your MP's office and ask them to raise an inquiry on your behalf
In rare cases, consider a pre-action letter if the delay is causing significant hardship

You do not need to resubmit. Your application remains live. Your right to stay in the UK under Section 3C leave continues while the application is pending.

Common Mistakes

❌ Booking international travel while waiting for a decision This is the single biggest mistake ILR applicants make during processing. Leaving the UK while your application is pending can result in it being treated as withdrawn. You may then be unable to return. Do not travel internationally until you have your ILR decision in hand.

❌ Submitting an incomplete document bundle Missing documents cause the biggest delays. The caseworker will contact you for missing information — this can add months to processing time. Go through the GOV.UK document checklist line by line before submitting. See our ILR documents guide.

❌ Expecting a notification when the decision arrives The Home Office does not always send an email or notification when a decision is made. Many applicants miss their decision for days because they were not checking their eVisa account regularly. Check your account weekly during the processing period.

❌ Choosing standard processing when your qualifying date is very close to a deadline If your current visa expires soon after your qualifying date, standard processing of up to 6 months means you may spend a long time on Section 3C leave. Consider whether Priority or Super Priority is worth the additional fee for your situation.

❌ Confusing the biometric appointment date with the decision date Your biometric appointment is a step in the process — not the end. Many applicants think the Home Office will decide their case immediately after biometrics. The actual decision usually comes weeks or months later.

Expert Tips

Submit your application 2-3 weeks before your qualifying date if possible. You can apply up to 28 days before you meet the qualifying period. Submitting a little early gives you maximum time within the standard period.
Upload documents in advance of your biometric appointment. The UKVCAS system allows you to upload documents before your appointment. Doing this in advance reduces the risk of errors at the appointment.
Use the ILR risk check before submitting. Use our ILR risk check to identify any issues in your application before you pay the non-refundable fee.
Keep a copy of everything you submit. If the Home Office contacts you with questions, having a record of exactly what you uploaded means you can respond quickly and accurately.
If you are refused, read the refusal letter extremely carefully before deciding your next step. Refusal letters explain exactly what the Home Office found lacking. Some refusals can be appealed or re-applied for quickly. Others require addressing underlying issues first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does ILR take in 2026?

Standard ILR applications take up to 6 months to process. Priority service aims for 5 working days. Super Priority aims for the next working day. These are targets, not guarantees.

Is the ILR fee refunded if I am refused?

No. The £3,226 ILR application fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application.

Can I work while waiting for my ILR decision?

Yes. Once you have submitted a valid ILR application before your existing visa expired, Section 3C leave allows you to continue living and working in the UK on the same conditions as your previous visa while your application is pending.

What is biometric enrolment and when does it happen?

Biometric enrolment is the process of giving your fingerprints and photograph at a UKVCAS centre. It happens after you submit your online application. You must complete biometric enrolment before the Home Office can issue a decision.

Will I get an email when my ILR is approved?

Some applicants receive a notification, but it is not guaranteed. Check your eVisa account regularly — particularly from 6-8 weeks after your biometric appointment. Do not wait for an email to confirm a decision.

What if my application goes over 6 months?

Contact the Home Office using the inquiry form on GOV.UK. You can also ask your MP to raise an inquiry. Your right to remain in the UK under Section 3C leave continues until a decision is made.

How This Aligns With Official Guidance

Processing time targets are published on GOV.UK and updated periodically. The 6-month standard target and Priority/Super Priority service descriptions reflect current Home Office guidance. Section 3C leave provisions are set out in the Immigration Act 1971 as amended. Always check GOV.UK for current processing time estimates before applying.

Official Resources

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What to Do Next

The most important step before submitting your ILR application is making sure it is complete and correct. A refused application costs you the full £3,226 fee. Use our ILR risk check to review your eligibility, and see our ILR documents guide to make sure you have everything ready.

Last reviewed: April 2026 — figures correct at time of publication. Always check GOV.UK for the latest fees and requirements.