Free calculator
Your ILR date, computed to the day.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is UK settlement. Enter your route and when your qualifying period started to see your earliest eligibility date.
This tool provides guidance only. Always consult a licensed immigration advisor for official advice.
How your ILR date is calculated
Your ILR eligibility date is your qualifying period start date plus the length of your route — 5 years for most work and family routes, 3 years for Global Talent, or 10 years on the long residence route. The clock assumes continuous residence: spend too long outside the UK and it can reset. This calculator gives you the earliest date you could be eligible; your real date depends on keeping that residence unbroken.
The 5, 3, and 10-year routes
Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, and spouse/partner routes settle after 5 years. Global Talent can settle in 3. The 10-year long residence route is a safety net for people who've lived in the UK lawfully for a decade across any combination of visas — useful if you've switched categories along the way.
How absences affect your date
More than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period of your qualifying time can break continuous residence and push your ILR date back. It's the single most common thing that trips people up. Check your absences against the 180-day rule →
Questions people ask
How many years do I need for ILR?
It depends on your route. Most work and family routes (Skilled Worker, spouse/partner) qualify after 5 years of continuous residence. Global Talent can qualify in 3 years. The 10-year long residence route is for people who've lived in the UK lawfully for 10 years on any combination of visas.
Can I apply for ILR before my qualifying date?
You can usually submit your ILR application up to 28 days before your qualifying period is complete. Applying earlier than that risks a refusal, so the 28-day window matters.
Do absences affect my ILR date?
Yes. Spending more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period of your qualifying time can break the continuous residence ILR depends on. Use the absence calculator to check where you stand.
Does time on a Graduate or Student visa count toward ILR?
Generally no — time on Student and Graduate visas doesn't count toward the 5-year settlement clock, though it can count toward the 10-year long residence route. If you're planning to switch to Skilled Worker, the earlier you switch, the sooner your settlement clock starts.