ILR vs British citizenship: what is the difference?

Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and British citizenship are two different stages of settling in the UK, and people often confuse them. In short: ILR lets you live and work in the UK without a time limit, while citizenship makes you legally British.

Indefinite leave to remain (settlement)

• You can live, work and study in the UK with no time limit on your stay.
• You are not a British citizen and cannot hold a British passport.
• You can lose ILR if you spend too long outside the UK, so it is not permanent in the way citizenship is.

British citizenship

• You become legally British and can apply for a British passport.
• You can vote in all elections and it cannot easily be taken away.
• You usually apply for citizenship after you already have ILR, once you meet the residence requirements.

Where the Life in the UK Test fits in

For most people, the Life in the UK Test is required for both stages. The important thing to know is that you usually only take it once: if you passed it for your ILR application, you do not normally need to take it again for citizenship.

You usually take the Life in the UK Test once. A pass does not expire, so it counts for both ILR and citizenship.

Eligibility rules for ILR and citizenship are detailed and depend on your visa history, so always check your own route on GOV.UK. Whichever stage you are at, you can prepare for the test for free here with practice questions and answers and timed mocks.