Answer a few quick questions and see if you can apply for indefinite leave to remain yet, and from which date. The checker uses the current rules on GOV.UK for the most common routes.
The day you entered the UK on this visa, or the day it was granted if you switched from inside the UK.
Not sure? Add your trips to the 180-day absence checker first.
You can check this with our ILR salary checker.
What the checker looks at
| Rule | What GOV.UK says |
|---|---|
| Time in the UK | 5 years on most routes. 3 years for Innovator Founder and for Global Talent if you were endorsed as a leader or won an eligible award. 10 years for long residence and the 10-year partner route. |
| When you can apply | Up to 28 days before you reach the full time. Apply earlier and you may be refused. |
| Absences | No more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period on the work, Ancestry, BN(O) and long residence routes. |
| Life in the UK Test | You need a pass if you are 18 to 64. The long residence page says 18 to 65. |
| English | B1 in speaking and listening, or a degree taught or researched in English. Skilled Worker applicants don’t prove it again because they did it for the visa. For applications made on or after 26 March 2027 the level is B2 on most routes, and Skilled Workers must meet it again (see our ILR rule changes tracker). |
| Salary | Skilled Workers must still meet the salary rules, and the employer has to confirm the job is still needed. |
| Fee | £3,226 for each person, children included. See the ILR fee page for priority costs. |
A worked example
Say you came to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa on 1 September 2021. Your 5 years end on 1 September 2026, so the first day you can apply is 4 August 2026, which is 28 days earlier. Two long trips that add up to 150 days in one 12-month stretch are fine, because that is under 180. If the same trips came to 190 days, the checker would show a red cross for absences, and you should get advice before you pay the fee.
Any answer marked “not sure” gets a question mark instead of a pass. The two that trip most people up are days abroad and salary, and both have their own tool on this site.
Two rules that catch people out
Long residence applicants should know about one older rule. If a trip started before 11 April 2024, the limit back then was 184 days in a row and 548 days in total across the 10 years. Trips that started after that date fall under the 180-day rule.
Partners have a different picture. The GOV.UK partner guide asks for continuous time on a family visa but gives no fixed number of days abroad. Long or frequent trips can still cause trouble, so get advice if you were away a lot.
Does earned settlement change this?
Not yet. The plan to make 10 years the normal wait for settlement is still a proposal as of 12 October 2026. It isn’t in the Immigration Rules and no start date has been given. The rules that count are the ones in force on the day you apply. You can test the proposals in our earned settlement calculator.
Questions people ask
Can I apply for ILR before my 5 years are up?
Yes, but only by up to 28 days. If your 5 years end on 1 June, the first day you can apply is 4 May.
Do children need the Life in the UK Test?
No. The test and the English rule apply to people aged 18 to 64. Children under 18 still pay the full fee of £3,226.
What if I failed the Life in the UK Test?
You can book it again as many times as you need, and you pay £50 each time. Try our Life in the UK practice test first.
Is this checker legal advice?
No. It’s a quick self-check based on GOV.UK. If you have a refusal, an overstay or a conviction on your record, speak to a regulated immigration adviser before you pay the fee.
Sources: GOV.UK: Settle in the UK, ILR for Skilled Workers, ILR for partners, Long residence eligibility, Global Talent eligibility, Innovator Founder ILR, UK Ancestry ILR, BN(O) ILR.
Last checked against GOV.UK: 12 October 2026