What is a No Time Limit (NTL) Application?

NTL or No Time Limit is an administrative process that allows individuals who already hold ILE (Indefinite Leave to Enter) or ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK to obtain confirmation of their immigration status in the form of an eVisa. An eVisa which has completely replaced the previously used BRPs (Biometric Residence Permits) from 2 June 2025 is an electronic record that stores a person’s identity details and their immigration status. Individuals with ILE or ILR are not subject to immigration time restrictions, and, if they are ordinarily resident in the UK, they are considered to have settled status in the country. 

Please note that from 31 October 2024, all successful NTL applicants receive an eVisa instead of a BRP. NTL applicants are no longer issued with a BRP (Biometric Residence Permit).

Purpose of the No Time Limit Application
The main purpose of the NTL application is to convert older physical forms of immigration status proof (e.g., Passport stamps, Vignettes in old passports, Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) that may expire, and Immigration status letters) into a modern digital/electronic record known as eVisa.

Why should you apply for an NTL?

Applying for a No Time Limit (NTL) application can be beneficial if you already have permanent immigration status in the UK but need updated proof of that status. The NTL process allows you to obtain official confirmation of your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) status in the form of a digital eVisa.

You may apply for NTL:

• to upgrade your non-digital/physical proof of your ILE or ILR, for example, a vignette in your passport, into a digital confirmation of your status in the form of an eVisa

• if your passport containing an ILE, ILR, or NTL endorsement has been lost, stolen, or has expired

• where you are settled in the UK, but you have no documentary evidence confirming this status (for example, because you were deemed settled in the UK on 1 January 1973 in line with the Immigration Act 1971 - section 1(2))

• where you have legitimately changed your identity since you were granted ILE or ILR, and want to be issued proof of your status in this new identity in the form of an eVisa.

Persons eligible to apply for NTL

In the UK, the No Time Limit application is intended for people who already have permanent immigration status in the UK but need updated or digital confirmation of their status. NTL does not grant a settlement; it only confirms a person’s existing status, such as ILE or ILR. 

To qualify for an NTL eVisa, you must:

• have been granted ILE or ILR in the UK (other than under Immigration Rules - Appendix EU), including if you were considered ‘settled’ in the UK on or before 1 January 1973 - note that customers, especially Commonwealth citizens with long residence, may qualify under the Windrush Scheme

• have not lost your ILE or ILR (for example, by staying outside the UK or being absent from the UK for a continuous period of more than 2 years in a row, or the period otherwise permitted, since 2000)

• continue to have and be entitled to ILE or ILR (for example, the ILE / ILR has not been or will not be revoked)

• apply from inside the UK using an NTL application form

You can leave the CTA (Common Travel Area) while your NTL application is being considered, without your NTL application being withdrawn.

If you have limited leave, you cannot make an NTL application. The only circumstances in which you having limited leave can make an NTL application is if you were given leave for 2 months to enter at port because the Border Force officer (a law enforcement official responsible for protecting the UK’s borders and enforcing immigration and customs laws) was not completely satisfied that you had indefinite leave on entry following your absence from the UK. You will only be issued with an NTL eVisa if you do in fact have ILE or ILR.

You can apply for NTL application if you have been issued ILE or ILR in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and are now applying for confirmation of this status in the UK.

People who are not eligible to apply

Not everyone qualifies to submit a No Time Limit (NTL) application in the UK. This process is intended only to confirm an individual’s existing settled status, such as Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE) or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). Because of this, people who do not already possess one of these forms of permanent immigration permission are usually not eligible to apply for NTL.

Your No Time Limit applications will not be approved if you:

• Are a British citizen

• Hold the right of abode status in the UK

• Are an Irish citizen

• Are an EEA (European Economic Area) or Swiss national or their family member with a status granted under the EUSS (EU Settlement Scheme)

• Are an EEA national or a family member of an EEA national who obtained the right of permanent residence under the Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 before those regulations were revoked on 31 December 2020 at the end of the Brexit transition period, and you do not hold any other form of UK immigration status.

• Are an individual who already has a UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) account and has been issued an eVisa.

How to apply for an NTL application?

Before applying for a No Time Limit application, you must ensure your documents are complete and clear, double-check that your personal information matches all official records, keep a copy of your submitted documents and reference number, and then apply well before you need proof of status for employment, housing, or other services.

You can make a No Time Limit application at any time if you already have permanent immigration status in the UK, such as ILE or ILR, but you need to upgrade your status in a digital form. 

Follow the step-by-step guide below to make a No Time Limit (NTL) application in the UK. 

1. Check your eligibility

Before starting the process, make sure you qualify for NTL. This means you must already have ILE (Indefinite Leave to Enter) or ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK. Your ILE or ILR must not have lapsed due to any extended absence from the UK.

You cannot normally apply if you only have temporary visas or limited leave to remain.

2. Prepare the required documents

You will be required to have documents that prove your existing settled status. Common documents include:

• Current or expired passport showing ILR or ILE stamps

• Previous BRPs (Biometric Residence Permits)

• Any letters or evidence from the Home Office confirming your settlement status

• Evidence of your identity (passport, national ID card, or other official documents)

If you are an EEA national or family member of an EEA national, you may also need documents proving your permanent residence under the old EEA Regulations (2016).

If you have no documentary evidence of indefinite leave

If you do not include your previous passport, BRP, or ISD (Immigration Status Document) or other form of evidence, the Home Office will check all available systems and files for evidence showing you have been granted indefinite leave. For example, CRS (Central Reference System), Home Office files, or VAF (Visa Application Form).

Home Office will also do this if you have provided the passport, BRP, or ISD, but it does not show that you have ILE or ILR.

If you claim your previous passport, BRP, or ISD was lost or stolen, the Home Office will apply extra scrutiny to your case. You are expected to provide a crime reference number or police report. If you fail to do so, the Home Office will consider the reasons why it has not been provided and if they can still be satisfied that the document was lost or stolen. 

You can be granted the NTL provided the Home Office is satisfied you:

• have indefinite leave

• have not lost this status

• are not otherwise ineligible

3. Create a UKVI online account

You can complete the NTL application online via the UKVI portal, for which you need to visit the official UK government immigration website, sign up for a UKVI account if you don’t already have one, and then log in to your account to start the application.

4. Give the required details 

When completing the application form, you will need to enter several details, including your personal information (such as your name, date of birth, and nationality), passport and travel document information, and evidence of your Indefinite Leave to Enter (ILE), Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), or permanent residence. You will also have to provide your contact details and address in the UK. Make sure that all the information you submit is correct and matches the details shown in your supporting documents.

5. Upload supporting documents

You must upload clear photographs or scanned copies of the required documents. Make sure documents are clear, legible, and in the correct format as specified by the UKVI portal. 

6. Pay the application fee

There is currently no fee required to submit a No Time Limit (NTL) application.

7. Provide biometric information (if required)

In some cases, you may need to provide biometric details (fingerprints and a facial photograph). This is usually required if you have not previously provided biometric information or if your existing biometric information cannot be reused.

8. Submit the application

After completing the form and uploading all necessary documents, carefully review the information you have provided. Once you are satisfied that everything is accurate, submit the application through your UKVI account. After submission, you will receive a confirmation email that includes a reference number for your application.

9. Wait for a decision

You can track your application status via your UKVI online account. Processing times can vary, but most NTL applications take processing time of a few weeks to a few months.

10. Get a decision

If your application is successful, your settlement status will be confirmed in a digital eVisa. You can access and share this eVisa online whenever you need to prove your status. Your permanent immigration rights in the UK remain unchanged.

Your NTL eVisa application must be refused if:

• The Home Office is not satisfied that there are genuine reasons why you have changed your identity and/or that the new identity will be used for all purposes. 

• There is not enough evidence to show that you have indefinite leave (if you hold limited leave, your application will not be refused outright.

• You have submitted false documentation or made false representations

• You have lost your indefinite leave status (for example, due to absences), or it has been revoked

How can Visa and Migration help?

A No Time Limit or an NTL application is a useful administrative process to allow ILE, ILR, or settled status holders to upgrade to an eVisa if they don’t already have one.

We can help if you need assistance to create a UKVI account, update your details in your UKVI account, are considering making an NTL application for an eVisa, or have any other UK immigration or residency queries.

For expert advice and queries on a No Time Limit application, you can call us at +44 (0)20 3411 1261 or write at info@visaandmigration.com