No Time Restriction documents available for free for legacy ILE or ILR holders

Perhaps a first by the Home Office today – an email was sent today to stakeholders encouraging those with ‘indefinite leave to enter’ (ILE) or ‘indefinite leave to remain’ (ILR) to apply for a ‘No Time Limit’ (NTL) application and will be issued a biometric residence permit (BRP) to evidence their stay in the UK for ‘free’ – this has been the case since 5 April 2022. The Home Office’s aim is to become digital and therefore it will be easier for those with BRP’s to transition having obtained one.

Those entitled to apply for an NTL who:

• have a legacy immigration document*

• their document containing their status or endorsement has been lost, stolen, or has expired

• do not have any documentary evidence confirming they have ILE or ILR

• need to amend details or their evidence of status.

Dependants can also be included in the same application but not children over 18 – the latter of whom need to apply on their own.

*legacy documents include:

• ink stamps
• status letters
• vignettes in passports.

Please note, those applying for an NTL should not have lived abroad for a continuous period of two year or more or no longer be entitled ILR or ILR.

We can of course advise and assist on indefinite leave type applications and our immigration team can be contacted by clicking here, sending an email to www.rlegal.com or by telephone on +44 207 038 3980.