UK Indefinite Leave to Remain Tools

ILR Eligibility Calculator: Check Your UK Settlement Date

Use our free ILR eligibility calculator to check your exact UK settlement date. This tool processes your qualifying period, absence limits, and the 28-day early application window according to 2026 UK Home Office Immigration Rules.

180

Max days absence per year

Days early you can apply

£2,885

Current ILR fee (2025/26)

Free Tool

Check Your ILR Eligibility

1 Your immigration route Select the visa route you were granted when you first entered the UK for this qualifying period. If you switched routes, use the route you are currently on — but be aware that switching may affect your qualifying period start date.

Please select an immigration route

2 Date you entered the UK on this route This is the date your first grant of qualifying leave began — typically the date on your original visa approval letter or the “valid from” date on your e-visa, not the date you physically arrived in the UK.

Please enter a valid date

3 Total days absent from the UK Add up every day you spent outside the UK during the entire qualifying period, including holidays, business trips and visits. The Home Office checks rolling 12-month periods — our trip-by-trip ILR absence calculator gives a more precise check.

Please enter a valid number of days

ILR Eligibility Calculator: Supported UK Visa Routes

The ILR eligibility calculator processes the settlement timelines for non-British and non-Irish nationals living in the UK on qualifying immigration routes. It supports nine of the most common settlement categories: Skilled Worker visa, Health and Care Worker visa, Spouse or Partner visa (Appendix FM), Global Talent visa (both 3-year and 5-year routes), Innovator Founder visa, Investor visa (transitional protection), UK Ancestry visa and the 10-year Long Residence route under paragraph 276B of the Immigration Rules.

ILR Eligibility Criteria: 2026 Home Office Assessment

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications are assessed by the Home Office against three primary criteria: (1) qualifying period and continuous residence; (2) absences from the UK; and (3) suitability, knowledge of language, and Life in the UK requirements. Our calculator focuses on the first two — time-based rules — because these are where the vast majority of applicants get caught out.

Since October 2024, all ILR applications must be submitted online via GOV.UK. The paper form SET(O) is no longer accepted. BRPs have been phased out and replaced by e-visas since December 2024 — your digital e-visa is now your primary evidence of status.

Qualifying Period for Continuous Residence

Most applicants need to demonstrate 5 years of continuous lawful residence on the same or a combination of qualifying routes. Long Residence applicants need 10 years. Some accelerated routes — Global Talent (with endorsing body confirmation) and Innovator Founder (with milestone evidence) — require only 3 years. Use our ILR qualifying period calculator to confirm the exact date you complete the requirement.

Important: Your qualifying period start date may differ from the date you physically arrived in the UK. It is the date your first grant of qualifying leave began — typically the “valid from” date on your e-visa or the date on your original approval letter.

Absence Limits for Indefinite Leave to Remain

For most 5-year routes, you must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. The Home Office checks rolling periods — not calendar years — so a 12-month window can start on any date within your qualifying period. For Long Residence, the cap is 540 days in total with no single absence exceeding 184 days. Our ILR absence calculator breaks this down trip-by-trip for a more precise check.

28-Day Early Application Window Concession

Under paragraph CR 1.2(a) of Appendix Continuous Residence, you can submit your settlement application up to 28 calendar days before your qualifying period completes. This is 28 calendar days (including weekends and bank holidays), not 28 working days. Our ILR 28 days calculator gives you the exact earliest valid date.

ILR Refusal Reasons: Common Application Failures

Exceeding the 180-day absence limit in any rolling 12-month period, even by one day
Gaps in continuous lawful residence (expired visa without a pending application, unlawful presence)
Missing or expired Life in the UK Test certificate
Failing to meet the English language requirement (CEFR B1 or equivalent)
Suitability issues — criminal convictions, deception, or NHS debt exceeding £500
Submitting before the 28-day window opens (29+ days early results in refusal)
Not meeting route-specific requirements (sponsorship, financial threshold, endorsement milestones)

Visa Routes for ILR: Route-Specific Guidelines

The Indefinite Leave to Remain assessment compares your immigration history against the rules set out in Appendix Settlement, Appendix FM, Appendix Long Residence and route-specific Appendices of the UK Immigration Rules. Below is a summary of what each route requires.

Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker ILR Requirements

Skilled Worker visa holders qualify for ILR after 5 years of continuous lawful residence with an approved sponsor. Time spent on the predecessor Tier 2 (General) visa counts towards the qualifying period. Your Certificate of Sponsorship, salary level and SOC code at the date of application must meet the going rate for the role. Health and Care Worker applicants follow the same 5-year framework with the benefit of a reduced visa fee and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. There is no fixed total absence limit in Appendix Settlement — only the 180-day per rolling 12-month period cap applies.

Spouse and Family Route (Appendix FM) ILR Rules

If you entered the UK as a spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner of a British citizen or settled person under the 5-year route, you become eligible for ILR after completing 60 months of continuous leave (typically two consecutive 30-month grants since the rules changed from 33-month grants). You must show that the relationship is genuine and subsisting, that you intend to live together permanently, and that the financial requirement (£29,000 minimum income threshold as of April 2025, rising to £34,500 in 2026 and £38,700 in 2027) is met. Appendix FM does not impose a fixed total absence limit — each 12-month period is assessed individually against the 180-day cap.

10-Year Long Residence ILR Criteria (Paragraph 276B)

Long Residence is a powerful safety net for applicants who have lived in the UK with continuous lawful leave for 10 years in any combination of qualifying categories — for example, switching between Student, Skilled Worker and dependant visas. The absence test is stricter than 5-year routes: 540 days total and no single absence exceeding 184 days. Any single trip over 184 days is likely to break continuous residence unless due to compelling or compassionate circumstances.

UK Ancestry, Global Talent, and Innovator Founder Settlement

UK Ancestry visa holders qualify after 5 years of continuous residence with evidence of working or actively seeking work. They must remain Commonwealth citizens throughout. Global Talent applicants can qualify after 3 years where the endorsing body confirms significant contributions, or 5 years under the standard route (subject to a 540-day total absence limit). Innovator Founder visa holders may qualify after 3 years where endorsing body milestones for accelerated settlement are met.

Positive ILR Eligibility: Next Steps for Application

A positive output means your inputs are consistent with the Home Office time-based requirements. It is not a guarantee. Before submitting, gather: your full passport history, e-visa status, P60s and payslips (work routes), relationship evidence (FM routes), Life in the UK Test certificate, English language evidence and any compassionate circumstances documentation. Submitting within the 28-day window triggers section 3C leave under the Immigration Act 1971, protecting your lawful status while UKVI decides.

Negative ILR Eligibility: Mitigating Application Risks

If the tool indicates excess absences or that you are still inside your qualifying period, options include switching to the 10-year Long Residence route, relying on compassionate or compelling circumstances, or extending your current leave and re-applying once compliant. Each path involves judgement calls — book a confidential consultation with our solicitors to explore the strongest strategy.

ILR application fees in 2025/2026

As of April 2025, the standard ILR application fee is £2,885 (increased from £2,404). The Immigration Health Surcharge for settlement applications is £0 (reduced from £2,388 in April 2024). These fees are non-refundable if your application is refused. Priority services are available at additional cost: the decision-ready service costs £500 for a target decision within 5 working days (where eligible), and the super-priority service costs £1,000 for next-working-day decisions. Fee amounts are set by parliamentary regulations and typically increase annually in April.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I check if I am eligible for ILR in the UK?

You can check ILR eligibility by confirming three things: (1) you have completed the required qualifying period (usually 5 or 10 years) of continuous lawful residence, (2) your absences from the UK do not exceed 180 days in any rolling 12-month period (or 540 days total for Long Residence), and (3) you meet the Life in the UK Test and English language requirements. Use our free ILR Eligibility Calculator above for an instant assessment of the first two criteria.

What is the 180-day absence rule for ILR?

The 180-day absence rule means you must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period within your qualifying period. The Home Office checks rolling periods — not calendar years — so a 12-month window can start on any date. Even exceeding 180 days by a single day in one period can lead to ILR refusal, unless you can demonstrate exceptional or compelling circumstances.

How many years do you need for ILR in the UK?

Most applicants need 5 years of continuous lawful residence on a qualifying route (Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Spouse/Partner, UK Ancestry, Global Talent standard). Some routes allow 3 years (Global Talent accelerated with endorsing body confirmation, Innovator Founder with milestone evidence). The 10-year Long Residence route under paragraph 276B requires 10 years in any combination of qualifying categories.

Can I apply for ILR 28 days early?

Yes. Under paragraph CR 1.2(a) of Appendix Continuous Residence, you can submit your ILR application up to 28 calendar days before your qualifying period completes. This includes weekends and bank holidays. Applying 29 or more days early will result in refusal and you will lose the £2,885 application fee with no refund.

What is the ILR application fee in 2026?

The ILR application fee is £2,885 as of April 2025, applying through the 2025/2026 financial year. The Immigration Health Surcharge for settlement applications is £0. Priority decision services are available at additional cost (£500 for decision-ready, £1,000 for super-priority where eligible). All fees are non-refundable if the application is refused.

Does this ILR calculator guarantee approval?

No. This calculator checks time-based requirements (qualifying period and total absence limits) only. Other mandatory requirements not covered here include: the Life in the UK Test, English language at CEFR B1 level or equivalent, suitability under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules, and route-specific criteria such as the financial requirement (£29,000 from April 2025) for spouse routes and sponsorship requirements for work routes.

What happens if my ILR application is refused?

If refused, you lose the £2,885 fee. You may have the right to an administrative review or, in limited cases, an appeal depending on the refusal grounds. Options include extending your current leave, switching to the 10-year Long Residence route, or re-applying once the issue is resolved. Legal advice is strongly recommended before pursuing any of these paths.

Can I get ILR after 10 years in the UK?

Yes. Under paragraph 276B of the Immigration Rules, anyone who has accumulated 10 years of continuous lawful residence — in any combination of qualifying visa categories (Student, Tier 2, Skilled Worker, dependant, etc.) — can apply for ILR. The absence limits are stricter: 540 days total and no single trip exceeding 184 days.

Which routes does this eligibility calculator cover?

Nine routes are supported: Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Spouse/Partner (Appendix FM), Global Talent (3-year and 5-year), Innovator Founder, Investor (transitional protection), UK Ancestry, and 10-year Long Residence. Each route has its own qualifying period length and absence limits configured according to the relevant Appendix.

Is this tool accurate for 2026 Immigration Rules?

Yes. The calculator is updated to reflect the current UK Immigration Rules as consolidated in Appendix Settlement, Appendix FM, Appendix Continuous Residence, Appendix Global Talent, Appendix Innovator Founder and paragraph 276B. Route-specific absence limits, qualifying periods and the 28-day concession at CR 1.2(a) are all correctly configured. Fees reflect the April 2025 increases.