ILR 10-Year Long Residence Route: Eligibility, Absences & Application

The 10-Year Long Residence Route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), governed by Appendix Long Residence of the UK Immigration Rules, allows a person who has lived lawfully and continuously in the UK for at least 10 years to apply for ILR. The key advantage of this route over the standard 5-year routes is that the 10 years can be accumulated across any combination of qualifying visa types — you do not need to have stayed on the same route for a full decade.

This makes the long residence route particularly useful for people who have spent their UK years across different visa categories: for example, several years as a student, then a period on a Skilled Worker visa, then a period on a Spouse visa. On a standard ILR 5-year route, switching visa types resets the ILR clock. Under Appendix Long Residence, all qualifying time counts together, provided it has been both lawful and continuous.

The following time counts toward the 10-year qualifying period under Appendix Long Residence:

• Time on any long-term UK visa — including Skilled Worker, Student, Spouse/civil partner, unmarried partner, Health and Care Worker, Minister of Religion, Global Business Mobility, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Graduate, Ancestry, and others.
• Time exempt from immigration control (for example, certain diplomatic and government personnel).
• Time on pre-Points Based System work permits (if held before December 2020).
• From 29 July 2025: time spent in the Crown Dependencies (Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey) on an equivalent qualifying route counts, provided the most recent permission was granted in the UK.

The following time does NOT count and cannot be included in the 10-year qualifying period:

• Standard Visitor Visa time or visitor status conferred at the border.
• Time on a Short-term Student (English language) visa.
• Time on a Seasonal Worker visa.
• Time spent under the Appendix Ukraine Scheme.
• Periods on immigration bail, temporary admission, or temporary release.
• Time spent in the Republic of Ireland (even though it is part of the Common Travel Area).

Even a single day without valid leave, for example an oversight resulting in a short overstay between visa applications, can break the continuity of lawful residence and restart the 10-year clock. The Home Office checks its own records as well as the documents submitted, so any discrepancies will be identified.

In addition to the 10-year continuous lawful residence and absence requirements:

• Lawful status at time of application: you must hold valid leave to remain at the point you submit your ILR application.
• Life in the UK Test: must be passed before application. Results are valid indefinitely.
• English language: CEFR Level B1 or above, demonstrable by an approved English language test, qualifying English-taught degree, or nationality exemption. If you meet the residence requirements but not the English language or Life in the UK Test requirements, the Home Office may grant 2 years of limited leave to remain rather than ILR, allowing time to meet those requirements.
• Good character: no significant criminal convictions, no deception in any immigration application, compliance with immigration conditions throughout the qualifying period.

The 28-Day Application Window

You can apply for ILR under the 10-year route up to 28 days before you reach the 10-year qualifying date — no earlier. Once you have submitted your application, do not travel outside the Common Travel Area until you receive a decision — leaving the CTA is treated as a withdrawal and requires resubmission with new fees.

Application Form and Fees

ILR applications under the long residence route are submitted online using the SET(LR) form. Priority service (5 working days) costs an additional £500. Super-priority (next working day) costs an additional £1,000. Processing under the standard service takes approximately 6 months. The ILR fee is non-refundable if refused. No Immigration Health Surcharge is payable.

Earned Settlement and the 10-Year Long Residence Route

The UK government's earned settlement proposals note that the flexible 10-year long residence route may be affected under the new framework. As of April 2026, the current Appendix Long Residence route remains fully in force. Applicants who are approaching their 10-year qualifying date should apply without delay. After ILR, British citizenship is available after 12 months.