What is long residence?
Long residence means having 10 years of lawful and continuous residence in the UK. If you meet the long residence requirement, you may qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also referred to as permanent settlement in the UK.
One of the main benefits of the long residence route to ILR is that you can qualify for ILR even if you have held different types of long-term visas during your 10+ years in the UK (time on short-term visas cannot be included in the 10-year period). This is different to shorter pathways to ILR, which require applicants to have held a specific visa for 2, 3, or 5 years. And in some cases, visas (such as the Global Business Mobility scheme visas) do not count towards ILR. For this reason, ILR through the long residence route is ideal for anyone who has lived in the UK for over 10 years on different types of long-term visa and has been unable to reach the qualification period for ILR during their time in the UK.
Switching between some long-term visas simply by switching from one visa to another can also ‘reset’ the ILR clock, meaning that any time spent already in the UK does not count towards ILR. For example, if you switch from a Skilled Worker visa to a Spouse visa, the ILR clock is reset. This is not the case with the long residence route, as any time on a long-term visa counts (as long as you have been here continuously – as we explore below).
Appendix Long Residence requirements 2025
To qualify for ILR under the long residence route in 2025, you must meet the following requirements:
- Have continuous 10 years of lawful residence
- Not have breached the UK immigration laws
- Not having exceeded the permitted absence limits
- Held your current visa for at least 12 months if it was granted on or after 11th April 2024
- Meet the English language requirement at a minimum of B1 CEFR level
- Pass the Life in the UK Test
- Meet suitability criteria – have no serious criminal history or other grounds for refusal
Continuous 10 Years of lawful residence
To qualify for ILR under the long residence route, your 10 years must be both continuous and lawful. The full rules are set out in the Appendix Continuous Residence to the Immigration Rules1. ‘Lawful’ in this sense means that for every day of your 10+ years in the UK, you must have had valid leave to enter or remain granted under the Immigration Rules. For example, you must not have overstayed your visa at any point or breached your visa conditions. ‘Continuous’ means you must not have been absent from the UK for longer than is allowed (see below for more details).
When assessing your application, the Home Office will check that you have spent at least 10 years in the UK on long-term visas (e.g. long-term study, work, family, or business). You cannot include time in the UK as a visitor or short-term student, seasonal worker, or on immigration bail, temporary admission, or temporary release. In addition, you cannot include time spent in Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands.
To calculate whether you meet the 10-year long residence ILR requirement:
- Add up all the time spent in the UK on long-term visas
- Make sure there are no gaps between visas
- Check absences (see below for more details)
Your period of continuous residence will be broken if you are convicted of an offence, deported, or you overstay your time in the UK.
Absence limits requirement
The rules state that you must not have been outside the UK (i.e. absent from) for too long during your time in the UK. The rules on absences to meet the continuous residence requirement recently changed. The absence rules now state:
Absences before 11th April 2024 (the old rules)
A maximum absence from the UK of 184 days is allowed for any single absence that started before 11th April 2024. Any longer would exceed the rule and break the continuous residence requirement.
In addition, the total absence during the qualifying period before that date must not exceed 548 days.
Examples:
- You left the UK for 200 days in one trip in 2022; this would exceed the old single-absence limit, even if your total absences were below 548 days, your period of continuous residence would be broken.
- You took three long trips abroad before April 2024, of 150 days in 2018, 160 days in 2019, and 170 days in 2023. Each trip is under 184 days, but the total adds up to 480 days. This is considered continuous as it’s below the 548-day total limit.
- You had absences of 100 days in 2015, 150 days in 2017, and 310 days in 2020. All trips are below the 184-day single limit, but the total is 560 days, exceeding the 548-day total limit, so your continuous residence would be broken.
Absences on or after 11th April 2024 (the new rules)
Under the new rules:
- There is no longer a total cap of 548 days for absences from the UK taken after 11th April 2024.
- Instead, you must not exceed 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12‑month period.
If any part of your 10-year qualifying period goes beyond 11th April 2024, the old 548-day limit no longer applies to the whole period. This means that if your 10-year residence is on either side of this date, you no longer have to meet the 548-day cap. What matters is the new rolling limit of 180 days.
It is always recommended that, before you apply for ILR under this route, you take the time to check that you have not exceeded this absence requirement. If you are applying for ILR under the long residence route and you have been outside the UK before and after the 11th April 2024, both sets of rules will apply.
When you apply for ILR under the long-term residence route, the Home Office will check that you have had no absences outside of the rules and no breaks in your lawful status. Even a short gap between visas can break continuity.
No breach of immigration laws requirement
To meet the no breach requirement, you must not have:
- Overstayed your visa without a valid exception
- Breached your visa conditions, such as unauthorised work or study
- Used false information or documents in an application
A short period of overstaying may be allowed if you made a new application to remain within 14 days of your previous visa expiring and had good reasons that are beyond your control (e.g. serious illness). This 14-day rule will also apply if you were refused and then reapplied.
The Current visa must be held for 12-month requirement
If your current visa was granted on or after 11th April 2024, you must have held it for at least 12 months before applying for ILR long residence. This is a new requirement.
Example
If you switched to a Skilled Worker visa on 1st May 2024, you cannot apply for ILR under the long residence route until at least 1st May 2025, even if you have already completed your 10-year period.
English language requirement
To qualify for ILR through long residence, you can meet the English language requirement in a number of ways, including by:
- Passing an approved English test at B1, B2, C1, or C2
- Holding a degree taught or researched in English
- Being from a majority English-speaking country
Applicants under 18 or over 65 are exempt from this requirement. You may also be exempt if you have a physical or mental health condition or if there are exceptional circumstances which prevent you from meeting the English language requirement.
Can I still apply for long residence ILR if I break the continuous residence rule?
A break in continuous residence in the UK caused by exceeding absence limits will normally reset your 10-year clock. There are limited situations where you can still apply if you have a short break in lawful residence, if:
- You apply within 14 days of expiry and have a good reason beyond your control (e.g. a serious illness), or
- You apply within 14 days of an in-time application being refused, rejected, or after the appeal/administrative review ends.
How many days can I be away and still qualify under Appendix Long Residence?
The number of days that you can be away from the UK and still qualify under the long residence route will depend on when you qualify, as follows:
Example 1: Your 10-year period ended before 11th April 2024
- No more than 184 days in any single trip
- No more than 548 days in total
Example 2: Your 10-year period spans before and after 11th April 2024
- Absences before 11th April 2024 follow the old rules
- Absences after must not exceed 180 days in any rolling 12 months
Example 3: Your 10-year period starts after 11th April 2024
- No more than 180 days in any rolling 12 months
If you exceed the absence limits, you can wait until any excessive absences fall outside your 10-year period. Alternatively, you may be able to show evidence of an exception, such as unavoidable absences due to emergencies, crises, or travel beyond your control.
10-year long residence application – required documents
The documents you need will depend on your circumstances, but you should expect to provide:
- Identity and immigration status documents
- Proof of continuous residence for 10 years
- Absence records
- Proof of English language level
- Life in the UK Test pass certificate
Identity and immigration status documents
- Current passport or travel document
- Biometric Residence Permit
- All previous passports covering the past 10 years
Proof of continuous residence for 10 years
- Tenancy agreements or mortgage statements for each address
- Utility bills showing regular UK residence
- Bank statements covering the period
- Payslips or P60s
- Letters from employers or educational institutions
Absence records
- Flight confirmations and itineraries
- Entry and exit stamps in passports
- Travel booking receipts
We recommend keeping records for every trip you take outside of the UK, no matter how long or short. You should assume that the Home Office case officer will cross-check your declared absences with their own records to see if there are any gaps.
If you do not have access to all of the information you need to calculate your time in the UK, you can submit a subject access request (SAR) to the Home Office. A basic search will provide you with a summary of your immigration and travel history and any landing cards held electronically. It will also provide basic details of visa applications you submitted from outside of the UK for entry clearance.
When should I apply for long residence ILR?
You can apply up to 28 days before completing your 10-year qualifying period. Applying earlier will lead to refusal – the Home Office is very clear on this. As such, if your visa expires close to your 10-year date, timing is crucial. Apply too early and you risk refusal; apply late and you risk overstaying.
Timing is crucial here. If you are trying to apply as early as possible, it is even more important that you have confirmed you meet the 10-year residence period. Even if you are a day or two out in your calculations, your application may be refused if you have applied too early. As such, it is advisable to wait until you are sure you are past the 10-year continuous residence threshold.
What if I do not meet the English language or Life in the UK test requirements?
If you meet all other requirements but have not passed one of these tests, the Home Office may grant a 2-year limited leave to remain instead of ILR. This option is typically available to people who:
- Have completed 10 years’ lawful and continuous residence
- Meet the suitability requirements
- Have not yet passed the English or Life in the UK test
You can then apply for ILR after passing your English language and Life in the UK tests. However, refusal is still possible, so legal advice is recommended before applying.
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