Which visa routes lead to ILR after 5 years?

The main routes that lead to ILR after 5 years of continuous residence are: Skilled Worker, Spouse/Partner, Ancestry, Innovator Founder, Global Talent, Scale-Up, and Minister of Religion. Some routes like the 10-year long residence route require 10 years. Student and Graduate route time does not count toward ILR.

Does time on a Student visa count toward the 5 years for ILR?

No. Time spent on a Student visa or the Graduate route does not count toward the 5-year qualifying period for ILR on work-based routes. However, if you switch from a Student visa to a Skilled Worker visa, the 5-year clock starts from the date your Skilled Worker visa begins.

Can I combine time on different visa routes for the 5-year ILR?

Generally, no. Most routes require 5 continuous years on that specific route (or a closely related predecessor route). You cannot combine, for example, 3 years on a Skilled Worker visa with 2 years on an Ancestry visa. The exception is the 10-year long residence route, which counts any lawful residence.

Can I get ILR faster than 5 years?

Some routes allow ILR in less than 5 years. Global Talent visa holders may qualify after 3 years. Innovator Founder visa holders may qualify after 3 years. Domestic workers who are victims of slavery can apply immediately. However, most routes require the full 5 years.

ILR After 5 Years: Eligibility by Route

Most routes to ILR require 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, but the specific requirements (salary, relationship, sponsorship) vary by route. Some routes qualify in less than 5 years, and some require 10 years. Student visa time and visitor visa time do not count. Understanding which route applies to you — and what the specific requirements are — is essential for planning your path to settlement.

Skilled Worker Route

The Skilled Worker visa is the most common work-based route to ILR. After 5 years of continuous residence on this route, you can apply for settlement.

Qualifying period: 5 years
Salary requirement at ILR: £38,700 or the going rate for your occupation (transitional rates may apply)
Must be sponsored: You must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship at the time of ILR application
Predecessor route: Time on the old Tier 2 (General) visa counts
English: B1 CEFR (already required for the visa)
Knowledge of life in the UK: Life in the UK test required

Spouse and Partner Route

The Spouse visa route takes 5 years through an initial visa and one extension.

Qualifying period: 5 years (2.5 + 2.5)
Financial requirement: £29,000 minimum income at each stage
Relationship: Must be genuine and subsisting throughout
English: A1 (initial), A2 (extension), B1 (ILR)
Knowledge of life in the UK: Life in the UK test required
Special provisions: Domestic violence victims can apply for ILR immediately

Ancestry Route

The UK Ancestry visa is available to Commonwealth citizens with a UK-born grandparent. It leads to ILR after 5 years.

Qualifying period: 5 years
No salary threshold: But you must be working or seeking work
No sponsorship required: You are free to work for any employer
English: B1 required for ILR
Knowledge of life in the UK: Life in the UK test required

Global Talent Route

The Global Talent visa is for leaders and emerging talent in science, engineering, arts, humanities, and digital technology. It offers a faster path to ILR.

Qualifying period: 3 years (exceptional talent) or 5 years (exceptional promise)
No salary threshold: No minimum income requirement
No sponsorship required: You are endorsed, not sponsored
English: B1 required for ILR
Knowledge of life in the UK: Life in the UK test required

Innovator Founder Route

The Innovator Founder visa replaced the old Innovator and Start-Up routes. It is designed for entrepreneurs establishing a business in the UK.

Qualifying period: 3 years (if business criteria are met)
Business requirements: Must demonstrate the business is viable, innovative, and scalable
Endorsement: Must be endorsed by an approved endorsing body
English: B1 required for ILR
Knowledge of life in the UK: Life in the UK test required

Other Routes to ILR After 5 Years

Scale-Up Route

The Scale-Up visa is for workers recruited by qualifying high-growth UK businesses. After 5 years of continuous residence, you can apply for ILR. The salary requirement at ILR is £38,700 or the going rate.

Minister of Religion / Sportsperson

These specialist routes also lead to ILR after 5 years of continuous residence, with route-specific requirements.

Domestic Worker Visa

Domestic workers who are victims of modern slavery or trafficking can apply for ILR. The rules for this route are different from standard work-based routes.

10-Year Long Residence Route

If you have lived in the UK continuously and lawfully for 10 years on any combination of visa types, you can apply for ILR under the long residence rule(paragraph 276B of the Immigration Rules).

Qualifying period: 10 years of continuous lawful residence
Any visa combination: Counts time on Student, work, family, and other routes
Continuous residence: No more than 180 days absent in any 12-month period
English: B1 required
Knowledge of life in the UK: Life in the UK test required

This route is particularly useful for people who have been on visa types that do not independently lead to ILR (such as long periods on Student visas followed by work visas). However, the proposed changes in the 2025 White Paper may significantly alter this route.

Routes That Do Not Lead to ILR

Some visa types do not lead to ILR at all:

Student visa: Time on a Student visa does not count toward ILR on any work-based route. You must switch to an ILR-qualifying route after your studies.
Graduate route: The 2-year (or 3-year for PhDs) post-study work visa does not lead to ILR and the time does not count toward ILR on other routes.
Visitor visa: Visitor visa time never counts toward ILR.
Youth Mobility Scheme: This 2-year visa does not lead to ILR and cannot be extended.
Seasonal Worker: Does not lead to ILR.

Planning Your Route to ILR

If your goal is ILR, consider these factors when choosing your visa route:

Time to ILR: Global Talent and Innovator Founder can qualify in 3 years. Most other routes take 5 years. Long residence takes 10 years.
Salary requirements: Skilled Worker ILR requires meeting the salary threshold. Other routes may have no salary requirement.
Flexibility: Some routes tie you to a specific employer. Others (Global Talent, Ancestry) give you complete employment freedom.
Total cost: Factor in visa fees, IHS, and the ILR application fee over the qualifying period. See our visa fees guide.