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NTL (No Time Limit) applications

NTL No Time Limit Application: Confirm Your ILR or ILE with an eVisa

If you have indefinite leave to remain or indefinite leave to enter in the UK, but your proof is old, lost, expired or difficult to use, you are in the right place. A No Time Limit application, often called an NTL application, is used to confirm existing indefinite leave and provide digital evidence of that status in the form of an eVisa.

This page explains when an NTL application may be appropriate, what the Home Office is likely to check, what evidence may be needed, and what can go wrong if your immigration history is unclear.

An NTL application does not grant new indefinite leave. It confirms indefinite leave that you already have. That distinction matters. If the Home Office is not satisfied that you still hold ILR or ILE, or if it considers that your indefinite leave has been lost or revoked, the application may be refused.

For official information about indefinite leave and evidence of status, you can also read the GOV.UK guidance on indefinite leave to remain in the UK: rights and status.

Book an immigration advice appointment if you need advice about proving old ILR, correcting your UKVI record, dealing with a lost passport containing an ILR stamp, or preparing an NTL application where the evidence is incomplete.

What Is a No Time Limit Application?

A No Time Limit application is an administrative application for a person who already has indefinite leave to remain or indefinite leave to enter to obtain confirmation of that status in digital form.

It is commonly used where a person has:

  • an old passport containing an ILR, ILE or “no time limit” stamp or vignette;
  • an old immigration status document or Home Office letter confirming indefinite leave;
  • a passport containing the evidence of status which has expired, been lost or stolen;
  • ILR or ILE but no longer has documentary evidence proving it;
  • lawfully changed their identity since the grant of indefinite leave and needs proof in the current identity.

Successful NTL applicants receive access to an eVisa, which is an online record of immigration status. In 2026, this is especially important because the UK immigration system has moved away from physical documents such as BRPs and vignette stickers.

Who Should Consider an NTL Application?

You should consider an NTL application if you believe that you have ILR or ILE, but you cannot easily prove it through a current digital status record.

Typical clients include people who:

  • were granted ILR many years ago and still rely on an old passport stamp;
  • need to prove their right to work, rent, study, access services or return to the UK after travel;
  • have an expired passport containing an old ILR endorsement;
  • lost the passport or document that contained the proof of indefinite leave;
  • have changed name after marriage, divorce, deed poll or another legitimate identity change;
  • believe Home Office records are incomplete or do not accurately show their status.

An NTL application can be particularly important where an employer, landlord, university, bank, public authority or airline will not accept old paper evidence without a share code or digital confirmation.

Who Should Not Make an NTL Application?

An NTL application is not the correct route for everyone.

You should not normally make an NTL application if:

  • you only have limited leave to remain;
  • you are applying for ILR for the first time;
  • you already have an eVisa confirming your immigration status;
  • you have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme and can already prove your status online;
  • you have an expired BRP and can access your eVisa through the UKVI account process without making an NTL application;
  • you have lost ILR because of a long absence from the UK and need to consider a returning resident application instead.

This is one of the most common areas of confusion. NTL is about confirming an existing indefinite status. It is not a shortcut to settlement and it does not fix a lost ILR position unless the law still recognises the person as having indefinite leave.

NTL, ILR, ILE and eVisa: The Difference

Indefinite leave to remain is permission to stay in the UK without a time limit, usually granted to someone already in the UK. Indefinite leave to enter is indefinite permission granted for entry to the UK. Both normally mean that the person is settled in the UK if the UK is their home.

An eVisa is not a separate immigration status. It is digital evidence of immigration status. If you already have ILR or ILE, getting an eVisa through the NTL process should not change the underlying status. It should make that status easier to prove.

The Home Office will still need to be satisfied that:

  • you were granted ILR or ILE, or are otherwise treated as having indefinite leave;
  • you are the same person as the person who was granted that status;
  • you have not lost indefinite leave through absence from the UK;
  • your indefinite leave has not been revoked;
  • any change of identity is genuine and properly evidenced.

Eligibility for a No Time Limit Application

In broad terms, an applicant for NTL must show that they:

  • have been granted indefinite leave to enter or indefinite leave to remain, other than under Appendix EU;
  • are applying from inside the UK;
  • have not lost ILR or ILE through absence or another legal reason;
  • continue to be entitled to indefinite leave;
  • can provide enough identity and status evidence for the Home Office to confirm the position.

Where the evidence is straightforward, an NTL application may be relatively simple. Where the passport is missing, the grant was made decades ago, there have been long absences, or the Home Office record is incomplete, the case may require careful legal preparation.

Can You Apply If Your Old Passport Has Expired?

Yes, an expired passport containing an ILR, ILE or NTL endorsement may still be important evidence. The issue is not whether the passport itself is still valid for travel. The issue is whether it contains reliable evidence that indefinite leave was granted and whether you still hold that status.

You should keep the original expired passport if possible. If you no longer have it, the application may need to rely on other evidence and Home Office record checks.

Can You Apply If the Passport Containing ILR Was Lost or Stolen?

Yes, but the application must be prepared with care. If the passport or document containing proof of indefinite leave has been lost or stolen, the Home Office may apply closer scrutiny.

Helpful evidence may include:

  • a police report or crime reference number where available;
  • copies or scans of the lost passport or ILR stamp;
  • old Home Office letters;
  • old travel records;
  • employment, tax, National Insurance, benefit, school, NHS or other UK residence evidence;
  • documents showing continuity of identity.

The absence of a police report is not always fatal, but it should be explained. The Home Office will need to be satisfied that the document was genuinely lost or stolen and that you are the person who previously held indefinite leave.

Can You Apply If You Have No Documents Proving ILR?

It may still be possible to apply where you believe you have ILR or ILE but no longer hold documentary proof. However, these cases are more sensitive.

The Home Office may check its internal records and historic files. You may also need to provide evidence from your own records, particularly if the Home Office cannot quickly locate a clear grant of indefinite leave.

Evidence may include old passports, travel records, Home Office correspondence, employment history, National Insurance records, HMRC records, school records, benefit records, medical records, tenancy or mortgage documents, utility bills, bank records and other proof showing long-term residence and identity.

The evidence strategy should be proportionate. It is not usually helpful to submit a disorganised bundle of everything you can find. The aim is to show a clear chain: identity, grant of indefinite leave, continuing residence and no loss of status.

Absences from the UK: The Most Important Risk in Many NTL Cases

One of the main legal risks in an NTL application is whether indefinite leave has been lost because of absence from the UK.

In many cases, a person with ILR or ILE may lose that status if they have been outside the UK for more than two consecutive years, unless a specific exception applies. Different rules may apply in some situations, including certain people connected with HM Armed Forces, Crown service, the British Council, or those with status under the EU Settlement Scheme. However, people with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme normally already have digital proof and should not usually need an NTL application.

If you have been absent from the UK for long periods, do not treat the NTL application as a formality. The Home Office may ask questions about your travel history and may consider whether your ILR or ILE has lapsed.

What If You Have Been Outside the UK for More Than Two Years?

If you have been outside the UK for more than two consecutive years, you may have lost ILR or ILE unless an exception applies. In that situation, an NTL application may not be the correct solution.

You may need advice about a returning resident visa application, the evidence of your continuing ties to the UK, the reasons for your absence, and whether you can show that you should be re-admitted for settlement.

This is a high-risk area. A poorly prepared application can expose the underlying problem rather than solve it.

What Evidence Is Needed for an NTL Application?

The evidence depends on the facts. A strong NTL application usually focuses on four questions:

  • Identity: who are you, and are you the same person who was granted indefinite leave?
  • Status: when and how were you granted ILR or ILE?
  • Continuity: have you kept that status, or has it been lost through absence or revocation?
  • Digital confirmation: what does the Home Office need to confirm the status in the form of an eVisa?

Useful documents may include:

  • current passport or travel document;
  • expired passports showing ILR, ILE, NTL endorsements or UK entry stamps;
  • old Home Office letters confirming indefinite leave;
  • old immigration status documents;
  • evidence of UK residence if the immigration history is unclear;
  • travel history, where absences may be relevant;
  • marriage certificate, divorce documents, deed poll or other evidence if your name changed;
  • police report or explanation if a passport or status document was lost or stolen;
  • any correspondence showing earlier contact with the Home Office about your status.

Where there is a risk that the Home Office may doubt the grant of ILR or continued entitlement, the application should include a clear legal and evidential explanation rather than leaving the caseworker to piece the history together.

Validity and Procedure

An NTL application must normally be made from inside the UK using the correct online Home Office process. The applicant will usually need to prove identity and provide supporting documents. Biometrics or identity verification may be required depending on the system used and the applicant’s circumstances.

NTL applications are free of charge. However, professional legal advice and document preparation are separate from the Home Office application process.

Applicants should be careful before travelling while any issue about their digital status is unresolved. A person with old or unclear evidence of ILR may face practical difficulty proving their status to a carrier, employer, landlord or public authority, even where the underlying legal status is strong.

Common Home Office Concerns in NTL Applications

The Home Office may look closely at an NTL application where:

  • the original passport or status document is missing;
  • the evidence of ILR is old, unclear or inconsistent;
  • there are long gaps in UK residence evidence;
  • the applicant has spent long periods outside the UK;
  • the applicant has used different names or dates of birth;
  • there is a possible identity issue;
  • documents appear altered, damaged or unreliable;
  • Home Office records do not match the applicant’s account;
  • there is a criminality, deception or revocation concern.

A careful application should anticipate these concerns and answer them directly.

Reasons an NTL Application May Be Refused

An NTL application may be refused if the Home Office is not satisfied that the applicant is entitled to confirmation of indefinite leave.

Common refusal risks include:

  • insufficient evidence that ILR or ILE was ever granted;
  • evidence suggesting that indefinite leave has been lost through absence;
  • revocation of indefinite leave;
  • false documents or false representations;
  • unexplained identity changes;
  • inability to show that the applicant is the same person as the person granted ILR or ILE;
  • making an NTL application when another route or process is required.

Where there is any risk of refusal, it is usually better to deal with the weakness openly and legally rather than hoping it will not be noticed.

What Happens If an NTL Application Is Refused?

If an NTL application is refused, the next step depends on the reason for refusal.

Possible options may include:

  • asking the Home Office to correct an error, where the decision is plainly wrong;
  • making a fresh NTL application with stronger evidence;
  • challenging the decision where there is a legal error;
  • considering a returning resident application if ILR has been lost through absence;
  • considering another immigration route if indefinite leave cannot be established.

You should not assume that refusal automatically means you have no status. Equally, you should not assume that you can simply reapply without understanding the reason for refusal. The refusal letter, evidence history and immigration record need to be reviewed carefully.

NTL and the Windrush Scheme

Some people with very long residence in the UK may need to consider the Windrush Scheme rather than, or before, an NTL application. This may be relevant to people who were settled in the UK on or before 1 January 1973, arrived in the UK before 1988, or have a parent whose status may bring them within the Windrush framework.

Windrush cases require particular care. The correct route depends on the person’s history, nationality, arrival date, documentary evidence and the type of confirmation needed.

NTL and British Citizenship

Some people discover NTL issues while preparing for naturalisation as a British citizen. This can happen where the person has lived in the UK for many years but only has old evidence of ILR, or where they cannot create a UKVI account because their proof of status is not digital.

In some cases, it may be sensible to regularise proof of ILR through the NTL process before applying for naturalisation. In other cases, the citizenship evidence can be approached differently. The right strategy depends on the quality of the existing evidence and the risk profile.

NTL and Right to Work, Right to Rent and Travel

Modern status checks increasingly depend on digital evidence. Even where a person has old ILR, they may face practical problems proving their right to work, rent, access services, open accounts, study or travel.

An eVisa can make proof of status easier because the person may be able to generate a share code and use online status services. However, the underlying status must first be confirmed. If the Home Office record is wrong, incomplete or inconsistent, the NTL application may need to address that properly.

How We Can Help with an NTL Application

We can advise on whether an NTL application is the correct route and help prepare the application where the evidence needs careful organisation.

Legal advice can be especially important where:

  • the old passport containing ILR has been lost or stolen;
  • the grant of ILR was made many years ago;
  • there are long absences from the UK;
  • you have no clear documentary evidence of ILR;
  • there has been a change of name, identity document or nationality record;
  • you need NTL before a naturalisation application;
  • you have received a refusal or a Home Office query;
  • your employer, landlord or another organisation is questioning your status.

Our role is to identify the legal issue, assess the evidence, prepare a clear application, explain any gaps and reduce avoidable risk. We do not guarantee that the Home Office will approve an application, but a properly prepared case gives the decision-maker a clearer and safer basis for confirming the status.

Book an appointment for NTL and eVisa advice if you need a careful assessment of your indefinite leave evidence.

Practical Steps Before You Apply

Before making an NTL application, take these steps:

  • find all current and expired passports;
  • look for any ILR, ILE, NTL stamp, vignette or Home Office letter;
  • prepare a list of long absences from the UK;
  • collect evidence of UK residence if there may be gaps or doubts;
  • obtain proof of any name change or identity change;
  • write down what happened if a passport or status document was lost or stolen;
  • check whether you already have an eVisa or EU Settlement Scheme status;
  • seek advice before applying if there is any risk that ILR may have been lost.

FAQ: NTL No Time Limit Applications

What is an NTL application?

An NTL application is a Home Office process used by a person who already has indefinite leave to remain or indefinite leave to enter to obtain confirmation of that status in digital form, usually as an eVisa.

Does an NTL application give me ILR?

No. NTL does not grant new ILR. It confirms indefinite leave that you already have. If you do not already have ILR or ILE, you need to consider the correct immigration route for obtaining settlement.

Can I apply for NTL if my passport with ILR has expired?

Yes, an expired passport containing an ILR, ILE or NTL endorsement may still be important evidence. The Home Office will consider whether the document shows that indefinite leave was granted and whether you still hold that status.

Can I apply for NTL if my passport with ILR was lost?

Yes, but the application may require stronger supporting evidence. You should explain what happened, provide any police report or crime reference if available, and include other evidence showing your identity, immigration history and continuing entitlement to indefinite leave.

Do I need an NTL application if I have settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme?

Usually, no. People with settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme normally prove their status online through the digital status service. NTL is generally for people with ILR or ILE outside Appendix EU who need confirmation of old or non-digital status.

Can I lose ILR if I have been outside the UK for more than two years?

In many cases, ILR or ILE can be lost after an absence from the UK of more than two consecutive years, unless a specific exception applies. If this may affect you, obtain advice before making an NTL application.

What if my NTL application is refused?

The next step depends on the refusal reason. You may need to correct evidence, make a fresh application, challenge a legal error, consider a returning resident application, or assess another immigration route.

This page provides general information about No Time Limit applications, ILR, ILE and eVisa evidence. It is not legal advice and should not be relied on as advice on your individual immigration status. NTL cases can turn on historic grants of leave, absences, Home Office records, identity evidence and changes in immigration policy. You should obtain advice on your own facts before applying, travelling, responding to a Home Office query or challenging a refusal.

Last legally reviewed: 17 June 2026
By: Adam Sierant

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