Originally Posted by
spacepodlife
Every year also you need to pass an instrument renewal test on every approach you are endorsed for... no matter if you have ATPL, IR seems to be a sort of separate thing on your license, and if you let it expire for longer than 12 months you have to redo the written as well!
The Instrument Rating is indeed "a sort of separate thing on your licence", its a rating, and in no way interconnected with the level of license you hold.
Just to clarify, though, if you've passed the Instrument Rating Exam (which is what you call the "written"), then you have passed it. You won't need to do it again. What you WILL need to do again, if you let the rating lapse for longer than 12 months, is a full initial-issue flight test again, instead of a renewal.