ILR Calculator UK

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) lets you live, work and study in the UK without time limits, and it's usually the step before British citizenship. Most people qualify after a set number of years on an eligible visa, but working out the exact date you can apply, and whether your trips abroad could cause problems, isn't always simple.

Our ILR Calculator UK works out your earliest application date and checks your absences. This guide explains the rules it uses and what else you'll need before you apply.

Important: immigration rules change, and the government has proposed longer qualifying periods for many routes under an "earned settlement" model. At the time of writing these proposals weren't in force. Always check GOV.UK, and for anything complicated, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.

How long you need before applying

The qualifying period depends on your visa route. Common examples include:

• 5 years for most work routes, such as the Skilled Worker visa, and for partners of British citizens or settled people on the 5-year family route.
• 10 years for the long residence route, based on continuous lawful residence on any mix of visas, and for the 10-year partner and parent routes.
• 3 years for some Global Talent and Innovator Founder visa holders.

The calculator lets you choose 3, 5 or 10 years. If your route is different, use the closest option and check the exact rules for your visa.

When does the qualifying period start?

It usually starts on the date you entered the UK with your visa, or the date your visa was granted if you were already in the UK. Time on some visas, such as visitor visas, doesn't count. If you've switched between visas, only time on routes that lead to settlement counts towards most 5-year routes.

Applying up to 28 days early

You don't have to wait until the exact anniversary. You can usually apply up to 28 days before you complete your qualifying period. Applying earlier than that can lead to a refusal and the loss of your fee, so it's worth getting the date right.

The 180-day absence rule

To show continuous residence, you generally mustn't have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period. It's a rolling window, not a calendar year, so check every 12-month stretch, especially if you made long trips close together.

Some absences can be disregarded, such as time away because of serious illness, a natural disaster or the serious illness or death of a close family member. You'll need evidence for these.

The long residence route used to have different limits, including a total cap across the whole period, and older absences may still be judged under those rules. If you're applying on that route with long trips before April 2024, take advice.

How to use the calculator (ILR Calculator UK)

1. Enter the date your qualifying residence started.
2. Choose the qualifying period for your route.
3. Enter the most days you spent outside the UK in any 12 months.

The calculator shows when your qualifying period ends, the earliest date you can apply, how many days away that is, and whether your absences are within the usual limit.

A worked example

With the calculator's default settings, residence started on 14 March 2022 on a 5-year route:

• Qualifying period ends: 14 March 2027
• Earliest application: 28 days earlier, on 14 February 2027
• Absences: 45 days in the busiest 12 months, which is within the 180-day limit

What else you'll need

Meeting the time requirement is only part of an ILR application. You'll usually also need to:

• pass the Life in the UK Test,
• prove your English language ability, usually at level B1 or above,
• still meet the requirements of your visa route, such as the salary threshold for a Skilled Worker, and
• have no serious criminal record or immigration breaches.

There's also an application fee, which changes from time to time, so check the current amount on GOV.UK before you apply.