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ILR Calculator
Calculate your ILR eligibility date and check your 180-day absence limit. Free tools for UK visa holders on the path to Indefinite Leave to Remain.
ILR Eligibility Calculator
Enter your visa details to find your earliest ILR application date. Supports Skilled Worker, Spouse, Global Talent, Health & Care Worker, and more.
ILR Eligibility Calculator
Get your eligibility dates in 60 seconds
Most work visas (Skilled Worker, Health & Care) require 5 years. Spouse/partner routes may require 5 years. Innovator Founder requires 3 years. Long residence route requires 10 years.
If you were already in the UK, use your visa start date.
ILR Absence Calculator
Check whether your travel history meets the 180-day absence rule. Enter your trips and see a rolling 12-month breakdown with risk assessment.
ILR Absence Calculator
Check your 180-day absence compliance
Visa Details
If same as visa start, leave as-is.
Trips Outside the UK
ILR Qualifying Periods by Visa Route
How long you need to wait before you can use this ILR calculator to apply — depends on your visa type.
| Visa Route | Qualifying Period | Application Form |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 5 years | SET(O) |
| Health & Care Worker | 5 years | SET(O) |
| Global Talent | 3 or 5 years | SET(O) |
| Spouse / Partner | 5 years | SET(M) |
| Innovator Founder | 3 years | SET(O) |
| Long Residence | 10 years | SET(LR) |
Source: UK Visas and Immigration. Rules current as of 2026.
More Free UK Immigration Calculators
Everything you need to plan your path to ILR and British Citizenship.
ILR Absence Calculator
Check your rolling 12-month absence totals against the 180-day rule.
Naturalisation Calculator
Find out when you can apply for British Citizenship after ILR.
UK Visa Cost Calculator
Total cost of ILR and citizenship: fees, NHS surcharge, biometrics.
Earned Settlement Calculator
Calculate your ILR date under the proposed 2026 Earned Settlement rules.
ILR Reform Checker
Find out if and how the Earned Settlement reforms affect your timeline.
ILR Application Checklist
Complete document checklist for your SET(O) or SET(M) application.
NHS Surcharge Calculator
Calculate the total Immigration Health Surcharge for your visa renewal.
Processing Times
Community-sourced ILR and visa processing times data.
What is ILR? A Quick Guide
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — also called settlement — is the permanent right to live and work in the UK without any immigration restrictions. Once you hold ILR, you no longer need a visa sponsor, can switch jobs freely, and are no longer subject to the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
Most UK visa holders become eligible for ILR after 5 continuous years of lawful residence. The exact qualifying period depends on your visa route — Global Talent and Innovator Founder holders may qualify in 3 years, while Long Residence applicants need 10 years on any combination of visas.
The two key ILR rules to track
1. Qualifying period: You must have held a qualifying visa continuously for the required number of years. Use the ILR Eligibility Calculator above to find your earliest application date.
2. The 180-day absence rule: You must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying residence. This is checked using a continuous rolling window — not a calendar year. Use the ILR Absence Calculator above to check your travel history.
After ILR: British Citizenship
After holding ILR for 12 months, most people become eligible to apply for British Naturalisation — which gives you a British passport, full voting rights, and the right to hold public office. Use the Naturalisation Calculator to see your citizenship eligibility date.
2026 Earned Settlement changes
The UK Government has proposed Earned Settlement reforms that would extend the qualifying period from 5 to 10 years for most routes. Not all visa holders are affected equally — transitional rules apply depending on your visa start date and route. Use the ILR Reform Checker to find out how the changes affect your timeline.
ILR Calculator — Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ILR calculator?
An ILR calculator is a free tool that helps UK visa holders work out when they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). You enter your visa start date and visa type, and the calculator tells you your earliest ILR application date based on your qualifying residence period — typically 5 years for most routes.
How do I calculate my ILR eligibility date?
To calculate your ILR eligibility date, you need your visa start date (from your BRP card or entry clearance vignette) and your visa route. For most Skilled Worker and Health & Care Worker visa holders, ILR requires 5 continuous years of lawful residence. You can apply 28 days before completing your qualifying period. Use the ILR Eligibility Calculator above to get your exact date instantly.
What is the 180-day absence rule for ILR?
The 180-day rule means you must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying residence. This is checked using a continuous rolling window — not a calendar year. If you have exceeded 180 days in any 12-month stretch, your continuous residence may be broken, potentially resetting your qualifying period.
How do I check if my absences are within the ILR limit?
Use the ILR Absence Calculator above. Enter your trips — departure and return dates — and the calculator will instantly show your rolling 12-month absence totals, flag any periods where you approached or exceeded the 180-day limit, and give you a green, amber, or red risk assessment.
Which visa routes can use this ILR calculator?
The calculators support the most common routes to ILR in the UK: Skilled Worker (formerly Tier 2 General), Health and Care Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Spouse and Partner visas, Long Residence (10-year route), Tier 1 Investor, and more. Each route has different qualifying periods — 2, 3, 5, or 10 years.
Is this ILR calculator free?
Yes, both the ILR Eligibility Calculator and the ILR Absence Calculator are completely free to use with no signup required. For more advanced features — like saving your trip history, setting deadline reminders, tracking your entire ILR journey, and getting a downloadable absence report — you can create a free account.
What is the difference between ILR and British Citizenship?
ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain) grants you the permanent right to live and work in the UK without immigration restrictions. It is not citizenship. After holding ILR for 12 months, most people become eligible to apply for British Naturalisation — which gives you a British passport and full citizenship rights. Use the Naturalisation Calculator to see your citizenship eligibility date.
What happens if I overstay or travel too much before my ILR application?
If you exceed 180 days absence in any rolling 12-month period, your continuous residence may be broken. This can push back your ILR eligibility date significantly. In very limited circumstances, the Home Office may accept exceptional or compassionate reasons — but there is no guarantee. The safest approach is to track your absences carefully and plan trips to stay within the limit.