Can I Apply for UK ILR as A Domestic Violence Victim?

If your relationship has broken down because of domestic abuse, you may be able to settle in the UK permanently without your partner's support. The Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) route for victims of domestic abuse is in Appendix Victim of Domestic Abuse of the Immigration Rules.

If you are in immediate danger, call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free, confidential and open 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.

What Is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?

ILR, also called settlement, gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like, and to apply for benefits if you are eligible. You do not need to renew it. You can later use it to apply for British citizenship, once you meet the residence and other requirements for citizenship.

The Victim of Domestic Abuse Route

This route replaced the old domestic violence settlement rule in Appendix FM (applied for on a form known as "SET(DV)"). If you came to the UK as a partner, it lets you apply for settlement in your own right if the relationship broke down because of domestic abuse. If you qualify, you get ILR straight away; you do not need to have spent any minimum period on your partner visa.

Domestic abuse can be emotional, psychological, physical, sexual or financial, and includes threatening or controlling behaviour intended to harm, isolate or frighten you. Abuse from your partner's family members can also count.

Eligibility Criteria

Your Immigration Status and Your Partner

According to GOV.UK, you may be eligible if you were given permission to be in the UK as the partner of one of the following:

• a British citizen;
• a person settled in the UK;
• a member of the UK armed forces who has served for at least 4 years;
• a person with permission to stay in the UK as a refugee;
• a person with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, or (in some cases) an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen with pre-settled status.

If your partner was in the UK on another type of visa, such as a work or student visa, this route is not available to you, but other options may be (see below).

The Relationship Broke Down Because of Domestic Abuse

You must show that your relationship broke down permanently because of domestic abuse. You do not need to show that the relationship is continuing, and you do not need your partner's involvement or consent.

No English Language or Life in The UK Test

Unlike most settlement routes, this route does not require you to meet an English language requirement or pass the Life in the UK test. There is also no financial requirement. (You will usually need to meet those requirements later if you apply for British citizenship.)

Suitability

The usual suitability checks in Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules apply, for example about criminal convictions. The rule that treats overstaying as a breach of immigration law does not apply on this route, so having overstayed should not in itself lead to refusal. If you have a criminal record or other concerns about your immigration history, get advice before you apply.

Applying from Outside The UK

If your partner took you abroad and abandoned you there, you may be able to apply from outside the UK to return and settle. You will need to show how the abandonment happened.

Children

If you apply from inside the UK, you can include your children under 18 in your application. If you apply from outside the UK, each child needs to apply separately.

If You Are Not Eligible for This Route

Other options may include an application based on family or private life (for example as the parent of a British child), asylum or humanitarian protection, or permission outside the Immigration Rules. These usually lead to settlement over a longer period, so get specialist advice.

If You Need Financial Support: The MVDAC

The Migrant Victims of Domestic Abuse Concession (MVDAC), previously called the Destitute Domestic Violence Concession (DDVC), gives you 3 months' permission to stay with access to public funds if you need financial help, so you can claim benefits and get housing support while you apply for settlement.

• There is no fee. You fill in the form on GOV.UK and post or email it to the address on the form.
• The Home Office has extended the concession beyond partners of British citizens and settled people, including to partners of people on work (sponsored) routes and partners of students and graduates.
• Within the 3 months you must apply for settlement as a victim of domestic abuse or, if you are not eligible for that route, for another type of permission. Otherwise the concession permission ends.

Application Process

Step-by-step Guide

1. Get safe first, and get advice on whether you qualify. Apply as soon as possible after the relationship breaks down; you do not need to wait for your current visa to expire.
2. If you have no money for essentials or housing, consider applying for the MVDAC first.
3. Apply online on GOV.UK for settlement as a victim of domestic abuse. You will be asked to give a statement about your circumstances.
4. Upload your supporting evidence, or explain in your statement why you do not have documents.
5. Give your fingerprints and photo (biometrics). There is no fee for this. You may be able to reuse biometrics you have already given, or you may need to book an appointment at a UK Visa and Citizenship Application Services (UKVCAS) centre; the application will tell you which.

Application Fee and Fee Waiver

The fee is £3,226 per person (from 8 April 2026). You do not have to pay it if you do not have enough money to support yourself. GOV.UK gives these examples:

• you do not have a place to live and cannot afford one;
• you have a place to live but cannot afford essential living costs like food or heating;
• you have a very low income and paying the fee would harm your child's wellbeing.

Send evidence with your application, such as bank statements, a signed letter from your local authority, or a signed letter from an agency that has been supporting you, such as a refuge.

Supporting Evidence

GOV.UK says you should include supporting evidence if you have it, but you do not need it in order to apply. There is no fixed list or minimum number of documents; the Home Office considers all the evidence together. Documents that can help include:

• your passport or other identity document, and details of your eVisa or previous visa decision showing you were given permission as a partner;
• police reports or crime reference numbers;
• court orders, such as a non-molestation order, occupation order or protection order;
• letters or records from a GP, hospital, counsellor or other health professional;
• letters from a refuge, Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA), social worker or other support organisation;
• messages, emails or other records showing threats, controlling behaviour or financial control;
• evidence that you and your partner lived together, such as letters addressed to you both at the same address.

You can still apply if you have little documentary evidence, which is common where abuse was emotional or financial. A clear, detailed personal statement explaining what happened and why the relationship ended matters in every case. Any document not in English or Welsh needs a certified translation.

Only submit genuine documents. Using false documents can lead to refusal and a ban on future applications.

Processing Times and Decisions

GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 6 months of providing your fingerprints and photo. If you applied before your previous permission expired, you can continue to live in the UK on the same conditions while you wait.

If you are granted ILR, your status will be issued as an eVisa, which you access through your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account. The Home Office no longer issues biometric residence permits. Make sure only you can access your UKVI account; if your former partner may know your password or contact details, change them.

If the Home Office refuses your application, the Immigration Rules allow you to apply for an administrative review. The refusal letter will explain your options and the deadline. Deadlines are short, so take legal advice promptly. Legal aid may be available for this type of application through a legal aid provider.