Those who have spent a continuous period of 10 years in the UK under different visas may be eligible to apply for ILR under the ‘Long residence’ route. Time under visas which do not lead to settlement under the standard 5 year route (such as Student/ Tier 4, Tier 1 Post Study etc.) can be counted towards 10 year ILR.
Points to note:
- The ‘continuous residence’ limit on absences from the UK is stricter than the standard ILR route. Applicants must not have spent more than 540 over the 10 years, with no single absence over 180 days, outside the UK.
- Periods spent outside the UK between visas can be accepted as long as the applicant held a valid visa when they left and when they returned. These periods are also counted towards the limit on absences.
More information on applying for ‘Long residence’ ILR is found in Home Office guidance.
