PR in UK for Indian Students: Step-By-Step ILR Guide 2025
- EduMox
- Aug 3
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 21
Lots of Indian students head to the UK for higher education with dreams of settling down there for good. Getting Permanent Residency (PR) or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), as it’s officially called takes some real planning and a solid grip on the rules. Indian students can apply for PR in the UK after five years of continuous work and residence, usually moving from a Graduate Visa to a Skilled Worker Visa before they’re eligible for ILR.
This journey means jumping through several hoops, starting from your studies and moving through different visa types, each with their own eligibility points and financial requirements. You’ll need to hit salary minimums, show strong English skills, and keep your legal status clean the whole way. Knowing what to expect timelines, documents, fees, and where people usually trip up—can make things a lot smoother.
PR in UK for Indian Students - ILR Flowchart
The road to UK permanent residency is pretty structured. Indian students move through several visa stages before reaching indefinite leave to remain.
Standard Route Timeline:
Stage | Visa Type | Duration | Counts Toward ILR |
1 | 1-4 years | No | |
2 | 2-3 years | No | |
3 | Skilled Worker Visa | 5 years | Yes |
4 | ILR Application | - | Final Status |
Key Transition Points:
You need to finish your degree before you can apply for the Graduate Route visa. That visa gives you a window to look for sponsored work.
The Graduate Route lasts two years for undergrad and master’s grads, three for PhDs. It lets you work freely while you hunt for a skilled job.
Critical Requirements:
Job offer from a licensed UK sponsor
Minimum salary of £38,700 a year
Job must be on the skilled worker occupation list
Five years of continuous UK residence
Application Prerequisites:
Before you apply for ILR, you’ll need to pass the Life in the UK Test. You also can’t spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month stretch during the qualifying period.
From start to finish, the whole process usually takes 8-12 years, depending on your course and work path. Every stage has its own rules, and you’ve got to keep your status valid throughout.
Eligibility Checklist
Indian students have to tick off several boxes across three main areas to get UK permanent residency. The process means moving from the Graduate Route to Skilled Worker status, staying in the UK for five years straight, and passing required assessments.
2-Year Graduate Route → Skilled Worker Visa (£26,200 Or "Going Rate")
After finishing their degree, Indian grads get a 2-year Graduate Route visa (3 for PhDs). This is your shot to land sponsored work.
You’ll need a job offer from a Home Office licensed sponsor before your Graduate Route runs out. The job must be at least A-level equivalent or higher.
Salary requirements for the Skilled Worker visa:
£26,200 minimum for new graduates
The “going rate” for your occupation
Whichever is higher
The Graduate Route itself doesn’t count toward your five-year ILR clock, but it’s a key time for getting UK work experience and making connections.
There’s no extension for the Graduate Route. If you don’t get sponsored work in time, you’ll have to leave the UK.
5 Years Continuous Residence + Life In The UK Test
The 5-year qualifying period starts once you switch to a Skilled Worker visa. This period has to be continuous, no breaks allowed, if you want Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Life in the UK Test requirements:
Required for ages 18-64
24 multiple-choice questions on UK history, culture, and laws
45 minutes to finish
75% pass mark (18 correct answers)
£50 test fee
You must pass before submitting your ILR application
The test covers a bit of everything about British life. Once you pass, you’ll get a reference number to include in your PR application.
If you’re under 18, over 65, or have a serious long-term health condition, you might not have to take the test.
Absence Limit: ≤ 180 Days Per Qualifying Year
Strict absence rules apply during the 5-year period. You can’t spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months.
This includes trips anywhere outside the UK, Channel Islands, Ireland, or Isle of Man. Even short holidays or family visits count.
Tracking requirements:
Keep a record of all your travel dates
Save tickets or stamps as proof
Check your rolling 12-month totals carefully
If you go over 180 days in any given year, your five-year clock resets. That means starting over no one wants that.
Also, don’t travel while your ILR application is being processed. If you leave the UK at this stage, your application will be withdrawn or rejected automatically.
Year-By-Year Timeline (Student → Graduate → Skilled Worker → ILR)
Years 1-3: Student Visa Phase You’ll be finishing your degree on a Student Visa. This time doesn’t count toward the five years needed for ILR.
Focus on your studies and start making contacts for future work.
Years 4-5: Graduate Route Visa After graduation, you move onto the Graduate Route visa for two years (three if you did a PhD). You can work without restrictions during this time.
This period still doesn’t count toward ILR. You’ll need to land sponsored work before your Graduate Route ends.
Years 6-10: Skilled Worker Visa (5-Year Qualifying Period) Once you’ve got a sponsored job, you switch to a Skilled Worker visa. The five-year clock for ILR starts now.
Requirement | Details |
Continuous residence | No more than 180 days outside the UK per year |
Minimum salary | £38,700 a year or the job’s going rate |
Employment status | You must stay with a licensed sponsor |
Year 11: ILR Application After five years on the Skilled Worker visa, you can finally apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. You’ll need to have passed the Life in the UK test and meet all salary and residence requirements.
The ILR application fee is £3,029, and if you’re in a hurry, there are priority options though they’ll cost extra.
Documents & Fees (IHS, Visa Fees, ILR Fee, BRP)
Indian students aiming for UK PR need to budget for a bunch of fees along the way. In 2025, these costs have jumped up quite a bit.
Student Visa Fees You’ll pay the standard student visa fee when you first arrive. Processing usually takes about three weeks, but you can pay for quicker decisions if you’re in a rush.
Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) The IHS fee shot up in 2025 from £624 to £1,035 per year for adults. You have to pay the whole amount upfront for your visa length. For a three-year student visa, that’s £3,105 just for the IHS.
ILR Application Costs After your five years, the IHS for ILR applicants is still £624 per year. So, a five-year ILR application means £3,120 in IHS fees on top of the main application fee.
Additional Expenses There are some extras to budget for:
Life in the UK test fee
Translation of documents if needed
Certification of supporting documents
BRP replacement fees, just in case
Fee Updates Visa fees in the UK keep changing. There were increases on 9 April 2025 and again on 1 July 2025. Always double-check the latest rates before you apply—they seem to go up every year.
Payment Requirements You have to pay all fees online during your application. Refunds are pretty rare and usually only possible if you withdraw before they start processing your application.
Shortage-Occupation & High-Salary Fast-Track Paths
The UK shortage occupation list opens faster routes to permanent residency for Indian students. If you’re trained in one of these fields, employers are almost always on the lookout for new talent.
Courses in shortage occupations come with a lower salary threshold. In 2025, the standard minimum is £38,700, but for shortage roles, it drops to £30,960 (or the going rate for the job, whichever is higher). That’s a big difference for anyone just starting out.
Top shortage occupation courses include:
Field | Starting Salary Range |
Nursing & Physiotherapy | £25,000-£35,000 |
Software Engineering | £30,000-£50,000 |
Civil & Mechanical Engineering | £28,000-£45,000 |
Computer Science & Cyber Security | £35,000-£70,000 |
Teaching (STEM subjects) | £25,000-£40,000 |
If you’re in one of these fields, you’ll probably notice job offers come a bit easier after graduation. Employers are actively recruiting from these lists, so landing that first job isn’t quite as daunting.
The Skilled Worker visa is a lot more accessible for shortage occupation graduates. You’re looking at lower salary requirements and a smoother application process than in most other fields.
For high-salary jobs—think £73,900 or above in 2025—there’s expedited processing no matter the occupation. These roles skip over some requirements, so you might find yourself on a direct track to settlement.
If you’re still choosing what to study, it’s worth thinking strategically about courses tied to shortage occupations. It’s not just about getting a job quickly—it could be your ticket to permanent residency down the line.
The Graduate Route visa now gives you two years to find qualifying work. That’s enough time to move into a shortage occupation and set yourself up for a successful PR application.
Common ILR Rejection Reasons & Fixes
Roughly 5% of ILR applications get refused each year by the Home Office. Knowing the most common mistakes can save you a lot of stress—and money.
Residency Gaps and Overstaying If you break your continuous lawful residence, you’re at risk. Even a short overstay beyond the 14-day grace period can start the clock all over again.
You need to keep your visa valid for the whole qualifying period. Any gaps or unauthorized stays? That’s almost always an instant rejection.
Incomplete Documentation Missing documents are a classic reason for refusal. People forget full bank records, or skip certified translations for non-English papers.
Essential document checklist:
Full passport history with entry/exit stamps
Complete bank statements for required periods
Official translations with translator credentials
Life in the UK test certificate
English language qualification at B1 level
Financial Requirements Issues You’ve got to show you can support yourself—no public funds. If your bank records don’t add up, or you have unexplained big deposits, that’s a red flag.
Everything in your bank statements should match your other financial proofs. Any large deposit? You’ll need to explain it and back it up with paperwork.
English Language and Life in UK Test Missed or expired English tests, or no Life in the UK test? That’s an automatic refusal. Sometimes people take the wrong test level without realizing.
Application Form Errors Leaving blanks or giving inconsistent info can get your application tossed out. Your travel history has to line up with your passport stamps.
It’s worth double-checking every single section. Small mistakes can cost you months—or more.
Book A Free UK-PR Planning Call With EduMox
Thinking about PR in UK as an Indian Student. It's a maze of rules and paperwork—having someone who actually knows the system makes a world of difference. EduMox is here to support for PR in the UK for Indian Students, offering guidance that’s not just by-the-book, but actually useful.
Personalized PR pathway assessment
Document requirement guidance
Timeline planning assistance
Visa transition strategies
During your session, you’ll get a better grip on PR eligibility criteria that matter for 2025. The consultants actually look at your situation—no generic advice here—and help map out a route that fits.
There’s honest talk about work visa requirements after you finish your degree. They’ll walk you through post-study work visa steps and what it takes to move to a skilled worker visa, especially with the new 2025 rules in play.
What the Call Covers:
ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) application process
Required documentation checklist
Cost breakdown and realistic timelines
English proficiency requirements
EduMox consultants break down the five-year residence rule and give practical tips for staying on the right side of UK immigration throughout that period.
The session covers the updated salary threshold for skilled worker visas—now set at £38,700 annually for 2025. You’ll hear what that means for your application, without sugarcoating it.
They’ll also talk you through the Life in the UK Test and other things you can’t skip, like the biometric residence permit and how to actually submit your application.
Booking the consultation is pretty painless—just hop onto EduMox’s site and grab a time slot that works for you. No endless back-and-forth.
The advice you get aims to keep you from those classic mistakes that slow everything down. You’ll walk away with the latest on UK immigration policies for PR, not last year’s news.
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