What counts as long residence for ILR?

Long residence means you have lived continuously and lawfully in the UK for 10 years. The 10-year period must be unbroken, and you must have had valid immigration leave (or section 3C leave) throughout the entire period. Time spent as a visitor does not count.

Can I include time on a student visa in the 10 years?

Yes. Time spent on a student visa, Skilled Worker visa, spouse visa, or any other form of lawful leave counts towards the 10-year long residence requirement. The key is that you had continuous lawful leave throughout.

How many days can I be absent on the 10-year route?

You must not have been absent from the UK for more than 540 days in total during the 10-year period, and no single absence should exceed 180 days. These limits are strict, and the Home Office will calculate your absences carefully.

Is the 10-year route being changed to 20 years?

The government proposed changes to the long residence route in the 2025 immigration white paper. While the exact details are still being finalised, any changes would likely include transitional arrangements for those already on the 10-year path. Check GOV.UK for the latest updates.

ILR Through Long Residence (10-Year Route)

The 10-year long residence route to ILR is available to anyone who has lived continuously and lawfully in the UK for 10 years. You can combine time on different visa categories. The main requirements are 10 years of continuous lawful residence, no more than 540 days total absence (with no single absence exceeding 180 days), and meeting the English language and Life in the UK test requirements.

Who Can Use the Long Residence Route

The long residence route is designed for people who have built their lives in the UK over a decade but may not qualify for ILR through other routes. It is particularly useful if you:

Have spent time on multiple visa categories (for example, student visa followed by a work visa) and the combined time totals 10 years.
Are on a visa category that does not have its own direct path to ILR, such as certain temporary work visas.
Have been on the private life route and have accumulated 10 years of lawful residence.

The legal basis for this route is paragraph 276B of the Immigration Rules.

The Continuous Residence Requirement

The most critical requirement is 10 years of continuous lawful residence. This means:

Lawful at all times: You must have had valid immigration leave throughout the entire 10-year period. Any gaps where you had no valid leave (even briefly) can break continuity. However, if you applied for a new visa before your old one expired, section 3C leave may cover the gap.
No deportation orders or breaches: If you have breached your immigration conditions (such as working without permission), this can affect your eligibility. See our guide on immigration breaches for how this may impact your application.
Visitor leave does not count: Time spent in the UK as a visitor does not count towards the 10-year qualifying period. Only time on substantive leave (work, study, family visas) counts.

Absence Limits

The long residence route has specific absence rules that are different from other ILR routes:

Total absences: No more than 540 days in the entire 10-year qualifying period.
Single absence: No single absence should exceed 180 continuous days.

These limits are generous compared to the standard ILR absence rules on 5-year routes (which allow 180 days per year). However, over 10 years, absences can add up quickly. Keep meticulous records of every trip abroad.

Calculating Your Qualifying Period

Your qualifying period starts on the date exactly 10 years before your application date. See our qualifying period start date guide for help calculating this.

You have some flexibility in choosing your application date. If certain absences or gaps in leave are causing problems, shifting your application date by a few weeks or months may help, because different periods of time will fall inside and outside the 10-year window.

English Language and Life in the UK Test

Like all ILR routes, you must demonstrate English language ability at CEFR B1 level and pass the Life in the UK test. If you have a degree taught in English (from a majority English-speaking country or verified by UK ENIC), this can satisfy the English requirement.

For information on accepted English tests, see our guide on English language requirements for ILR.

Documents You Need

The long residence application requires extensive documentation covering the full 10-year period. This includes:

All passports covering the 10-year period
Evidence of continuous residence for each year (such as bank statements, payslips, council tax bills, GP records, or utility bills)
Evidence of all visa grants and extensions
Travel history showing all absences from the UK
Life in the UK test pass certificate
English language evidence

For a complete list, see our ILR documents checklist.

Proposed Changes to the 10-Year Route

The 2025 immigration white paper proposed significant changes to the long residence route. These proposals are still being considered and have not yet been implemented. If you are close to completing 10 years, it may be wise to apply as soon as you are eligible rather than waiting.

For the latest official information, check the GOV.UK immigration rules changes page.

Costs and Processing Times

The long residence ILR application costs the same as other ILR applications. See our ILR cost breakdown for current fees. Processing times are in line with other ILR categories. Check our 2026 processing times guide for the latest estimates.