Limited leave to remain is permission to stay in the UK for a fixed period, given to someone already in the country. It ends on a set date and can carry conditions, such as limits on work or on claiming public funds. It differs from indefinite leave to remain, which has no time limit.
Key points
- Limited leave to remain lasts for a fixed period. Indefinite leave to remain, also called settlement, has no time limit.
- Limited leave can carry conditions, for example on work, study, reporting, residence and public funds.
- A Skilled Worker visa can last for up to 5 years before you must extend it. A Graduate visa cannot be extended.
- A Graduate visa lasts 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026, and 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027.
- Under section 3C, limited leave is extended if you apply to vary it before it expires and no decision has been made.
How limited leave to remain works
Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 allows a person who is not a British citizen to be given leave to enter the UK or, once already here, leave to remain. That leave can be for a limited period or for an indefinite period.[1]UK Parliament, Immigration Act 1971, section 3: General provisions for regulation and control Limited leave to remain is the first kind. It has an end date.
The Immigration Rules call the second kind settlement. They say settlement means indefinite leave to enter or remain.[2]Home Office, Immigration Rules: introduction You can read more about it in our guide to indefinite leave to remain.
Leave is attached to a route, such as Skilled Worker or Graduate, and its length depends on that route.
Limited and indefinite leave compared
| Limited leave to remain | Indefinite leave to remain | |
|---|---|---|
| Time limit | A fixed period | None |
| Conditions | Can carry conditions under section 3(1)(c) | The section 3(1)(c) conditions apply to limited leave |
| Rules call it | Permission to stay | Settlement |
Section 3(1)(c) of the 1971 Act says conditions may be attached to limited leave.[1]UK Parliament, Immigration Act 1971, section 3: General provisions for regulation and control The Rules call “permission to stay” the same as leave to remain, and they describe settlement as indefinite leave to enter or remain.[2]Home Office, Immigration Rules: introduction
Conditions on limited leave
Section 3(1)(c) lists the conditions that may be attached to limited leave to enter or remain:[1]UK Parliament, Immigration Act 1971, section 3: General provisions for regulation and control
- a condition restricting work or occupation
- a condition restricting studies
- a condition to maintain and accommodate yourself and any dependants without recourse to public funds
- a condition to register with the police
- a condition to report to an immigration officer or the Secretary of State
- a condition about residence
- other conditions the Secretary of State thinks fit
The Immigration Rules define a “condition” as a condition under section 3(1)(c), such as a prohibition on employment or study.[2]Home Office, Immigration Rules: introduction
The public funds condition is often called no recourse to public funds. GOV.UK says it means you will not be able to claim most benefits, tax credits or housing assistance paid by the state, although there are exceptions for some benefits.[6]Home Office, Public funds Our page on no recourse to public funds lists what counts.
The Immigration Rules also record that, under section 24 of the 1971 Act, it is an offence knowingly to remain beyond the time limit or to fail to comply with a condition.[7]Home Office, Immigration Rules part 1: leave to enter or stay in the UK
How long limited leave lasts
The length depends on the route. Two examples from GOV.UK:
| Route | How long it lasts |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker visa | Up to 5 years before you need to extend it |
| Graduate visa | 2 years if you apply on or before 31 December 2026. 18 months if you apply on or after 1 January 2027. 3 years if you have a PhD or other doctoral qualification |
A Skilled Worker visa can be extended as many times as you like, as long as you still meet the requirements.[3]Home Office, Skilled Worker visa A Graduate visa cannot be extended, but you may be able to switch to a different visa, for example a Skilled Worker visa. The visa starts on the day your application is approved.[4]Home Office, Graduate visa
With a Graduate visa you cannot apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension.[4]Home Office, Graduate visa
When limited leave ends
When limited leave comes to an end you may extend it, switch to a different route or, after a period on some routes, apply to settle. On a Skilled Worker visa, GOV.UK says that after 5 years you may be able to apply to settle permanently, which is also known as indefinite leave to remain.[3]Home Office, Skilled Worker visa
Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 protects people who apply in time. If you have limited leave and apply for a variation of it before it expires, and it expires before the application is decided, your leave is extended. This lasts while the application is neither decided nor withdrawn, and while an appeal or administrative review could be brought or is pending. It lapses if you leave the UK.[5]UK Parliament, Immigration Act 1971, section 3C: Continuation of leave pending variation decision Our page on section 3C leave has the detail.
Limited leave can also be shortened. The Immigration Rules define “curtailment” as cancelling or curtailing a person’s leave so that they have a shorter period, or no period, of leave remaining.[2]Home Office, Immigration Rules: introduction See curtailment of leave.
Example
Priya finishes her degree and applies for a Graduate visa on 5 November 2026. That is on or before 31 December 2026, so her visa lasts for 2 years. She cannot extend it. If she wants to stay longer she may switch to another visa, such as a Skilled Worker visa. She also cannot claim most public funds while she holds the visa.
Omar finishes a similar course and applies on 15 January 2027. His Graduate visa lasts 18 months, not 2 years, because he applied on or after 1 January 2027.
What people get wrong
The end date of limited leave is fixed. The Immigration Rules record that it is an offence, under section 24 of the Immigration Act 1971, knowingly to remain beyond the time limit or to fail to comply with a condition.
This rule is in Part 1 of the Immigration Rules.[7]Home Office, Immigration Rules part 1: leave to enter or stay in the UK
A second mistake is to assume you can always extend. A Graduate visa cannot be extended, so the plan has to be a switch to another route before it ends.[4]Home Office, Graduate visa A third is to leave the UK while a variation application is pending. Section 3C leave lapses if the applicant leaves the UK.[5]UK Parliament, Immigration Act 1971, section 3C: Continuation of leave pending variation decision
The bottom line
Limited leave to remain is time-limited permission to stay in the UK. It has an end date and can carry conditions, including no recourse to public funds. Length depends on the route, so check the GOV.UK page for yours. Indefinite leave has no time limit. If you apply to extend before your leave expires, section 3C can keep your leave going while the Home Office decides.
Common questions
Limited leave lasts for a fixed period and can have conditions. Indefinite leave has no time limit. The Immigration Rules say settlement means indefinite leave to enter or remain.
Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1971 lists them. They include limits on work and study, a condition to manage without recourse to public funds, police registration, reporting, a condition about residence and other conditions the Secretary of State thinks fit.
It depends on the route. A Skilled Worker visa can last for up to 5 years before you extend it. A Graduate visa lasts 2 years, 18 months or 3 years, depending on when you apply and your qualification.
If you applied before it expired, section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971 extends it while the application is undecided, and while an appeal or administrative review is available or pending. It lapses if you leave the UK.
Sources
We cite the Immigration Rules, legislation and GOV.UK guidance directly. Rules change, so each source shows the date we last checked it.
- UK Parliament. Immigration Act 1971, section 3: General provisions for regulation and control. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Home Office. Immigration Rules: introduction. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Home Office. Skilled Worker visa. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Home Office. Graduate visa. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- UK Parliament. Immigration Act 1971, section 3C: Continuation of leave pending variation decision. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Home Office. Public funds. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩
- Home Office. Immigration Rules part 1: leave to enter or stay in the UK. Checked 11 November 2026. ↩