## Learning Outcomes

- Understand the difference between settlement (ILR) and British citizenship (naturalisation)
- Identify the main routes that can lead to settlement, including work, family, and long residence
- Recall the “knowledge of life and language” (KoLL) requirement: Life in the UK Test plus English at B1
- Recognise common timing and residence pitfalls, especially around absences and eligibility dates

## Life in the UK Test Syllabus

For the Life in the UK Test, you are expected to understand routes to settlement and citizenship at an overview level, with a focus on the following syllabus points:

- Know what “settlement” means (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and that it removes time limits on living in the UK
- Distinguish between ILR and EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) settled status as routes to living in the UK indefinitely
- Know the core KoLL requirement: pass the Life in the UK Test and show English speaking and listening at B1 CEFR (unless exempt)
- Understand that citizenship is a separate step after settlement (you do not become British automatically)
- Recognise that residence/absence rules and “good character” can affect an application, and mistakes can lead to refusal

## Test Your Knowledge

_Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, look more closely at that area during your revision._

1. What is “settlement” (Indefinite Leave to Remain) and what does it allow you to do?
2. Which two things normally make up the “knowledge of life and language” (KoLL) requirement?
3. Is getting ILR (or EUSS settled status) the same as becoming a British citizen?
4. Name three common routes that can lead to settlement in the UK.
5. Why can absences from the UK cause problems for settlement or citizenship applications?

## Introduction

Many people in the UK move from a temporary immigration status (for example, a work or family visa) to **settlement**, and later apply for **British citizenship**. For the Life in the UK Test, you should understand these steps clearly and avoid mixing up the terms.

This topic is about the main routes at a high level and the typical requirements you must meet, especially the Life in the UK Test and English language requirements.

> **Key Term: settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR)**
> Permission to live in the UK without time limits on how long you can stay.

### Step 1: Settlement vs citizenship

Settlement and citizenship are related, but they are not the same.

**Settlement (ILR)** means you can live in the UK indefinitely. You are no longer limited by the expiry date of a visa, but you still keep your original nationality (unless you later become a British citizen, and your home country allows dual nationality).

**British citizenship** usually comes later, by a process called naturalisation. You normally apply only after you have met residence rules, passed the Life in the UK Test, met the English requirement, and shown you are of “good character”.

> **Key Term: naturalisation**
> The main legal process adults use to become British citizens.

A common misunderstanding is thinking that “getting ILR” makes you a British citizen. It does not. Citizenship is a separate application and decision.

> **Test Tip:** In multiple-choice questions, watch for options that treat ILR as “automatic citizenship”. The correct idea is usually: **settlement first, citizenship later (if you choose and qualify).**

### Step 2: Indefinite status for some EU citizens (EUSS)

Some people get an indefinite right to live in the UK through the **EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)** rather than ILR. This status is called **settled status**. It is not the same document as ILR, but it is an indefinite immigration status for those who qualify under that scheme.

For the test, you do not need detailed EUSS dates and rules. What matters is the basic distinction:

- **ILR** is the general “settlement” status under the UK’s immigration rules.
- **EUSS settled status** is another way some people can hold an indefinite status in the UK.

> **Key Term: EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)**
> The immigration scheme that grants pre-settled or settled status to eligible EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens (and some family members).

### Step 3: The KoLL requirement (Life in the UK + English)

If you apply for settlement (ILR) or citizenship, you normally need to show “knowledge of life and language in the UK”, often called **KoLL**.

In practice, for most applicants aged 18–64, KoLL means two things:

1. **Pass the Life in the UK Test**
2. **Show English speaking and listening at B1 CEFR** (or an accepted equivalent)

> **Key Term: B1 CEFR**
> A recognised intermediate level of English in the Common European Framework of Reference; for UK applications it focuses on speaking and listening.

Some people do not need to take the Life in the UK Test or do not need to prove English, depending on their situation. The most common exemptions are based on **age** (for example, 65 or over) or a **long-term physical or mental condition** that prevents meeting the requirement. There are also common ways to meet the English requirement without taking a new test, such as having a degree taught in English or being a national of a “majority English-speaking” country, but those usually affect English evidence rather than the Life in the UK Test itself.

> **Test Tip:** When a question asks what you must do to apply for settlement or citizenship, the safest answer is usually the two-part KoLL idea: **Life in the UK Test + English at B1** (unless the question clearly gives an exemption).

### Main routes to settlement (ILR): the overview you should know

There are several routes to settlement. The exact rules depend on the visa route and can change over time, but the Life in the UK Test expects you to recognise the main categories.

#### Work routes

Many people qualify for settlement after a period of lawful work in the UK on a qualifying visa. A common example is the **Skilled Worker** route (which replaced the older Tier 2 (General) route). Some other work or talent routes can also lead to settlement.

Typical features of work routes include:

- You must have lived in the UK lawfully on an eligible route for a set qualifying period (often 5 years, but it varies).
- You must meet continuous residence rules (which can include strict limits on time spent outside the UK).
- You must usually meet KoLL (Life in the UK Test + English) unless exempt.

You do not need to memorise a long list of visa names for the Life in the UK Test, but you should understand that “work routes” are a major path to settlement.

#### Family routes

Some people qualify for settlement based on their family life in the UK, commonly as a partner (spouse or civil partner) of someone who is already settled (a British citizen or someone with ILR).

The UK takes domestic safety seriously. Some family-based settlement situations exist for people whose relationship ends because of serious circumstances, such as bereavement (a partner dies) or domestic violence. You do not need detailed immigration-law wording for the test, but you should understand that the UK’s legal system protects people from abuse and that serious offences (such as domestic violence, forced marriage, and FGM) are illegal.

#### Long residence (10 years lawful residence)

Another route is based on **long residence**, meaning 10 years of lawful residence in the UK. This route is separate from work and family routes and is based on time living lawfully in the UK (with its own detailed rules).

#### Other routes (examples you may see mentioned)

Some other settlement routes include:

- **UK Ancestry** (for eligible Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent)
- **Refugee or humanitarian protection** routes (after meeting the relevant residence requirements)
- **Armed forces** routes
- **Returning resident** situations (people who previously held ILR and are returning to the UK)

For the test, the key skill is being able to recognise that there are several pathways, and that eligibility depends on your lawful status and residence history.

### Continuous residence and absences: why travel history matters

A major reason people face difficulties is misunderstanding residence and absence rules. Settlement and citizenship both look at your time in the UK, but they measure it in different ways.

For many settlement routes, the idea is **continuous residence**. In many cases, this includes an absences limit commonly known as the “180-day rule”, where absences must not exceed 180 days outside the UK in a rolling 12-month period during the qualifying time. The exact rule depends on the route, but the general lesson is consistent: **keep careful records of travel** and do not assume the rule is simply “180 days per calendar year”.

Citizenship (naturalisation) commonly uses different absence limits (often described using totals such as 450 days over 5 years or 270 days over 3 years, plus an additional limit such as 90 days in the final 12 months). Again, you do not need to calculate these for the Life in the UK Test, but you should understand the principle: **excess absences can block an application**.

> **Test Tip:** If a question mentions “rolling 12 months” versus “calendar year”, the correct approach is usually the stricter one: **a rolling 12-month period can catch you out** if you travel frequently.

### Routes to citizenship: the overview you should know

After settlement (or after obtaining an indefinite status such as EUSS settled status), many people apply to become British citizens.

Citizenship for adults is usually by **naturalisation**, and you must normally:

- Be legally free from immigration time limits (for example, hold ILR or EUSS settled status)
- Meet residence requirements (including limits on absences)
- Meet KoLL (Life in the UK Test + English), unless exempt
- Meet “good character” requirements
- Complete the process correctly, including the citizenship ceremony if approved

Some applicants must normally wait **12 months after getting ILR/settled status** before applying to naturalise. However, people married to (or in a civil partnership with) a British citizen do not usually need to wait 12 months, as long as they have ILR/settled status on the date they apply. (The detailed legal rules can be complex, but this basic distinction is the kind of fact that often appears in simplified form.)

> **Key Term: good character**
> A key requirement for British citizenship that considers criminality, honesty, and compliance with UK laws (including immigration rules).

### The Life in the UK Test: how it fits into your route

Passing the Life in the UK Test is part of showing you are ready for settlement or citizenship. The test consists of 24 questions and is taken at one of about 60 approved test centres around the UK using a computer. You must bring the required identification and proof of address to the test centre or you can be refused entry to the test.

If you pass, you receive a unique reference number, which you use when you later apply for settlement or citizenship. If you fail, you can retake the test later (with a waiting period and another fee), but you should not submit a citizenship or settlement application claiming you meet KoLL if you have not passed.

### Common application problems (what candidates should avoid)

At a simple level, refusals often happen for avoidable reasons. The most common themes are:

- **Good character** issues (especially criminality or dishonesty)
- **Residence requirements** not met (for example, too much time outside the UK)
- **Not responding** to requests for extra information
- **Incorrect evidence** for KoLL (wrong English certificate or missing Life in the UK Test pass)
- **Application errors**, including applying too early or submitting incomplete forms/documents

A very practical rule is: **do not apply before you are eligible**. Applications can be refused if eligibility is not met, and fees may not be refunded. Also remember that you must apply **before** your current permission to stay expires, if you are still on time-limited leave.

Finally, if your citizenship application is approved, you must attend a citizenship ceremony within the required timeframe. Not attending can cause problems even after approval.

## Key Point Checklist

_This article has covered the following key knowledge points:_

- Settlement (ILR) means permission to live in the UK without time limits
- Citizenship is a separate step from settlement, usually through naturalisation
- Some EU citizens hold EUSS settled status as an indefinite status instead of ILR
- KoLL usually requires both passing the Life in the UK Test and proving English speaking and listening at B1 CEFR (unless exempt)
- Major settlement route categories include work routes, family routes, long residence (10 years), and other routes such as ancestry or protection
- Absences from the UK can affect both settlement and citizenship; rules can be strict and are often misunderstood
- Citizenship applications must meet residence rules and the good character requirement, not just the Life in the UK Test
- The Life in the UK Test must be taken at an approved centre, and you need correct ID and proof of address on the day
- Passing the test gives you a unique reference number needed for later applications
- Common refusal reasons include good character problems, residence not satisfied, incorrect KoLL evidence, and application errors

## Key Terms and Concepts

- settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR)
- naturalisation
- EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- B1 CEFR
- good character


Becoming a citizen - Routes to settlement and citizenship (overview)