Free Tool
ILR Absence Calculator
Check if your travel history meets the 180-day absence rule. Add your trips and get a rolling 12-month analysis instantly.
ILR Absence Calculator
Check your 180-day absence compliance
Visa Details
If same as visa start, leave as-is.
Trips Outside the UK
How It Works
Enter your visa details
Input your visa start date, UK entry date, and qualifying residence period (2, 3, or 5 years).
Add your trips
Enter each trip you've taken outside the UK with departure and return dates.
Review your results
See your absence analysis: total days, rolling 12-month breakdown, and whether you're within the 180-day limit.
Check your risk status
Get a clear green, amber, or red risk assessment showing whether your absences could affect your ILR application.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ILR 180-day absence rule?
To qualify for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain), you must not have been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying residence period. This is not a calendar year limit — it's checked as a continuous rolling window, meaning any 365-day stretch must contain no more than 180 days of absence.
How are absence days counted for ILR?
Absence days are counted excluding the day you leave the UK and the day you return. For example, if you depart on 1 January and return on 10 January, that counts as 8 absence days (2nd to 9th January). Same-day trips count as 0 absence days.
What happens if I exceed the 180-day limit?
Exceeding 180 days absence in any 12-month period can break your continuous residence, potentially resetting your qualifying period. This means you may need to start counting your 5-year (or 2/3-year) residence period again from a later date, significantly delaying your ILR application.
Does the 180-day rule apply to the entire qualifying period?
Yes. The 180-day rule is checked across your entire qualifying period using a rolling 12-month window. Even if you stayed within limits recently, a breach earlier in your qualifying period could still affect your ILR eligibility. That's why tracking from the start is crucial.
Are there any exceptions to the 180-day absence rule?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Home Office granted Exceptional Assurance (EA) concessions for applicants who couldn't return to the UK due to travel restrictions. Outside of this, there are very limited exceptions. Compassionate or compelling circumstances may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but there is no automatic exemption.
What is the 10-Year Long Residence route to ILR?
The 10-Year Long Residence route is an alternative pathway to ILR for people who have lived in the UK continuously for 10 years on any combination of valid visas. You apply using form SET(LR) with a fee of £2,885. The same 180-day rolling 12-month absence limit applies to trips departing on or after 11 April 2024. However, trips departing before that date are assessed under the historic rules: no single absence longer than 184 days and no more than 548 days total absence across the qualifying period.
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