ILR Eligibility Explained: How to Work Out Your Qualifying Date

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) eligibility depends on three things: your visa route, your continuous residence period, and how many days you've spent outside the UK.

The standard continuous residence periods

Most routes require 5 years of continuous residence, but some are shorter:

• Skilled Worker, Innovator Founder, most work routes — 5 years
• Spouse/partner of a British citizen or settled person — 5 years
• Global Talent (exceptional promise) — 3 years
• Global Talent (exceptional talent) — 3 years

Absences matter

For most routes, you can't be outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period within your qualifying period, or your continuous residence resets.

Use the calculator before you book anything

Rather than counting manually, use the BritPass ILR Eligibility Calculator — enter your visa route and start date and it will estimate your qualifying date and flag if your absences put you at risk.

This is a planning tool, not legal advice. Always confirm your specific case against current Home Office guidance or with a qualified immigration adviser before submitting an ILR application.