ILR Qualifying Date Calculator
Check your continuous residence under the rolling 180-day rule and find your earliest ILR application date.
The 5-year qualifying period is current law. The proposed 10-year 'earned settlement' model is NOT yet in force.
ILR Qualifying Date Calculator
The date your qualifying visa began, or the date you entered the UK (whichever is later).
Add each trip you have made outside the UK during your qualifying period. Both the departure day and return day count as days in the UK and are not counted as absences.
Defaults to today. The Home Office counts rolling windows from the application date, any date up to 28 days after it, or the decision date — whichever is most beneficial. This tool uses the application date (the conservative view).
Permitted absences: Humanitarian or emergency work, travel disruption, and compassionate circumstances can be discounted from the 180-day limit. If you think any of these apply, seek advice from an OISC-registered adviser — this tool does not model them.
Window counting: The Home Office assesses rolling windows counting back from whichever is most beneficial: the application date, any date up to 28 days after it, or the decision date. This tool uses the application date, which is the conservative view.
Other breaks not modelled: Gaps in lawful leave, overstaying, or time in the UK as a visitor break continuous residence and are not counted here.
Crown dependencies: Time with permission in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man can count toward continuous residence.
Indicative only: This is an indicative planning tool, not immigration advice. Always verify your specific circumstances before applying.
This calculator uses a qualifying period of 5 years (sourced from gov.uk, verified, last checked 24/08/2026) — view source. Long Residence uses a 10-year period with transitional rules applied for absences before 11 April 2024.
Rule Values Used
10 years (NOT in force)
Related Guides
Route-Specific ILR Calculators
Each visa route has its own qualifying period and considerations. Choose your route for a pre-configured calculator with route-specific guidance.
Skilled Worker ILR Calculator
5-year route with continuous employment and CoS considerations.
Open calculatorSpouse Visa ILR Calculator
5-year route focused on cohabitation and relationship evidence.
Open calculatorGlobal Talent ILR Calculator
3 or 5 years depending on endorsement type.
Open calculatorBNO Visa ILR Calculator
Standard 5-year path with its own absence rules.
Open calculatorHow the ILR Calculator Works
The ILR qualifying date is the earliest date on which you can submit your Indefinite Leave to Remain application. It is calculated based on your visa route, the date you entered the UK (or the date your qualifying visa started), and whether you have maintained continuous residence.
Step 1 — Visa route: Most routes require 5 years of continuous residence. The Long Residence route requires 10 years. Select your route to apply the correct qualifying period.
Step 2 — Start date: Enter the date your qualifying visa began (or the date you entered the UK, if later). The calculator adds the qualifying period to this date.
Step 3 — Absences: Enter each trip you have made outside the UK during the qualifying period. Absences do NOT extend your qualifying date. Instead, the calculator applies the rolling 180-day test: if more than 180 days of absence fall within any rolling 12-month window, continuous residence is broken and the qualifying period resets to zero. The day of departure and the day of return both count as days in the UK and are not counted as absences.
Step 4 — Earliest application: You can apply up to 28 days before your qualifying period ends. This is the 28-day rule. The calculator subtracts 28 days from your qualifying end date to show your earliest application date.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the ILR qualifying date calculated?
The qualifying date is calculated by adding the qualifying period (5 years for most routes, 10 for Long Residence) to your visa start date. Absences from the UK do not extend the clock — instead, more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period breaks continuous residence and resets the qualifying period to zero.
What is the current ILR qualifying period?
The current qualifying period is 5 years for most visa routes including Skilled Worker, Spouse/Partner, UK Ancestry, Global Talent, and Innovator Founder. The Long Residence route requires 10 years of continuous residence. A proposed 'earned settlement' model requiring 10 years for all routes has been consulted on but is NOT yet in law.
Do absences from the UK affect my ILR qualifying date?
Absences do not extend your qualifying date. Instead, the rule is a rolling 180-day test: if you spend more than 180 days outside the UK in ANY rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period, your continuous residence is broken and the qualifying period resets to zero. The clock restarts from the return date of the trip that pushed you over the limit. Someone with 200 days spread evenly over 5 years passes; someone with 200 days in a single year fails outright.
What happens if I go over 180 days outside the UK?
If any rolling 12-month window contains more than 180 days of absence, continuous residence is broken. Your qualifying period resets to zero and restarts from the return date of the trip that caused the breach. You would then need to complete a full qualifying period (5 or 10 years) from that new start date. Permitted absences for humanitarian work, travel disruption, or compassionate circumstances may be discounted — seek advice if you think these apply.
When is the earliest I can apply for ILR?
You can apply up to 28 days before your qualifying period ends. For example, if your qualifying period ends on 1 January 2027, your earliest application date is 4 December 2026. This is known as the 28-day rule. Applying earlier than this will result in your application being refused.
How much does it cost to apply for ILR?
The current ILR application fee is £3,226 (as of April 2026). Additional costs include the biometric enrolment fee of £19.20, the Life in the UK test fee of £50, and an English language test (typically £150-200). Priority and super priority services are available for an additional fee. See our ILR fees guide for full details.
Ready to Apply?
Read our step-by-step ILR application guide for the full process.
View Application Guide