Long Residence (10-Year Route) ILR Guide
The 10-year continuous lawful residence route to ILR: who it suits, the 548-day absence allowance, and how it differs from the standard 5-year routes.
Last updated: 30 August 2026
What Is the Long Residence Route?
The Long Residence route is a path to Indefinite Leave to Remain based on 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK. Unlike the standard 5-year routes (Skilled Worker, Spouse, Global Talent, etc.), which require you to stay on a single qualifying visa for 5 years, the Long Residence route allows you to combine time spent on different visa types — as long as each period was lawful and there were no gaps in your leave.
This route is particularly useful for people who have been in the UK for a long time on a series of different visas (e.g., Student followed by Skilled Worker followed by another route) but who have not completed 5 years on any single qualifying route.
Who Does It Suit?
- People who have been in the UK for 10+ years on a combination of visa types.
- People who switched between routes and have not completed 5 years on any single one.
- People who have maintained continuous lawful residence without gaps.
- People whose absences fall within the more generous 548-day total allowance.
The 548-Day Absence Allowance
The Long Residence route has a more generous absence allowance than the 5-year routes. You can be outside the UK for up to 548 days in total over the 10-year qualifying period, provided that you were not outside the UK for more than 180 days in any single year.
Pre- and Post-11 April 2024 Rules
Absences before 11 April 2024 are assessed under the previous rules, which allowed up to 184 days in a single absence. Absences from 11 April 2024 onwards are assessed under the current rules. The transitional provisions mean that some applicants may have their absences assessed under both regimes. Use our ILR calculator (set to Long Residence) to check your absences.
Read our detailed absences guide for the full rules →
How Long Residence Differs from 5-Year Routes
| Feature | 5-Year Routes | Long Residence |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying period | 5 years | 10 years |
| Visa type | Single qualifying route | Any combination of lawful visas |
| Absence limit | 180 days per rolling 12 months | 548 days total + 180 days per year |
| Route-specific evidence | Employer letter, CoS, marriage cert, etc. | Evidence of 10 years lawful residence |
| Switching routes | May reset the clock | Combining routes is the point |
Continuous Lawful Residence
The key requirement is 10 years of continuous lawful residence. This means:
- Every day during the 10-year period must be covered by valid leave to remain.
- There must be no gaps between visas — even a single day of overstaying can break continuity.
- Time spent as a visitor does not count.
- Time spent in prison or detention does not count.
- Time spent outside the UK counts as long as you maintained valid leave throughout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Long Residence route to ILR?
The Long Residence route allows you to apply for ILR after 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK, regardless of which visa route(s) you have been on. This is different from the standard 5-year routes, which require you to stay on a single qualifying visa for 5 years.
Can I combine different visa types for the 10-year route?
Yes. The Long Residence route allows you to combine time spent on different visa types (e.g., Student, Skilled Worker, Spouse, etc.) as long as each period was lawful and there were no gaps in your leave. The key requirement is 10 years of continuous lawful residence.
What is the 548-day absence allowance?
Under the Long Residence route, you can be outside the UK for up to 548 days in total over the 10-year qualifying period. This is more generous than the 180-day rolling limit on 5-year routes. However, you must also not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any single year. Absences before 11 April 2024 are assessed under the old rules.
How does Long Residence differ from the 5-year routes?
The main differences are: (1) the qualifying period is 10 years instead of 5, (2) you can combine time on different visa types, (3) the absence allowance is 548 days total instead of 180 days per rolling 12 months, and (4) you do not need to be on a specific qualifying route — any lawful residence counts.
Does time as a visitor or on a short-term visa count toward Long Residence?
Time spent in the UK as a visitor, on a short-term visa, or without lawful leave does not count toward the 10-year qualifying period. Only time spent with valid leave (visas, residence permits, etc.) counts. Gaps in leave can break continuous residence.
Check Your ILR Qualifying Date
Use our ILR calculator (set to Long Residence) to check your absences and qualifying date.
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