ILR Eligibility Calculator

Find out exactly when you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain. Choose your route, enter your start date and absences, and we'll calculate your earliest valid application date under the UK Home Office 28-day window rule.

What is Indefinite Leave to Remain?

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — also known as UK settlement, permanent residence or settled status — is the immigration status that frees you from time-limited visas. Once granted by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), ILR allows you to live, work, study and access public funds in the United Kingdom without restriction. It is the final step before applying for British citizenship by naturalisation.

The qualifying period for ILR depends on your visa category. Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, Spouse, Partner, UK Ancestry, Global Talent and most family routes lead to settlement after a continuous 5-year qualifying period. Long Residence applicants qualify after 10 years of continuous lawful residence, while certain accelerated routes such as the Innovator Founder visa or Tier 1 Investor (under transitional arrangements) can deliver settlement in 2 or 3 years.

The 180-day absence rule explained

Most 5-year ILR routes require that you spend no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during the qualifying years. Excessive absences — even by a single day — can lead to refusal. Long Residence applicants face a separate set of limits: a maximum of 540 days outside the UK across the 10-year period and no single absence over 184 days. Our absence calculator handles both rule sets automatically.