ILR Calculator UK
Calculate your earliest settlement application date under the 28-day rule (paragraph CR 1.1) and audit your continuous residence against the 180-day rolling absence limit.
Calculate Your ILR Dates & Absence Compliance
Calculates your earliest 28-day filing window and checks compliance with the 180-day rolling limit under Home Office rules.
Direct worked example: If a 5-year qualifying period begins on 15 March 2022, it completes on 15 March 2027. Applying the 28-day rule under CR 1.1(b), your earliest lawful application date is 15 February 2027.
Key Rules Checked by This ILR Calculator
Qualifying Period
Typically 5 years for routes like Skilled Worker, Health & Care, Spouse, and Ancestry, or 3 years (Global Talent/Innovator) and 10 years (Long Residence).
The 28-Day Rule
Under paragraph CR 1.1(b), you can submit your online application up to 28 days before completing your qualifying residence period. Applying earlier results in refusal.
180-Day Absence Limit
Under paragraph CR 3.1, you must not have spent more than 180 whole days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month window. (Exempt on standard Appendix FM spouse routes).
This free UK ILR calculator determines your earliest lawful settlement date under paragraph CR 1.1(b) and audits continuous residence compliance under paragraph CR 3.1 of the UK Immigration Rules. Calculating both your qualifying period completion date and rolling absence allowances ensures you avoid refusal from premature application or broken continuous residence.
When Can You Apply for ILR? The 28-Day Early Application Rule
Under paragraph CR 1.1(b) of Appendix Continuous Residence to the UK Immigration Rules, you can submit an application for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) up to 28 days before completing your continuous qualifying period. Submitting your application 29 days or more before your qualifying period ends leads to immediate refusal by the Home Office with no refund of fees.
Key Principles of the 28-Day Application Window:
- Application Submission Timestamp: The Home Office considers your application submitted on the date you pay the visa fee online, not the date of your biometric appointment.
- Protection Under Section 3C Leave: If your current visa expires while you are within the 28-day window and you submit an in-time application, your residence rights and right to work are protected by Section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.
- Strict Statutory Compliance: Caseworkers have no legal discretion to overlook an application submitted even one day prior to the 28-day calculation window.
The 180-Day Rolling Absence Rule Under Appendix Continuous Residence
To satisfy the continuous residence requirement under paragraph CR 3.1, an applicant must not have spent more than 180 whole days outside the United Kingdom in any consecutive 12-month period throughout their qualifying timeline.
Crucial Counting Principles Under Home Office Guidance:
- Rolling Window Assessment: Absences are not measured across calendar years or visa grant years. A caseworker examines every rolling 12-month period on a continuous sliding scale.
- The Whole-Day Rule: Only full 24-hour periods outside the UK count toward the 180-day threshold. The day you leave the UK and the day you return do not count as absences.
- Appendix FM Exemption: The strict 180-day rolling cap under CR 3.1 does not apply to the standard 5-year Partner/Spouse route under Appendix FM, though applicants must show proof of permanent cohabitation.
- Disregarded Absences (CR 4.1): Work-related travel overseas for specified research roles, humanitarian missions, or unavoidable pandemic and travel disruptions can be exempted if verified with sponsor letters and primary documentation.
How to Determine Your ILR Qualifying Period Start Date
Your continuous qualifying residence begins on the date your entry clearance vignette was issued, not the date you landed in the UK, provided your physical arrival occurred within 180 days of the visa vignette grant date.
Three Rules for Identifying Your Start Date:
- Arrival within 180 Days of Vignette Issue: If your vignette was granted on 1 May and you entered the UK on 20 May, your qualifying start date is 1 May under paragraph CR 2.2. The 19 days before entry count toward your initial 180-day absence allowance.
- Arrival more than 180 Days after Issue: If you delayed travel and arrived more than 180 days after the vignette valid-from date, your qualifying start date resets to the date of your physical arrival in the UK.
- In-Country Permission to Stay (Switching): If switching routes from within the UK, the qualifying start date is the approval date stated on your Home Office decision letter.
Qualifying Periods Across All Visa Routes
Standard continuous residence durations required for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain across main visa categories:
| Visa Route Category | Qualifying Period | Absence Rule (CR 3.1) | Primary Immigration Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | 5 Years | 180 days rolling | Appendix Skilled Worker & CR 3.1 |
| Health & Care Worker | 5 Years | 180 days rolling | Appendix Skilled Worker & CR 3.1 |
| Spouse / Partner | 5 Years | No strict 180-day cap | Appendix FM |
| Global Talent (Accelerated) | 3 Years | 180 days rolling | Appendix Global Talent |
| Global Talent (Standard) | 5 Years | 180 days rolling | Appendix Global Talent |
| Innovator Founder | 3 Years | 180 days rolling | Appendix Innovator Founder |
| UK Ancestry | 5 Years | 180 days rolling | Appendix UK Ancestry & CR 3.1 |
| Hong Kong BN(O) | 5 Years | 180 days rolling | Appendix HK BN(O) & CR 3.1 |
| Long Residence | 10 Years | Transitional rules apply | Appendix Long Residence & CR 3.3 |
ILR Fees, Fast-Track Options & Legacy Tier 2 Rules
The official Home Office application fee for Indefinite Leave to Remain is £3,226 per applicant. Depending on urgent travel or employment requirements, you can select expedited decision processing:
| Service Level | Additional Fee | Decision Timeframe | Eligible Settlement Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Service | £0 (Included in £3,226) | Within 6 Months | All ILR categories |
| Priority Service | +£500 | Within 5 Working Days | Skilled Worker, Health & Care |
| Super Priority Service | +£1,000 | Next Working Day | Skilled Worker, Appendix FM, Ancestry |
Does Switching from Tier 2 (General) Reset Your 5-Year Clock?
No. Time spent on a legacy Tier 2 (General) visa combines continuously with your Skilled Worker visa toward the 5-year qualifying period. Under paragraph SW 21.1 and Appendix Continuous Residence, switching between compatible work categories does not break continuous residence, provided you maintained continuous lawful permission without gaps.
Settlement Proof via Digital eVisa (Post-BRP Transition)
Physical Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) have been replaced by the Home Office digital status system. When your settlement application is approved, your Indefinite Leave to Remain is linked directly to your digital UKVI account and passport. You can share your settlement status with employers and landlords instantly via online share codes.
10-Year Long Residence: Pre- vs Post-11 April 2024 Absences
Applicants relying on 10 years of continuous lawful residence under Appendix Long Residence are subject to transitional arrangements under paragraph CR 3.3 regarding absences:
| Absence Period | Applicable Residence Rule | Maximum Permitted Absence |
|---|---|---|
| Absences before 11 April 2024 | Historic Long Residence guidance | Max 184 days in a single absence; max 548 days total across the 10-year period. |
| Absences on or after 11 April 2024 | Appendix Continuous Residence (CR 3.1) | Max 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. (The 548-day total cap no longer applies to post-April 2024 residence). |
One UK ILR Calculator for Every Settlement Date Question
People search for an ILR eligibility calculator, an ILR application date calculator, a 28-day calculator or an ILR qualifying period calculator. They are all asking the same thing: when can I apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain? This ILR calculator UK tool answers every version in one place, using the same rules the Home Office applies.
| What you want to know | What this ILR calculator returns | Rule applied |
|---|---|---|
| Am I eligible yet? (ILR eligibility calculator) | Whether your qualifying period is complete on today’s date | Route qualifying period, for example 5 or 10 years |
| When can I submit? (ILR application date calculator) | Your earliest valid submission date | 28-day early application rule |
| When do my years finish? (ILR qualifying period calculator) | Your qualifying-period completion date | Start date plus the route period |
| Do my trips break residence? (ILR absence calculator) | Your worst rolling 12-month absence total | 180 days in any rolling 12 months |
ILR calculator for 5 years: most work and family routes, including Skilled Worker, spouse visa, BNO and UK Ancestry, use a 5-year qualifying period. ILR calculator for 10 years: the long residence route uses 10 years with its own absence tests. 3-year routes: Global Talent and Innovator Founder main applicants can settle sooner.
Want to check the result by hand? Follow how to calculate your ILR date, see every stage in the ILR timeline, and confirm your English and Life in the UK test position with Appendix KoLL explained. Frequent travellers should also run a full trip history through the dedicated ILR absence calculator.
Mandatory ILR Requirements & 2026 Fees
Beyond meeting the continuous residence period, applicants must satisfy standard settlement criteria:
- Application Fee: The official Home Office fee is £3,226 per applicant (effective 8 April 2026). Dependants pay the same individual fee.
- Life in the UK Test: All applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK test at an accredited test centre.
- English Language Proficiency: Must demonstrate CEFR Level B1 speaking and listening proficiency through a SELT provider or a degree verified by Ecctis.
- General Grounds for Refusal: Must meet suitability criteria under Part 9 of the Immigration Rules (no unspent convictions, serious immigration breaches, or unpaid NHS debts).