Leave to Remain
The Leave to Remain is the legal status of a person issued by a government office of internal affairs to one who is not yet a citizen. In most stable countries, Indefinite leave to remain (as is known in the UK) is granted to these foreign citizens after a specified period spent within its borders. This is usually the final step towards naturalization which in turn leads to full citizenship.
A Leave to Remain need not be indefinite.
Compare to Permanent Resident status in the United States and Permanent Resident (used to known as Landed Immigrant) status in Canada.