ILR & Citizenship Eligibility Date Calculator
Work out when you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain and British citizenship from your visa start date.
The date your current visa was granted (or you first entered the UK on it).
- Qualifying period
- Qualifying period completes
- Earliest citizenship application
Assumes continuous residence — no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period for most routes. See our ILR guide for full rules.
Enter your visa start date to see your eligibility dates.
What is Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is permanent settlement in the UK. Once you have it, you are free of immigration time limits — you can live and work in the UK without needing to extend a visa. After holding ILR for a period (usually 12 months), most people become eligible to apply for British citizenship.
How the eligibility date is calculated
Most routes require a continuous qualifying period of residence in the UK. You can normally apply for ILR from 28 days before you complete that period. The calculator adds your route's qualifying period to your visa start date, then subtracts 28 days to show your earliest application date.
Qualifying periods by route
- Skilled Worker — 5 years
- Skilled Worker – Health & Care — 5 years
- Global Talent — 3 years (fast-track) or 5 years
- Innovator Founder — 3 years
- Spouse / partner of a British citizen or settled person — 5 years
- UK Ancestry — 5 years
- Long residence (10-year route) — 10 years
Continuous residence and absence limits
Your qualifying period only counts if you keep continuous residence. For most routes you must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. Longer individual absences — for example over a year — may break continuous residence. See our ILR guide for the details that matter for your route.
Citizenship: how long after ILR?
For naturalisation as a British citizen you normally need 5 years' residence and to have held ILR for at least 12 months. If you are married to a British citizen, the residence requirement drops to 3 years and there is no 12-month ILR wait. The calculator reflects both cases.
Good character and the Life in the UK Test
Dates are only part of the picture. You also need to pass the Life in the UK Test and meet the English language requirement. Criminal convictions, traffic offences and unpaid taxes can all affect the "good character" requirement. Always check the official GOV.UK settlement guidance for your circumstances.
General information only — not professional, legal, or financial advice. Always check official sources (such as GOV.UK, NHS, and the NMC) for anything official. Read our disclaimer.
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Frequently asked questions
The calculator follows current UK rules and thresholds. Figures are estimates for guidance only — your exact amount depends on your personal circumstances. Always check the official GOV.UK figures for anything official.
No. Every UKRoute calculator is completely free and runs in your browser. Nothing is stored or shared.
The tax and NI figures use the current UK tax year (April to April). Rates are reviewed each year and updated on UKRoute.