Last checked against GOV.UK: 19 October 2026.
Short answer: today the 10-year rule is the long residence route. If you have lived in the UK legally for 10 years without gaps, you may be able to apply for ILR. This is a separate thing from earned settlement. That is a government plan to make 10 years the normal wait for most people, and it is not law yet.
Want your 10-year date? Pick “Long residence” in our ILR calculator.
Two different 10-year rules
| Long residence | Earned settlement | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | In force now | Only a proposal |
| Who it is for | Anyone with 10 years of legal stay, on one visa or a mix | Most people on 5-year routes, if it goes ahead |
| Rule | Appendix Long Residence, LR 11.1 | Consultation closed 12 Feb 2026, no outcome yet |
10 years or 5 years: which one applies to you?
If your visa leads to settlement on its own, like a Skilled Worker or partner visa, you can usually apply after 5 years and you do not need this route at all.
The 10-year route is for people whose time is made up of different visas. A common example is a Student visa, then a Graduate visa, then a work visa. Student and Graduate time does not count towards the 5-year work routes, but it does count here, as long as there are no gaps.
You may also read that ILR is “going up to 10 years”. That is the earned settlement plan. On 19 October 2026 it was still a proposal, so a 5-year route is still 5 years under today’s rules. The plan did suggest applying the new rules to people already in the UK, but that part was put out as a question in the consultation and has not been decided.
What counts towards the 10 years
Most visas count, and you can add different ones together. Time in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man counts too.
These do not count:
- Time as a visitor, with or without a visa
- Short-term study and Seasonal Worker visas
- Ukraine scheme permission
- Immigration bail or temporary admission
- Time overstaying, including gaps between visas
You also usually need to have held your current visa for at least 12 months when you apply (rule LR 11.3). This does not apply if your current visa was granted before 11 April 2024.
Time outside the UK
You can be outside the UK for up to 180 days in any 12-month period. Older trips work differently. For time abroad that started before 11 April 2024, you break your stay if you were away more than 184 days in a row or 548 days in total.
Not sure about your trips? Add them to our 180-day absence check.
English and the Life in the UK test
If you are aged 18 to 65, you need to pass the Life in the UK test and show your English. The level is B1 now. For applications made on or after 26 March 2027 it goes up to B2 (rule LR 13.1).
If you have the 10 years but not the English or the test yet, you can apply to extend your stay instead. That gives you 24 months (rule LR 7.1).
Fee and decision time
The ILR fee is £3,226. You will usually get a decision within 6 months of giving your fingerprints and photo. Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man until you get it, or your application will be withdrawn. See our ILR fee and processing times pages for more.
The 20-year rule is a different route
People often mix this up with long residence. The 20-year rule is part of the private life route. An adult can qualify if they have been continuously resident in the UK for more than 20 years (rule PL 5.1). Note the wording: it asks for 20 years of residence, while long residence asks for 10 years with permission.
The private life route does not give ILR straight away. Most adults need a further 10 years with permission on it before they can settle (rule PL 14.2). Children, and some young adults who came as children, can settle after 5 years (rule PL 14.1). The rules are in Appendix Private Life.
Questions people ask
Does time as a visitor count towards 10 years?
No. Time as a visitor, with or without a visa, does not count.
Can I add together time from different visas?
Yes. GOV.UK says the 10 years can be on most immigration categories or a mix of them.
What if I had a gap between two visas?
Time overstaying between visas does not count towards the 10 years (rule LR 11.2). GOV.UK says you need 10 years legally in the UK without gaps.
Do I need the Life in the UK test for 10-year ILR?
Yes, if you are aged 18 to 65. If you have not passed it yet, you can apply to extend your stay for 24 months.
Will earned settlement change the long residence route?
Not yet. The rules have not changed. The consultation closed on 12 February 2026 and the government has not published its decision.
Is the 10-year long residence route being abolished?
Not today. Appendix Long Residence is still part of the Immigration Rules, and it was updated as recently as 8 October 2026. The earned settlement consultation paper says that under the new model “there will no longer be a separate long residence route”. That is a proposal only. On 19 October 2026 there were no new rules and no start date.
Can I get ILR by buying a house in the UK?
No. Owning a home does not give you a visa or settlement. None of the routes listed on GOV.UK’s settle in the UK page are based on property. What counts is the time you spend in the UK with the right permission.
Sources: GOV.UK: Indefinite leave to remain if you have been in the UK for 10 years, Immigration Rules: Appendix Long Residence, Appendix Private Life.
ILR Check is not part of the Home Office or GOV.UK. This page is general information, not legal advice.