Wrong ILR form for the 10-year partner route? Here's the fix
If you are due for indefinite leave to remain on the 10-year partner route, your settlement application is SET(M) — the route for partners of a British or settled person — not the adult dependent relative form and not the long residence application. If the Home Office told you the wrong form was filled in, that is fixable, but the route you choose matters, so check carefully and get advice before reapplying.
- The 10-year partner route reaches ILR after 10 years' continuous lawful residence as the partner of a British or settled person under Appendix FM.
- The settlement application for partners is SET(M) — for the partner of a person, or parent of a child, who is settled in the UK.
- The adult dependent relative route is for someone coming to be cared for by a UK relative — a different purpose entirely.
- The 10-year long residence route is separate: 10 years lawful in the UK across most visa types, not based on a relationship.
- Home Office fees are generally non-refundable, so a wrong form can have real cost implications.
Why the partner route uses SET(M)
GOV.UK's settlement pages split applicants by who they are joining or relying on. If you have a family visa and your partner is British or settled in the UK, you apply for indefinite leave as a partner. The form behind that journey is SET(M): an application to settle in the UK as the partner of a person, or parent of a child, who is already settled here.
There are two partner timelines. The 5-year route needs 5 continuous years on a family visa as a partner and has a financial requirement. The 10-year route needs 10 continuous years and has no financial requirement, but the relationship-based requirements still apply. Both lead to the same place — ILR as a partner — through the partner settlement journey.
The forms people confuse it with
Three routes get mixed up, and an adviser or even a caseworker note can sound similar at speed:
- Adult dependent relative. This is for an older or unwell relative coming to be cared for long-term by someone in the UK. If you are the partner, this is not your route — it sounds like it was the form mentioned in your case.
- 10-year long residence. This rewards 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK across most immigration categories. It is not tied to a relationship. Someone who has spent a decade here on a mix of student, work and family visas might use it — but if your current leave is based on your partner, the partner route usually fits better.
- Private life / other Appendix FM routes. Parents and private-life applicants have their own journeys, distinct from the partner one.
The quick test: look at what your most recent grant of leave was based on. If it was your relationship with a British or settled partner, you are on the partner route, and SET(M) is your settlement application.
What to do if the wrong form was submitted
This article is general information, not legal advice. If a wrong application has already been submitted, the cost and timing consequences can be serious. Speak to a regulated immigration adviser — someone registered with the OISC or a qualified solicitor — before you withdraw, reapply, or respond to the Home Office.
Practical steps, in order:
- Read what the Home Office actually said. Keep any email or letter. The wording tells you whether they want more information, are treating the application as void, or expect a fresh application.
- Contact UKVI promptly. Do not let deadlines pass. If they have asked you to confirm or correct something, respond within the time given.
- Expect a possible withdraw-and-reapply. If the wrong route was used, you may need to withdraw and submit on the correct partner route. Fees are generally non-refundable, though the Immigration Health Surcharge is often returned on withdrawal or refusal — confirm this for your case.
- Protect your status in the meantime. If you applied in time on your previous leave, you may benefit from continued protections (often called 3C leave) while things are sorted. An adviser can confirm whether that applies to you.
How to avoid this next time
Start from the GOV.UK "indefinite leave to remain if you have family in the UK" pages and pick the partner path. Apply no earlier than 28 days before you meet the residence requirement. Gather your SET(M) evidence early — cohabitation proof and relationship history are common sticking points. And double-check the form name on screen before paying, since the Home Office updates its online journeys.
For more on timing, see when to apply for ILR on a spouse visa, and for evidence, the SET(M) document checklist.
Whatever route you confirm, most partner applicants aged 18 to 64 still need to pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English requirement. You can practise free, with realistic mock tests, at britpass.app.