Free Tool
ILR Eligibility Calculator
Find out exactly when you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Enter your visa details below and get your earliest application date instantly.
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.
How It Works
Select your residence period
Choose whether your visa route requires 2, 3, or 5 years of continuous residence for ILR eligibility.
Enter your visa start date
Input the start date of your first qualifying visa (shown on your BRP or visa vignette).
Enter your UK entry date
Input the date you first entered the UK on your qualifying visa. If the same as your visa start, leave as-is.
Get your results instantly
See your qualifying period dates, earliest ILR application date, progress percentage, and time remaining.
How the ILR Eligibility Calculator Works
This free calculator helps you work out exactly when you can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK. By entering your visa start date, your UK entry date, and your qualifying residence period, the calculator determines your earliest possible ILR application date and shows how far through your qualifying period you currently are.
Most visa routes require 5 years of continuous lawful residence before you can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Some routes, such as the Innovator Founder visa, require only 3 years, while certain family routes may allow applications after 2 years. The calculator supports all of these qualifying periods. You can also use it for the 10-year long residence route, which allows settlement after 10 years of continuous lawful residence on any combination of valid visas.
The calculator also accounts for the fact that you can submit your ILR application up to 28 days before completing your qualifying period. This means you do not have to wait until the exact anniversary of your visa start date. Enter your details above to see your earliest application window and a breakdown of your progress towards settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I apply for ILR (Indefinite Leave to Remain)?
You can apply for ILR 28 days before completing your qualifying continuous residence period. For most routes (Skilled Worker, Health & Care Worker), this is 5 years. Spouse/partner routes require either 5 years or, in some cases, 2 years. Your qualifying period starts from either your visa start date or the date you first entered the UK, whichever is later.
What is the ILR qualifying period?
The ILR qualifying period is the continuous period of lawful residence in the UK required before you can apply for settlement. Most work visas require 5 years, while some routes like Innovator Founder require 3 years. The period begins from your visa start date or your first entry to the UK on that visa, whichever is later.
How many days can I be absent from the UK during my ILR qualifying period?
During your qualifying period for ILR, you must not be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. This is a continuous rolling check, not a calendar year limit. Exceeding this limit could delay or jeopardise your ILR application.
Does my qualifying period start from my visa start date or UK entry date?
Your qualifying period starts from whichever is later: your visa start date or the date you first entered the UK on that visa. If you entered the UK after your visa began (e.g., you applied from abroad), the gap between your visa start and entry counts as absence days.
Can I apply for ILR early?
Yes, you can submit your ILR application up to 28 days before completing your qualifying period. For example, if your 5-year qualifying period ends on 1 July 2026, you can apply from 3 June 2026. The Home Office will hold your application until the qualifying date.
What about the 10-Year Long Residence route?
The 10-Year Long Residence route allows you to apply for ILR if you have lived in the UK continuously for 10 years on any combination of valid visas, using form SET(LR) with a fee of £2,885. The eligibility calculator above supports 10-year qualifying periods. The 180-day rolling 12-month absence rule applies to trips departing on or after 11 April 2024, while earlier trips are assessed under the historic rules (max 184 days for any single absence, max 548 days total absences).
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