Long Residence UK: Your 10-Year Route to ILR, Simplified
Been in the UK for nearly a decade and want to settle for good? This guide turns the long residence UK rules into clear steps so you know exactly where you stand and how to apply for ILR after 10 years without avoidable mistakes.
Inside: a quick eligibility checklist, how to count absences correctly, documents to prove your 10 years, application steps, pitfalls to avoid, real examples, and how to pass the Life in the UK Test first time with less stress.
What the 10-Year Long Residence UK Route Means
Definition: The 10-year long residence route allows you to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after 10 years of lawful, continuous residence in the UK. ILR lets you live, work and study in the UK without time limits and is a common springboard to British citizenship.
Time in most immigration categories can count (or a mix), provided the residence was lawful and continuous. Visitor time and some short-term categories do not count (details below). See the official overview on GOV.UK for long residence.
Best for: People who have been in the UK a long time across different visas (e.g., Student → Skilled Worker → Partner), who meet absence limits and the Knowledge of Language and Life (KoLL) requirement.
Eligibility at a Glance: Can You Get ILR After 10 Years?
Use this quick checklist before diving into evidence gathering.
10 years lawful residence: You held valid permission (leave) for the whole qualifying period. See GOV.UK eligibility.
Continuous residence: No breaks—check absences against the 180 days in any rolling 12 months rule.
Suitability: No issues under the suitability rules (e.g., serious criminality, civil penalties, or deception).
KoLL met (ages 18–64): Pass the Life in the UK Test and show English at B1 or above (speaking and listening).
Correct timing: Apply on or shortly before your 10-year date (see earliest application guidance below).
Lawful Residence Explained (What Counts)
Lawful residence means you had valid permission to stay throughout the 10 years. Usually, time on most categories counts, and you can combine categories. Periods covered by section 3C leave (when your previous leave is automatically extended while a timely application is decided) can count as lawful. See GOV.UK: what counts.
Mixing categories is fine (e.g., Student → Graduate → Skilled Worker → Partner), provided each period was lawful.
Switching from dependant to main applicant can still count if residence remained lawful and continuous.
Private Life route time can also contribute if it was lawful and continuous.
What Does Not Count Toward Long Residence
The following are typically excluded under current rules:
Time as a visitor or on a Short-term study visa
Time on a Seasonal Worker visa or certain Ukraine schemes
Time on immigration bail, temporary admission/release, or in prison/secure hospital
Any period of overstaying after permission expired (limited exceptions may apply)
See the official list on GOV.UK: what does not count.
Continuous Residence and Absences: Get the Calculation Right
Under current Home Office policy, you must not exceed 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during the qualifying 10 years. This is a rolling check—each 12-month window must be under 180 days. See GOV.UK guidance on continuous residence and the eligibility rules.
How to Count Days Outside the UK
Use this step-by-step method to keep errors to zero.
List every trip using passport stamps, old BRPs/eVisas, emails from airlines, and boarding passes.
Request a Home Office SAR (subject access request) for official travel history if records are missing.
Count full days abroad: Do not count the day you leave the UK or the day you return.
Check rolling 12 months: For each date in your 10-year period, look back 12 months and ensure absences in that window total < 180 days.
Keep evidence together: Save scans in a folder and note sources (passport stamp, email, SAR, etc.).
Tip: Build a simple spreadsheet with columns for departure, return, number of days (full days out), evidence source, and a running rolling-12-month total.
If You Exceeded the Limits: Are Any Exceptions Possible?
The Home Office may consider compelling or compassionate reasons for excess absences (e.g., serious illness, bereavement, unavoidable travel disruption). Discretion is case-by-case—provide strong evidence:
Medical letters, hospital/GP documents, or coroner reports
Airline cancellations, official travel advisories, or COVID-19 restrictions
Employer letters confirming exceptional work travel outside your control
A concise cover letter explaining chronology and why the absence was unavoidable
Build Your Evidence Bundle: Documents for SET(LR)
For a smooth SET(LR) application, organise your proof early.
Identity: Current passport/travel ID and all passports held during the 10 years; BRP if you have one or eVisa share code. See GOV.UK documents you must provide.
Lawful residence: Visas, BRPs, Home Office decision letters, and evidence of section 3C as applicable.
Continuous residence: Proof of address spread across each year (bank or utility statements, tenancy, council tax, HMRC letters).
Absences: Passport stamps, airline emails, boarding passes, and any SAR travel history.
KoLL: Life in the UK pass notification and accepted English qualification (B1 or above) or degree taught in English.
Proving 10 Years in Practice (When Passports Are Incomplete)
If stamps are missing or you lost an old passport, use alternatives:
GP/dentist letters confirming registration and appointments
HMRC records (employment, tax, NI) and employer payslips/P60s
Education records (school/university letters, attendance)
Tenancy agreements, mortgage statements, council tax bills
Bank statements and regular utility bills
Home Office SAR to reconcile immigration history and travel
Travel History and Entry/Exit Proof
Reconcile different sources to avoid mismatches:
Match airline booking emails and boarding passes to passport stamps.
Cross-check with visa vignettes, BRP issue dates, and SAR data.
Explain any anomalies briefly in a cover letter with supporting evidence.
KoLL: English Language and Life in the UK Certificates
Applicants aged 18–64 must pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English requirement (B1 speaking and listening or an eligible English-taught degree). See GOV.UK for KoLL requirements and our guide to approved tests: B1 English Test for ILR.
Life in the UK Test: Requirements, Timeline, and How to Pass First Time
The test is mandatory for most adults seeking ILR after 10 years. Preparation is simple if you focus on the official material and track your progress efficiently.
When to Book and What to Expect on Test Day
When to book: Book once you can consistently pass mock exams—ideally 3–6 weeks before your planned ILR application.
Pass mark: 24/24 questions with a minimum 75% correct (score required is 18/24).
On the day: Bring the exact ID used to book, arrive early, and use an approved test centre only.
For policy context on KoLL, see GOV.UK KoLL information within long residence eligibility. Also see our explainer: Life in the UK Test for ILR in 2025.
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Application Steps for ILR After 10 Years (SET(LR))
Follow these steps to reduce risk and stress.
When to Apply and the 10-Year Date
Work out your 10-year date: Start from the day you first entered the UK with valid permission (or were granted permission in-country) and ensure the full 10 years are lawful and continuous.
Earliest safe date: Home Office practice on ILR routes generally allows applying up to 28 days before completing the qualifying period. See reference on GOV.UK for earliest dates on ILR routes: earliest application date.
Avoid cutting it close: If you’re right on the boundary, wait until the day you clearly meet the 10 years to avoid a refusal.
Fees, IHS, and Priority/Super Priority
ILR fee: Check the current SET(LR) fee on GOV.UK before you apply.
No IHS for ILR: Settlement applications do not require the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Priority options: Where available, Priority and Super Priority can speed up a decision (often next working day for Super Priority).
Budgeting: Plan for application, biometrics, document scanning, and potential priority fees.
Biometrics, Decision, and eVisa Access
Apply online: Start your application on GOV.UK and create a UKVCAS appointment for biometrics and document upload. See apply to settle.
Biometrics appointment: Attend UKVCAS with your documents (or upload digitally) and submit fingerprints/photo.
Decision timeline: Standard timelines vary; Super Priority aims for a decision much faster (subject to availability). Some routes publish 8-week targets for related applications—always check current guidance.
eVisa: Once granted, you’ll access your status online (and no longer rely solely on a BRP). Keep your contact details updated.
Avoid Refusals: Common Pitfalls and How to Fix Them
Gaps in leave: If you missed a renewal and overstayed, consider whether paragraph 39E (good reason for a late application) may help. Provide compelling evidence and a clear timeline.
Excess absences: Prepare a short, evidence-backed explanation and documents (see “exceptions” above). If limits are clearly exceeded, consider an alternative settlement route.
Weak residence proof: Reconstruct using HMRC, GP, tenancy and bank records across all years.
Suitability issues: Disclose criminality, civil penalties or tax issues up front with mitigating evidence.
Gaps in Leave and the 39E Good-Reason Safety Net
If a late application was made and you had a good reason (e.g., hospitalisation), paragraph 39E can in some circumstances allow the Home Office to disregard limited overstaying. Provide dates, evidence, and a clear explanation. If in doubt, seek legal advice.
Absences Over the Limit
Where absences exceed limits, the safest approach is to evidence compelling/compassionate reasons. If that’s not viable, consider switching to a 5-year route (e.g., Skilled Worker or Partner) and reset toward ILR there. See our ILR roadmap: Indefinite Leave to Remain: Step-by-Step.
Proving Continuous Residence Without Full Records
Use overlapping evidence to fill gaps and write a concise cover letter:
Create a year-by-year grid and list 2–3 documents per year.
Explain any missing months and show alternative records (e.g., GP/HMRC).
Attach your absence spreadsheet and reference each evidence source.
Character and Suitability Issues
Declare criminal convictions, civil penalties (including for illegal working/landlord issues), or significant tax discrepancies. Non-disclosure often harms more than the issue itself. Provide court outcomes, HMRC letters, and explanations of rehabilitation and compliance.
Special Scenarios and Edge Cases
Combining Different Visas Toward 10 Years
The long residence route allows a mix of categories as long as time was lawful and continuous. Common combinations include Student → Skilled Worker, Graduate → Skilled Worker, Dependant → Skilled Worker/Partner, or Private Life periods. Always check what doesn’t count (visitor, short-term study, seasonal worker).
Visitor, Short-Term, or Outside-the-Rules Permission
Visitor and some other short-term permissions don’t count to your 10 years. Time without leave (overstaying) also doesn’t count, except in limited circumstances. See exclusions on GOV.UK.
EEA Nationals and the EU Settlement Scheme
Time under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) can lead to settled status (usually after 5 years of continuous residence). Some EEA nationals may reach settlement sooner via EUSS than waiting 10 years under long residence. Compare both routes carefully before applying.
10-Year vs 5-Year Routes: Which Is Better for You?
Deciding between the 10-year long residence route and a 5-year route (e.g., Skilled Worker, Spouse/Partner) depends on your history, absences, and goals.
10-year route: Flexible across categories but a longer wait and strict rolling absence checks.
5-year routes: Faster if you qualify, but usually require staying on the same route and meeting route-specific rules (salary thresholds, relationship evidence, etc.).
Pros and Cons of the 10-Year Route
Advantages: Mix different lawful visas; works if your career or family circumstances changed.
Drawbacks: Longer overall wait; rolling absence checks can be tricky; more documents to gather.
When Switching Makes Sense
Switching to a 5-year route may lead to earlier ILR if you:
Hold a qualifying job offer meeting Skilled Worker salary rules and can meet 5-year residence with absences in check.
Are in a genuine, qualifying relationship under the Partner route and can meet financial and English requirements.
Face excess absences under long residence but can meet the 5-year route rules cleanly.
See our full roadmap to compare options: ILR: Your Step-by-Step Roadmap.
After ILR: What Comes Next on the Road to Citizenship
Naturalisation Timelines and Absence Limits
Many people apply for British citizenship after holding ILR. Depending on your circumstances, you may need to wait 12 months after ILR and meet residence/absence thresholds and good character rules. You can typically reuse your Life in the UK Test certificate. See our comprehensive guide: How to Get British Citizenship.
Keeping Your ILR Safe
ILR can lapse after 2 years of continuous absence from the UK (returning resident rules may help in limited cases). Keep trips under two years, retain UK ties, and keep your digital status details up to date.
3 Real-World Examples: Do You Qualify for ILR After 10 Years?
These simple scenarios show how to count time and prepare evidence. Always check your own records.
Example 1: Mixed visas, clean absences — Student (3y) → Graduate (2y) → Skilled Worker (5y). Absences are 2–3 trips a year, each 10–14 days. Rolling 12-month totals never exceed 120 days. Evidence: full passport set, HR letters, HMRC history, tenancy and council tax for continuity, Life in the UK + B1 English. Likely eligible if other suitability tests are met.
Example 2: One long family emergency trip — Skilled Worker with a 190-day overseas stay due to a parent’s serious illness. Provide hospital letters, doctor statements, flight cancellations, and a detailed cover letter. Discretion may apply, but it’s case-by-case—consider the strength of your evidence and alternative routes if needed.
Example 3: Missing passport — Dependant → Partner route with a lost early passport. Reconstruct travel using airline emails, bank/ATM activity, GP registrations, HMRC and SAR data. Create an absence spreadsheet and clearly explain any uncertainty in a cover letter.
FAQs: Long Residence UK and ILR After 10 Years
How many days can I be outside the UK?
Up to 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying 10 years.
Do visitor visas count toward long residence?
No. Time as a visitor or on short-term study/seasonal worker normally does not count.
Can section 3C leave count as lawful residence?
Yes. Time covered by section 3C while a timely application is decided can count as lawful.
Do I need the Life in the UK Test?
If you’re 18–64, yes—plus English at B1 level or an eligible English-taught degree.
What if I apply a bit early?
Do not apply too early. In general, ILR routes allow applications up to 28 days before qualifying—confirm your dates before submitting.
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Important Notes and Sources
Official long residence overview: GOV.UK: Long residence
Eligibility, what counts/doesn’t, and absences: GOV.UK: Eligibility
Continuous residence policy detail: GOV.UK guidance
Documents for SET(LR): GOV.UK documents
Apply online (SET(LR)): GOV.UK apply to settle
Earliest ILR date (illustrative policy for ILR routes): GOV.UK earliest date
Policy updates to watch (future plans): Citizens Advice overview and the Home Office announcement on settlement model: GOV.UK news
Rules can change. Check the latest Home Office guidance or get legal advice for complex histories (e.g., long absences, gaps in leave, criminality).