1. Submit the ILR application
The online settlement form comes first. After submission and payment, GOV.UK route pages say you are then told how to provide biometrics and supporting documents.
Last reviewed:
After you apply
ILR biometrics, UKVCAS and eVisa
Most in-country ILR applications do not end when you press submit. This page explains the usual post-submission flow, while keeping one rule front and centre: follow the instructions in your account and Home Office messages.
Most important distinction
Your biometrics appointment is not the same thing as your application date.
GOV.UK route pages for in-country settlement say you submit the online application first and are then asked to provide biometric information and documents. That means a later UKVCAS appointment is part of the process after application, not the moment the application was made.
This matters for timing, evidence and travel planning. If you are checking an ILR deadline, use the actual submission date of the online application and the instructions for your exact route.
Typical sequence
What usually happens after an ILR application
2. Follow the identity route shown in your account
Some applicants are directed to UKVCAS, some may be told to use the UK Immigration: ID Check app, and others may see a different Home Office instruction. Use the route displayed in your account, not a guide written for someone else.
3. Upload or scan documents the permitted way
GOV.UK says supporting documents can often be uploaded into the online service or scanned at a UKVCAS appointment. Keep filenames and evidence categories clear.
4. Wait for the decision and check digital status
If ILR is granted, GOV.UK says you receive an eVisa as the digital record of identity and status. Read every post-decision message carefully and check that your UKVI account access works.
Useful official pages: UKVCAS on GOV.UK,Skilled Worker ILR: after you applyandfamily ILR: after you apply.
Identity checks
How identity may be completed
UKVCAS appointment
GOV.UK says many in-country ILR applicants usually need to attend a UKVCAS service point to provide fingerprints and a photo.
ID Check app
Some applicants are instructed to confirm identity using the UK Immigration: ID Check app. GOV.UK says the method depends on nationality and the passport or residence document involved.
Alternative route if you cannot use the app
The eVisa account guidance says another identity method may be offered if you do not have a valid passport, have an expired BRP or cannot use a smartphone.
GOV.UK's UK Immigration: ID Check app guidanceand UKVI account guidanceboth show that the exact identity method depends on the person and the document they hold.
Documents
Upload evidence carefully and keep a copy of what you sent
GOV.UK says supporting documents can usually be uploaded into the online service or scanned at a UKVCAS appointment. The evidence guidance also says the self-upload step appears in the evidence section of the application form and successful files are shown under “Files added”.
- Upload only what the route asks for, and keep the final evidence list in case the Home Office later refers to it.
- GOV.UK's evidence-upload guidance says documents are uploaded once you reach the evidence section of the application form, and a successful upload appears under 'Files added'.
- Do not assume a document scanned at an appointment will correct a form answer that was wrong when submitted.
- Where your account, route page and Home Office message do not say the same thing, follow the latest direct instruction and keep a copy of it.
Related site pages: documents checklist, application overview and processing times.
While waiting
Travel and decision timing depend on the route instructions
Do not assume you can travel
GOV.UK after-you-apply pages for major in-country ILR routes say the application will be withdrawn if you travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man before a decision. Check the live route page you are using.
Decision times are service targets, not promises
GOV.UK says many standard in-country settlement decisions are usually made within 6 months after biometrics are provided, but complex cases can take longer and faster services are not guaranteed for every case.
Digital status
After approval: check your eVisa and UKVI account access
GOV.UK says an eVisa is a digital record of your identity, immigration status and any conditions attached to that status. It has replaced physical immigration documents for current status proof.
GOV.UK also says you need a UKVI account to access your eVisa. After a grant, sign in, verify that your personal details are correct and keep the post-decision instructions from the Home Office.
Official references: what an eVisa is andset up a UKVI account.
Questions people ask
FAQ
Is my UKVCAS appointment date the same as my ILR application date?
No. For in-country online applications, the application is submitted first and the biometrics step follows. Your account and route page should be treated as the controlling instructions.
Will every ILR applicant use UKVCAS?
Not always. GOV.UK says applicants are told how to prove identity after applying. Many in-country ILR routes use UKVCAS, while some applicants may be directed to another process such as the UK Immigration: ID Check app or another appointment channel.
Do I upload documents before or at the appointment?
Usually either can happen, depending on the instructions offered in your route. GOV.UK says supporting documents can often be uploaded into the online service or scanned at a UKVCAS appointment.
What do I get if my ILR application is granted?
GOV.UK says an eVisa is a digital record of your identity and immigration status. You access it through a UKVI account and should follow the post-decision instructions in your account and Home Office emails or letters.
Official sources reviewed on 18 August 2026: UKVCAS,uploading evidence guidance,ID Check app guidance, eVisa overviewandUKVI account guidance.