After How Many Years Do You Get Settlement (ILR) in the UK?
Written by: Marcus M. Araz, MBA, PhD · Updated:
Under the rule currently in force the standard wait for settlement (ILR) on most routes is 5 years. Time alone is not enough: the continuous residence condition has to be met, the Life in the UK test passed and English demonstrated at the set level. The conditions of the route also have to have been met without a break throughout that period.
The position by route
| Route | Effect on settlement (ILR) |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | The ILR route is open with the standard 5 years of continuous residence |
| Global Talent, Innovator Founder | The ILR route is open; the period can vary with the profile and the route |
| Family route | The ILR route is open; the extension and switching timetable follows the route's own rules |
| UK Expansion Worker | A time limited route that does not lead to ILR on its own; at the next stage a move to Skilled Worker is discussed |
| Student | Time spent as a student does not count towards the ILR period on its own; a move to a post study work route is needed |
What continuous residence means
The days spent outside the UK must not exceed a set limit. Starting this record years before the application matters: trying to remember travel days afterwards is one of the most common problems at application stage.
The change on the agenda in 2026
The Earned Settlement model, which proposes raising the ILR wait from 5 years to 10, is under discussion. The proposal was set out in the May 2025 Immigration White Paper, the consultation closed on 12 February 2026 and around 130,000 responses are being assessed. It has not become law yet; the current 5 year period is in force. How the transitional arrangements will work is not clear either.
Citizenship after ILR
Citizenship is generally the step after ILR. Once you have ILR, a certain waiting period, physical presence conditions in the United Kingdom, the Life in the UK test and the good character criterion are required. For those married to a British citizen the period can work differently. For the requirements, fees and timeline see our page How to become a British citizen page.
Frequently asked questions
Do five years work the same on every route? No. On most work routes the standard period is 5 years, but time limited routes such as UK Expansion Worker do not lead to ILR on their own and time spent as a student does not count.
Do days spent abroad reset the clock? A period over the limit can break the continuous residence condition. That is why the day count has to be kept from the start.
Does buying a home shorten the ILR period? It does not. Property ownership is not a criterion in the settlement assessment.
Can I leave the UK after I get ILR? ILR status can be lost through long absences. The periods and conditions should be confirmed with a qualified adviser.
If the 10 year rule comes into force, will it apply to me too? How the transitional arrangements will work has not been announced. What applies today is the 5 year period.
An important notice
capital.works® is a property consultancy and does not provide immigration advice. Giving immigration advice and services in the United Kingdom is a regulated activity; only advisers authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) and solicitors registered with the SRA may provide it.
Vize, oturum veya vatandaşlık başvurunuz için sizi yetkili göçmenlik avukatımıza yönlendiririz; vize sürecini onun yürütmesi esastır. Biz de capital.works® olarak gayrimenkul ve mortgage tarafındaki planlamayı bu sürece uyumlu şekilde kurgularız. Bir danışmanın yetkili olup olmadığını şuradan doğrulayabilirsiniz: the official register on GOV.UK.
The next step
To work out your own timetable see our residence permit page and if you want to build the property planning around that timetable, write to us.
The current amounts of the visa, health surcharge and settlement fees are on our How much are UK residence fees page.