Skilled Worker Visa to ILR: Your 5-Year Success Plan

Skilled Worker to ILR: The 5-Year Route at a Glance

The Skilled Worker route (including former Tier 2 General) can lead to settlement (ILR) after five continuous years if you meet the sponsorship, salary, residence and knowledge requirements, and have a clean suitability record. Below is a quick snapshot to confirm you’re on track.

Snapshot: Can you qualify in 5 years?

• Valid sponsorship: You hold continuous, lawful leave as a Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) and your role is eligible.
• Salary at ILR: Paid at least the higher of the ILR threshold or the occupation’s going rate (see salary section).
• Residence: 5 years on qualifying work routes with no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12 months.
• Knowledge of life in the UK: Pass the Life in the UK Test (ages 18–64).
• Suitability: No serious criminality, immigration breaches, or outstanding immigration/litigation debts.

See the official overview for Skilled Worker ILR rules on GOV.UK, including the 5-year route and eligibility.

What this guide covers (and what it doesn’t)

This guide is specific to the Skilled Worker route (including time previously under Tier 2 General) and the standard 5-year pathway to ILR. It does not cover long residence ILR (10-year), settlement from other family routes, or bespoke business routes beyond how they interact with the qualifying period.

Who Qualifies: Core Eligibility Checklist

Use this ILR checklist to confirm you meet the Skilled Worker/Tier 2 to ILR requirements.

Sponsorship and role requirements

• Continuous permission as Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General) for 5 years (time can be combined—see Counting section).
• Valid sponsor with an active licence and an eligible occupation code (SOC/ONS code).
• Genuine ongoing role: Employer confirms you’re still needed and will be paid at or above the ILR salary level after settlement. GOV.UK confirms you’ll need an employer document for this ongoing need confirmation.

Salary and going rate at ILR

You must be paid at least the higher of (1) the relevant ILR salary threshold and (2) the occupation’s going rate at ILR. See GOV.UK salary rules for settlement here.

Continuous residence and absences

• Qualifying period: 5 years in qualifying categories (Skilled Worker/Tier 2 General and certain others).
• Absences: No more than 180 days in any rolling 12 months across the 5 years. See the official GOV.UK guidance on time in the UK and absences here.

English language and Life in the UK Test

• Life in the UK Test: Required if you’re aged 18–64 when applying.
• English: For Skilled Worker ILR applications, you usually do not need to submit English evidence again because you met it when you first got your visa (see GOV.UK note here). For citizenship later, English still applies—see our guide to approved B1 English tests.

Suitability: character, immigration history, debts

• Disclose criminal convictions and any immigration breaches.
• Resolve any immigration or litigation debts to the Home Office/NHS before applying.
• Ensure accurate, consistent information across your history and documents.

Counting Your 5 Years Correctly

Small mistakes with the qualifying period and absences are a common refusal risk. Here’s how to count time precisely.

Tier 2 to Skilled Worker: does time combine?

Yes. Time spent on Tier 2 (General) counts with Skilled Worker time towards the 5-year total for ILR. GOV.UK lists which routes can be combined for the Skilled Worker ILR pathway here.

Time that counts vs. time that does not

Counts towards the Skilled Worker ILR 5 years (any combination):

• Skilled Worker or Tier 2 (General)
• Health and Care Worker
• Scale-up Worker
• T2/Tier 2 Minister of Religion
• International Sportsperson / T2 Sportsperson
• Tier 1 (except Graduate Entrepreneur)
• Innovator Founder, Global Talent, Representative of an Overseas Business

Does not count: Visitor, Student, Graduate route, Youth Mobility, Seasonal Worker, or other temporary/non-qualifying categories.

The 180-day rolling rule explained

Definition: You must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period during your 5-year qualifying period. See GOV.UK guidance on time and absences here.

1. Pick your qualifying window: Count back 5 years from your planned ILR application date.
2. For every 12-month slice within that window, total all days absent. Keep each slice ≤ 180 days.
3. Evidence absences with travel stamps/eVisas, tickets, and employer letters for work trips.
4. If close to the limit, adjust your application date or qualify later to avoid a breach.

Salary at ILR: Thresholds, Going Rates, and Exceptions

At settlement, you must be paid at or above the applicable ILR threshold and the going rate for your occupation. Transitional rules may apply depending on when you entered the route.

Current thresholds and going-rate basics (2025)

For most Skilled Workers applying for ILR, you’ll usually need at least £41,700 or the standard going rate for your job—whichever is higher (GOV.UK).

Transitional rates if first sponsored before 4 April 2024

If you have continually held Skilled Worker permission since you were first sponsored before 4 April 2024, you may rely on transitional ILR rates: usually at least £31,300, or £25,000 if your job is/was on the Immigration Salary List, or the lower going rate (whichever is higher). See the transitional wording on GOV.UK salary page.

Discounts and allowances that usually do not apply at ILR

• No new entrant rates at settlement.
• Only count guaranteed basic gross pay. Overtime, bonuses and most allowances typically do not count.
• Employer must confirm ongoing need and that salary meets ILR rules after settlement.

Pass the Life in the UK Test on Your First Attempt

If you’re 18–64, you must pass the Life in the UK Test before submitting SET(O). With busy schedules, focused prep is essential.

What the test involves and how to book

• Format: 24 multiple-choice questions; pass mark is 18/24.
• Booking: Book online with valid ID and a UK address. Use the same ID on test day.
• On the day: Bring your ID; follow centre rules strictly. Keep your pass notification letter safe for your ILR file.

A 7–14 day study plan that works

1. Days 1–2: Read the official handbook summaries and key dates.
2. Days 3–6: Drill topic-wise questions; review explanations for mistakes.
3. Days 7–10: Take mixed mocks; focus weak areas.
4. Days 11–14: Hard mocks under timed conditions; book only when consistently passing.

Use the Life in the UK Test App to guarantee readiness

The Life in the UK Test App helps busy applicants pass first time by removing overwhelm and tracking readiness:

• Complete official handbook content optimised for mobile
• Smart learning assistant (Brit-Bear) and personalised drills
• 650+ questions with explanations, Hard Mode mocks, offline access
• Track your readiness score so you book only when ready

See our full 2025 app guide and feature breakdown.

Download on App Store · Get it on Google Play

Documents Checklist for SET(O) Skilled Worker ILR

Build your pack early to avoid last-minute gaps. Below is a practical checklist you can print and tick off.

Identity, immigration history, and residence evidence

• Passport(s) and BRP/eVisa details
• Previous visas and permission letters
• Address history covering 5 years
• Travel history: stamps, boarding passes, employer letters for work trips
• Certificate of Sponsorship reference, job title, salary, occupation code, sponsor licence number (see GOV.UK documents list)

Employer letter: what it must confirm

• Your job title, SOC/occupation code, and start date
• Your current salary and contracted hours; confirmation salary meets the ILR threshold and going rate
• Ongoing need for your role after settlement
• Any authorised absences for work travel

Absence evidence and calculations

Prepare a clean table listing dates left/returned, destination, reason, and total days away, with proof where relevant (tickets, employer letter). Keep each rolling 12-month total ≤ 180 days.

Dependants’ documents

• Passports and BRP/eVisa
• Relationship evidence (marriage/civil partnership certificate; birth certificates)
• Cohabitation proof spread over the residence period
• Life in the UK pass (if 18–64) and English where applicable for adult children

How to Apply: Timing, Fees, Biometrics, and Decisions

Follow these steps to submit your SET(O) on time and avoid gaps in permission.

When to apply: the 28-day window

You can apply up to 28 days before completing 5 years in qualifying categories. Applying earlier risks refusal. See the GOV.UK timing rule here.

Fees, priority options, and refunds

• ILR fee: £3,029 per applicant (standard service). Typical decision: within 6 months (GOV.UK).
• Priority services: Limited slots for faster decisions (additional fees). Refund rules apply if you withdraw before biometrics.

For a full cost breakdown (application, biometrics, priority, copies, travel), read ILR Application Fee 2025: Real Costs, No Surprises.

Biometrics at UKVCAS and getting your eVisa

1. Complete the online SET(O) form and pay the fee.
2. Upload documents and book a UKVCAS appointment.
3. Attend biometrics; provide fingerprints, photo, and verify ID.
4. Await a decision. Standard service is usually up to 6 months.
5. After approval, access your digital status (eVisa) online.

Dependants on the 5-Year Skilled Worker Route

Partners and children can qualify for ILR alongside you if they meet residence and suitability rules.

Partners: 5-year residence and absences

Your partner may qualify if they have leave as your dependant and have lived with you for 5 continuous years, the relationship is genuine, and you intend to keep living together, with adequate support and no recourse to public funds (see GOV.UK family member rules). Reasonable travel is allowed, but they should keep under the 180-day rule per 12 months.

Children: UK-born vs. overseas-born

• UK-born children: May be eligible to register as British once a parent becomes settled, instead of applying for ILR.
• Children born overseas: Can be included as dependants if they meet the residence and dependency criteria (see GOV.UK family guidance here).

Life in the UK and English for dependants

Dependants aged 18–64 generally require the Life in the UK Test. Adult children who do not qualify as part of your application may need to apply separately and meet English requirements (see GOV.UK note here).

Avoid Refusals: Common Mistakes and Fixes

Pre-empt these issues before you press submit.

Salary shortfalls near the ILR date

• Agree a confirmed pay rise effective before your ILR date and reflected in employer letter.
• Delay the application until salary meets the going rate/threshold.
• Check if transitional rates apply (sponsored before 4 April 2024).

Too many absences

• Recalculate the 5-year window and shift your application date.
• Compile evidence for compelling reasons where relevant.
• Wait to reset the period if necessary.

Gaps in sponsorship or role changes

• Changing employer? Submit a change of employment application and maintain lawful leave before moving.
• Ensure the occupation code remains eligible and the new salary meets ILR rules.

Life in the UK Test issues

• Use the same ID for booking and test day.
• Choose an approved centre; retain the pass notification letter.
• Boost first-time pass odds with targeted practice—our Life in the UK Test App below helps you book only when ready.

Suitability concerns

• Disclose all convictions and civil penalties.
• Clear any immigration/NHS debts.
• Provide a short, factual cover note for complexities or corrections.

Worked Examples: Real 5-Year Timelines

Example A: Tier 2 to Skilled Worker with maternity leave

Amrita entered the UK on Tier 2 (General) on 10 January 2020, switched to Skilled Worker in 2021, and took statutory maternity leave in 2023 with two short trips abroad totalling 35 days that year. Maternity leave does not break residence. Her rolling 12-month absences never exceeded 180 days. She can apply from 13 December 2024 (28 days before 10 January 2025) if her salary meets the ILR going rate.

Example B: Graduate route to Skilled Worker (what counts)

Jorge had the Graduate route from July 2022 to July 2024, then switched to Skilled Worker on 1 August 2024. Graduate time does not count for the Skilled Worker ILR 5 years. His earliest ILR date is 4 July 2029 (28 days before 1 August 2029), assuming absences stay within limits and salary meets ILR rules.

After ILR: Rights, eVisa, and Path to Citizenship

Your status and conditions after ILR

• Live, work and study in the UK without time limit; access benefits if eligible (GOV.UK).
• Keep your digital status (eVisa) up to date.
• ILR may lapse after 2 years abroad; consider the returning resident route if needed.

Maximise your new status with our guide: Benefits of ILR: What to Do Next.

From ILR to British citizenship

Most applicants qualify to naturalise 12 months after ILR (or immediately after ILR if married to a British citizen, subject to residence rules). You’ll need Life in the UK (already done), English, good character, and absences within limits. Plan ahead with Applying for British Citizenship: Your 2025 Success Plan.

Quick FAQs: Skilled Worker Visa to ILR

Can I change employer during the 5 years?

Yes, but apply for a change of employment permission first. Keep continuous lawful leave and ensure the new role meets salary and occupation code rules.

Does part-time work qualify at ILR?

Part-time can qualify if your actual pay meets the required threshold and going rate for your hours. The key test is pay level at ILR, not FTE alone.

Do unpaid leave or sick leave break residence?

Statutory leave (e.g., maternity, paternity, sick leave) does not break residence. Keep absences within the 180-day rolling limits and hold evidence.

Can I include Tier 2 General time from before 2021?

Yes. Time under Tier 2 (General) combines with Skilled Worker time for the 5-year ILR total.

Ready to secure ILR? Eliminate the biggest variable—your Life in the UK Test. Download on App Store · Get it on Google Play

Important notes and updates

Rules are updated regularly. For example, Citizens Advice notes changes to Skilled Worker rules in July 2025 about qualification levels for new visas (see summary). Always cross-check the latest GOV.UK Skilled Worker pages and ILR guidance before applying.