For holders of Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK, Immigration
Rules changed quietly in October 2023. The changes concern people
who spend much time outside the UK but wish to protect their
settled status in the UK or re-activate their settled status if it
lapsed due to a prolonged absence.
Generally, indefinite leave to remain does not have an
expiry date. But it can be cancelled (for example, following a
criminal conviction) or it can lapse if you are out of the UK for
two years or longer (or for five years if you were granted settled
status under EU settlement scheme).
What recently changed for returning residents
In October 2023, Appendix Returning Resident replaced
paragraphs 18, 18A, 19, 19A and 20 in Part 1 of the Immigration
Rules. This introduced two important changes:
