UK ILR Rules: Everything You Need to Know (2026)
Complete guide to UK ILR rules and conditions. Covers residence requirements, absence limits, salary thresholds, English language, Life in the UK test, and good character for every visa route.
Overview: the rules for getting ILR in the UK
Indefinite leave to remain (ILR) is the UK's form of permanent residency. It gives you the right to live and work in the UK without any visa restrictions, and it is the step that most people take before applying for British citizenship. But to qualify, you must satisfy a set of ILR rules that apply across every visa route, plus any additional requirements specific to your particular route.
The ILR rules are set by the Home Office under the UK Immigration Rules. They are updated periodically, and the rules that apply to your application are generally those in force at the time you apply, not the rules that existed when your visa was first granted. This makes it important to stay informed throughout your qualifying period.
There are seven core ILR rules that apply to almost every applicant, regardless of visa route. This guide covers all seven in detail. It also includes a quick reference table covering ILR rules by visa route, a section on the 2026 rule changes, and links to more in-depth guides for each specific route.
Whether you are on a Skilled Worker visa, a Spouse visa, a Global Talent visa, or any other qualifying route, this is the page that explains what indefinite leave to remain rules you need to meet and how to meet them.
Rule 1: continuous residence requirement
The most fundamental of all UK ILR rules is continuous residence. You must live in the UK continuously for a minimum qualifying period before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. The length of that period depends on your visa route.
Qualifying periods by visa route
| Qualifying period | Visa routes |
|---|---|
| 3 years | Global Talent, Innovator Founder |
| 5 years | Skilled Worker, Spouse / Partner, Health and Care Worker, UK Ancestry |
| 10 years | Long Residence (continuous lawful residence) |
For detailed guidance on specific routes, see: Skilled Worker to ILR, Spouse Visa to ILR, Global Talent to ILR, Health and Care Worker to ILR, and Long Residence route.
What counts as continuous residence?
Continuous residence means you have held valid leave to remain in the UK throughout the qualifying period, without any gaps, overstays, or significant breaks. A single absence of more than 6 months in any one stretch can break your continuity and require you to start the qualifying period again from scratch.
The qualifying period starts on the date your visa begins, not the date you entered the UK. If you arrived in the UK 20 days after your visa start date, those 20 days count as absence days. This is known as the "late entry gap" and it is a common source of confusion.
The 28-day early application rule
You do not need to wait until the exact anniversary of your visa start date. The Immigration Rules allow you to apply for indefinite leave to remain up to 28 days before your qualifying period is complete. For example, if your 5-year qualifying period ends on 15 June 2027, you can submit your application as early as 18 May 2027.
Use the ILR Eligibility Calculator to find your exact earliest application date based on your visa start date and travel history.
Rule 2: the 180-day absence limit
The 180-day absence rule is one of the most important UK ILR rules, and it is the one that catches the most applicants off guard. During your qualifying period, you must not be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period.
How rolling windows work
The rule does not just check calendar years. Instead, the Home Office examines every possible 12-month window across your entire qualifying period. That means a window from 15 March 2024 to 14 March 2025 is checked, and so is a window from 16 March 2024 to 15 March 2025, and every other 12-month combination. If any single window contains more than 180 days of absence, you fail this rule.
This rolling window approach means that two separate trips, one near the end of one year and one near the start of the next, can both fall within the same 12-month window and push your total above 180 days. Clustering trips is the most common way people accidentally breach this rule.
How absence days are counted
The day you depart the UK is counted as a day of absence. The day you return to the UK is counted as a day of presence. So if you leave on 1 March and return on 10 March, you have 9 absence days (1 through 9 March inclusive). This counting method applies across all indefinite leave to remain routes.
The late entry gap also counts as absence. If your visa started on 1 January but you did not enter the UK until 20 January, those 19 days count as absence in your first 12-month window.
For a full explanation of the absence rules, including worked examples and edge cases, see our guide to ILR absence rules. To check your own absence status instantly, use the ILR Absence Calculator.
Rule 3: English language requirement
Almost all indefinite leave to remain applicants must demonstrate a minimum level of English language ability. The required level depends on your visa route and your history with the English language requirement across previous visa grants.
English levels by route
| Route | Required level |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder | B1 (CEFR) |
| Spouse / Partner (first leave grant) | A1 |
| Spouse / Partner (extension) | A2 |
| Spouse / Partner (ILR stage) | B1 |
| UK Ancestry | B1 |
| Long Residence | B1 |
How to meet the English language requirement
You can meet the English language requirement in several ways:
- Previous visa grant: If you met the English language requirement when your current visa was granted, that usually satisfies the requirement for your ILR application too. You do not need to sit another test.
- Secure English Language Test (SELT): Pass an approved SELT from a recognised provider such as IELTS Life Skills, Trinity College London, or LanguageCert.
- Degree taught in English: If you hold a degree that was taught and assessed in English, you may be able to use that as evidence.
Exemptions
You are exempt from the English language requirement if you are:
- A national of a majority English-speaking country (such as the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Jamaica)
- Aged 65 or over at the time of your ILR application
- Unable to meet the requirement due to a physical or mental condition
For detailed guidance on English language tests accepted for indefinite leave to remain, see our guide to English language requirements for ILR.
Rule 4: Life in the UK test
The Life in the UK test is required for virtually all indefinite leave to remain applicants. It tests knowledge of British values, history, traditions, and everyday life in the UK. You must pass the test before you can submit your ILR application.
Test format and pass mark
- Questions: 24 multiple-choice questions
- Time limit: 45 minutes
- Pass mark: 75%, which means you must answer at least 18 out of 24 questions correctly
- Cost: £50 per attempt
- Location: Approved test centres across the UK
When to take the test
The Life in the UK test can be taken at any point before you submit your ILR application. There is no expiry on the pass certificate, so you can take the test early in your qualifying period and not worry about it again. Most people take it in Year 4 to give themselves enough time to study without the stress of doing it at the last minute.
Exemptions
You are exempt from the Life in the UK test if you are:
- Under 18 years old
- Aged 65 or over
- Unable to take the test due to a long-term physical or mental condition
For detailed study guides and practice questions, see our Life in the UK test guide and our free Life in the UK practice tool.
Rule 5: salary and financial requirements
Not all indefinite leave to remain routes have a salary or financial requirement, but for work routes and family routes, this is an important rule to understand and plan for well in advance.
Work routes: going rate for your SOC code
If you are on a Skilled Worker visa or Health and Care Worker visa, your salary must meet the going rate for your Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code at the time of your ILR application. This is assessed against the current salary thresholds, not those that applied when your visa was first granted. If salary thresholds have risen since your visa was issued, your current salary must meet the new level.
Your employer must provide a letter confirming your current job title, SOC code, and salary. This is not optional, and the salary stated must be your actual salary, not an inflated figure.
Family routes: minimum income requirement
If you are applying for indefinite leave to remain on a Spouse or Partner visa, you must meet the minimum income requirement. This is currently set at £29,000 per year, with a planned increase to £38,700. The sponsor (the British citizen or settled person you are with) must meet this income threshold.
Financial requirements by route
| Route | Financial requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Going rate for SOC code | Assessed at time of ILR application |
| Health and Care Worker | Going rate for SOC code | Same as Skilled Worker rules |
| Spouse / Partner | £29,000 minimum income (sponsor) | Rising to £38,700 under new rules |
| Global Talent | None (no salary threshold) | Endorsed by a qualifying body |
| Innovator Founder | Business viability assessed | Endorsing body confirms ongoing activity |
| UK Ancestry | Able to maintain and accommodate yourself | No fixed salary threshold |
| Long Residence | None | No salary requirement |
For a full breakdown of salary requirements for each route, see our guide to ILR salary requirements.
Rule 6: good character requirement
Every indefinite leave to remain application requires the Home Office to be satisfied that you are a person of "good character." This is a broad assessment and covers your conduct both inside and outside the UK.
What the Home Office checks
The good character assessment considers factors including:
- Criminal convictions: Unspent criminal convictions are the most common reason for failing the good character requirement. The Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 determines whether convictions are spent, but note that the rules for immigration purposes can be stricter than in other contexts.
- Immigration breaches: Overstaying a visa, working without authorisation, or breaching the conditions of your leave can count against you, even if no criminal charge was brought.
- Deception in previous applications: If you were ever found to have submitted false documents or made dishonest statements in any immigration application, this can result in a refusal and in some cases a ban on re-entry to the UK.
- Unpaid NHS debts: Outstanding NHS treatment debts of £500 or more can trigger a refusal. These should be paid before applying for indefinite leave to remain.
- Involvement in war crimes or serious human rights abuses: These are absolute bars to settlement in the UK.
- Financial irresponsibility: Insolvency, fraud, or deliberate tax evasion may be considered in some circumstances.
Who is affected?
The vast majority of indefinite leave to remain applicants have no issue with the good character requirement. If you have lived and worked lawfully in the UK, paid your taxes, not had any criminal convictions, and been honest in all your immigration applications, you will meet this rule without difficulty.
If you have any concerns about whether your history might affect your good character assessment, consult a registered immigration adviser or solicitor before submitting your application.
Rule 7: valid immigration status throughout
One of the most fundamental UK ILR rules is that you must have maintained continuous lawful leave to remain throughout your entire qualifying period. This means no gaps, no overstays, and no breaches of your visa conditions at any point during the qualifying period.
No gaps in leave
If your visa expires and you are still in the UK without having applied for an extension or a new visa, you are in the UK unlawfully. Even a gap of a few days can create a problem for your indefinite leave to remain application. If you are approaching your visa expiry date, apply to extend well in advance. The standard advice is to apply at least 3 months before your visa expires.
If you apply to extend your leave before your current visa expires, you can remain in the UK lawfully under Section 3C leave while your extension application is being decided. This Section 3C leave counts towards your qualifying period.
Switching visa types correctly
If you switched from one visa route to another during your qualifying period (for example, from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa), the switch must have been done properly with a valid application and without any gap in leave. Time on a Student visa does not typically count towards indefinite leave to remain qualifying periods for work routes, but the switch itself must not create a gap.
Changing employers on a Skilled Worker visa also requires a formal application to update your visa with a new Certificate of Sponsorship. Starting work for a new employer without updating your visa is a breach of visa conditions, which the Home Office will note when assessing your indefinite leave to remain application.
Working without authorisation
If your visa restricts the type of work you can do (which is the case for most sponsored work visas), working outside those restrictions is a breach of your visa conditions. This includes working for an employer who is not your sponsor, taking on secondary employment that your visa does not permit, or doing self-employed work when your visa does not allow it. Any such breach is a factor the Home Office considers when assessing whether to grant indefinite leave to remain.
ILR rules by visa route
The core UK ILR rules apply across all routes. The differences lie in the qualifying period, the application form, whether a salary or financial requirement applies, and any route-specific conditions. The table below gives a quick overview.
| Route | Qualifying period | Application form | Salary requirement | Special notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 5 years | SET(O) | Yes (going rate) | Employer letter required; Tier 2 time counts |
| Spouse / Partner | 5 years | SET(M) | Yes (sponsor income) | English at A1, A2, B1 at each stage |
| Health and Care Worker | 5 years | SET(O) | Yes (going rate) | Must be working for NHS or approved provider |
| Global Talent | 3 years | SET(O) | No | Endorsing body must confirm continued activity |
| Innovator Founder | 3 years | SET(O) | No fixed salary | Business must be endorsed as viable and active |
| UK Ancestry | 5 years | SET(O) | No fixed threshold | Must have been working throughout qualifying period |
| Long Residence | 10 years | SET(LR) | No | Can combine different visa types; strict absence rules apply |
2026 rule changes: earned settlement
The UK ILR rules are changing. The government has announced plans to introduce an "earned settlement" system that would replace the current fixed qualifying period with a points-based approach for certain routes, including the Skilled Worker route. Under this system, applicants would accumulate points based on factors such as time in the UK, earnings, tax contributions, and community participation, rather than simply waiting out a fixed period.
The proposed changes would also increase the default qualifying period for some routes from 5 years to 10 years under certain conditions, though the exact structure is still being developed. The government has indicated that transitional arrangements will be put in place for people who are already in the UK and progressing towards settlement under the current rules.
These are the most significant changes to UK ILR rules in many years. Whether you are at the start of your qualifying period or approaching the end, you should stay informed about how these changes might affect your timeline.
For the latest information, see our dedicated guides: Earned settlement changes explained and ILR new rules for Skilled Workers.
How ILR Tracker helps you stay within the rules
Meeting the UK ILR rules is not just about knowing what they are. It is about tracking your compliance over a period of 3, 5, or 10 years, across changing thresholds, multiple trips abroad, and potentially several employer or visa changes. ILR Tracker was built specifically to make that tracking accurate and effortless.
Absence tracking with rolling windows
Log your trips and ILR Tracker automatically checks every possible rolling 12-month window across your qualifying period against the 180-day absence rule. You see instantly which windows are safe, which are at risk, and how many safe travel days you have left before your next trip. No spreadsheets, no manual calculations, no guesswork.
ILR Eligibility Calculator
Enter your visa start date and ILR Tracker calculates your exact ILR eligibility date, including the 28-day early application window. It accounts for late entry gaps, visa extensions, and visa route changes.
Document checklist
Track which documents you have gathered and which are still outstanding. The checklist is tailored to your visa route and covers every document you will need for a complete indefinite leave to remain application.
Financial planner
See a full breakdown of the costs involved in your ILR application, from the main application fee to the Life in the UK test, biometrics, and optional priority processing. Start saving early so there are no surprises on application day.
Free tools to get started
You do not need an account to use our free calculators:
- ILR Eligibility Calculator , Find your ILR date based on your visa start date and route.
- ILR Absence Calculator , Check your absence days across every rolling 12-month window instantly.
- Life in the UK Practice Tool , Prepare for the Life in the UK test with free practice questions.
For ongoing tracking across your full qualifying period, create a free ILR Tracker account and let the platform do the compliance monitoring for you.
Try our free calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the basic rules for getting ILR in the UK?
You must complete a qualifying residence period (usually 5 years), not exceed 180 days absence in any rolling 12-month period, pass the Life in the UK test, meet the English language requirement, satisfy the good character requirement, and meet any route-specific conditions like salary thresholds. The rules are set by the Home Office under the Immigration Rules.
How many days can I spend outside the UK and still get ILR?
No more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. This is checked across every possible 12-month window during your qualifying period, not just per calendar year. A single 12-month window that exceeds 180 days is enough to trigger a refusal, even if other windows are fine.
Do I need to pass an English test for ILR?
Yes, you must demonstrate English at B1 level or above for most routes. If you met the English language requirement when your visa was originally granted, that usually still counts. Nationals of majority English-speaking countries are exempt, as are applicants over 65 or with certain disabilities.
What is the good character requirement for ILR?
The Home Office checks that you have no unspent criminal convictions, have not breached immigration rules, have not been dishonest in any application, and have no significant unpaid NHS debts. Most applicants meet this requirement without difficulty. Serious criminal history, fraud, or deliberate immigration breaches are the most common reasons for failing.
Are the ILR rules different for each visa route?
The core rules apply across all routes: the absence limit, English language, Life in the UK test, good character, and continuous lawful leave. The differences are in the qualifying period length (3, 5, or 10 years), any salary or financial requirements, and the specific application form used for your route.
Are the ILR rules changing in 2026?
Yes. The UK government has proposed an earned settlement system that would replace the fixed qualifying period with a points-based approach for some routes. The exact implementation timeline and transitional arrangements are still being confirmed. Check the latest Home Office guidance and our guides for updates.
Related Guides
What is ILR?
A complete guide to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK. Learn what ILR means, who can apply, the different routes to settlement, eligibility requirements, costs, and how long it takes.
ILR Absence Rules
Everything you need to know about the ILR 180-day absence rule, how rolling 12-month windows work, what counts as an absence day, and how to stay within limits.
ILR Costs 2026
Full breakdown of ILR application fees for 2025/26 including visa fee, NHS surcharge, biometrics, priority services, English test, Life in UK test, and optional lawyer costs.