ILR calculator â check when you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK
Calculate your earliest ILR application date and check if you meet the UK continuous residence requirements. This free ILR calculator supports the 5-year work route, family route, 10-year long residence route, and custom qualifying periods.
Select your ILR route
5-year work route
Skilled Worker, Global Talent, and other work visas
5-year family route
Spouse, partner, or family member visa
10-year long residence
Continuous lawful residence for 10 years
Other / Custom
Specify your own qualifying period
How this ILR calculator works
This ILR eligibility calculator helps UK visa holders determine when they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and whether they meet the continuous residence requirements. Simply select your visa route, enter your key dates, add any absences from the UK, and receive instant results showing your earliest ILR application date and 180-day rule compliance.
Understanding the ILR qualifying period and the 28-day rule
The ILR qualifying period is the continuous time you must live in the UK before applying for settlement. For Skilled Worker visas and spouse visas, this is typically 5 years. For the long residence route, it's 10 years. Under Home Office rules, you can apply for ILR up to 28 days before your qualifying period ends, which this calculator factors into your earliest application date.
What ILR routes does this calculator support?
This free ILR calculator UK tool supports:
- 5-year work route: Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, and other work-based visas
- 5-year family route: Spouse visa, partner visa, and family member visas
- 10-year long residence route: Continuous lawful residence for 10 years
- Custom routes: Any ILR route with a different qualifying period
Frequently asked questions about ILR eligibility
Your ILR qualifying period starts from the date your relevant visa was granted or when you first entered the UK on that visa. For most work and family routes, you need 5 years of continuous residence. Use this calculator to input your start date and it will automatically calculate when your qualifying period ends and when you can apply.
Yes, this ILR calculator fully supports the Skilled Worker visa route (formerly Tier 2 General). Select "5-year work route" and enter your visa start date. The calculator will show your earliest ILR application date and verify your absences meet the 180-day rule.
The 180-day rule means you cannot be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period. This calculator checks every possible 12-month window, not just calendar years. Each absence counts whole days only (departure and arrival days don't count). If any 12-month period exceeds 180 days, it will be flagged.
Yes, select "10-year long residence" and the calculator applies the specific rules for this route. For 10-year long residence, you must not have a single absence exceeding 180 days, and your total absences over 10 years must not exceed 548 days.
No, this is not an official Home Office or GOV.UK tool. It's an independent ILR calculator built to help visa holders understand their eligibility based on published Home Office guidance. Always check the official GOV.UK website for the latest rules and consider professional advice for complex cases.
Exceeding 180 days of absence in any rolling 12-month period may break your continuous residence, potentially resetting your qualifying period. However, the Home Office may allow exceptions for compelling reasons like serious illness, natural disasters, or pandemic restrictions. If this calculator shows you exceed the limit, seek advice from an immigration solicitor.
Yes, select "5-year family route" for spouse or partner visas. The calculator will calculate your 5-year qualifying period and check your absences against the 180-day rule, which applies to family route ILR applications.
Under the 28-day rule, you can apply for ILR up to 28 days before the end of your qualifying period. This calculator automatically calculates this date based on your visa start date and route. Applying earlier than 28 days before may result in refusal.
Consider professional advice if: you've exceeded the 180-day limit, you've switched between different visa types, you have gaps in your residence, you have criminal convictions, or you're unsure which absences count. An OISC-registered adviser can assess your specific circumstances.
This ILR absence calculator uses the published Home Office rules for continuous residence and the 180-day rule. However, Home Office caseworkers may exercise discretion in individual cases. This tool provides guidance only and does not guarantee approval. Always verify your eligibility with official sources.
If you enable "Remember my trips on this device," the calculator saves your data in your browser's local storage. This means you can return later without re-entering everything. Your data stays on your device only and is never sent to any server.
Besides meeting the continuous residence and 180-day absence requirements, you typically need to pass the Life in the UK test, prove English language proficiency, meet financial requirements (if applicable), and satisfy suitability requirements (no serious criminal convictions). Check GOV.UK for your specific route's requirements.