The 60-Month Milestone.
For Skilled Workers, Partners, and Ancestry holders. You have served your time. Now we prove you have met the conditions of your stay every single day for 5 years.
The 5-Year Pathways
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Partner & Spouse
Meeting the financial threshold is only half the battle. You must prove seamless cohabitation since your last extension. Unexplained gaps in correspondence documents of over 3 months can trigger a 'subsisting relationship' review.
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UK Ancestry
While there is no fixed minimum salary threshold, you must prove a continuous 5-year history of employment or actively seeking work in the UK. Long periods of economic inactivity without evidence are fatal to these applications.
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Skilled Worker
You must now meet the full 'Going Rate' salary for your role. The 'New Entrant' discounts (e.g., under 26 or PhD) used for initial visas generally do not apply to Settlement. We audit your SOC code to prevent rejection based on salary shortfalls.
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Global Talent
Unlike Skilled Workers, you have no minimum salary threshold. However, you must prove that your earnings were generated specifically within your endorsed field. Generic employment outside your expert area does not count.
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Hong Kong BN(O)
The challenge here is the 'Permanent Home' test. If you have travelled frequently back to Hong Kong, you risk breaching the 180-day absence rule. We audit your travel history to prove your center of life has truly shifted to the UK.
Mandatory Integration Tests.
Unless exempt, you must pass two specific assessments to prove your integration into British society prior to submission.
Life in the UK Test
A 24-question digital exam covering British history, traditions, and law. You must score 75% to pass.
The Nuvora Standard: "The certificate has no expiry date, but the name on it must match your passport exactly. We verify your booking details to ensure the unique reference number (URN) is valid for settlement.
The Language Test (B1)
You must prove "intermediate" proficiency in Speaking and Listening. This is a step up from the A2 level required for visa extensions.
The Nuvora Standard: "Not all tests are valid. It must be a SELT (Secure English Language Test) with an approved provider. Alternatively, we can use your Degree (if Ecctis verified) or your National Passport (if from a majority English-speaking country).
Are you Exempt?
You do not need to take these tests if:
You are under 18 or over 65 years of age.
You have a long-term physical or mental condition that prevents you from studying (requires a specific Medical Waiver).
The 180-Day "Rolling" Limit
For Skilled Worker, Ancestry, and BN(O) routes, you cannot be outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period.
The Danger Zone: This is not a 'calendar year' check. It is a 'rolling' check. If you took a 3-month trip in November and another 4-month trip the following February, you may have breached the limit in the overlap period.
Our Process: We digitize your travel history to identify breaches and draft 'Serious & Compelling' arguments for excess absences.
FAQ
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You can apply up to 28 days before you complete your qualifying period (the 5-year anniversary of your visa start date).
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Yes. Most 5-Year routes (Skilled Worker, Partner, Global Talent) are eligible for the Super Priority service, which provides a decision by the end of the next working day for an additional fee (approx. £1,000).
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Ideally, yes. If your child was born outside the UK, they must apply for ILR. If your child was born in the UK, they may be eligible to register as a British Citizen immediately once you (the parents) are settled, bypassing the ILR fee entirely.
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Changing employers does not break your continuous residence, provided you started your new job within 60 days of leaving the old one and valid visas covered the entire period.
Do You Meet the Requirements?
The rules are rigid, but your strategy doesn't have to be. Use our free assessment to see if you qualify.