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Calculator · ILR

Are you ready for Indefinite Leave to Remain?

ILR refusals usually come from one of six issues: route, residence length, continuity, absences, Life in the UK test, and English evidence. This calculator screens all six in 60 seconds and gives you a clear blocker list.

Step 1 — Your route
012 years
Step 2 — Compliance checks
Continuous lawful UK residence with no gaps?

Each visa renewed before the previous expired

≤180 days outside UK in every rolling 12-month window?

Across the entire qualifying period

Passed the Life in the UK test?

One-off £50 test; valid indefinitely

English evidenced at B1 (CEFR) or exempt?

SELT, English-medium degree + UK ENIC, or English-majority passport

Any criminal cautions / convictions / pending proceedings?

UK or overseas, anywhere in the last 10 years

1 blocker to address

You're not yet eligible.

ILR is granted when every requirement is clearly met. Address blockers first; warnings can usually be confirmed quickly.

  1. Blocker
    You haven't passed the Life in the UK test yet.
    Book the test at gov.uk for £50. Study from the official Home Office handbook for 4-6 weeks. The pass certificate is required at application.
This calculator is an eligibility check based on the standard ILR criteria. It does not assess every nuance of UKVI policy — including specific route-related conditions, good-character considerations beyond simple criminal record, or special-case discretion. For complex situations, consult an IAA-registered immigration adviser.

No. 01 — Common questions

What people ask before applying for ILR

  1. 01

    What does this calculator check?

    Six core ILR criteria: qualifying route, time on route, continuous lawful residence, 180-day absence rule, Life in the UK test, B1 English evidence, and good character (criminal record). It produces a checklist of blockers and warnings tailored to your answers.

  2. 02

    Can I trust this for my actual application?

    It's an eligibility screening tool, not a decision. The blockers it identifies are the standard ILR refusal triggers; if you have any blockers, address them before applying. For complex cases (gap periods, criminal history, dependent applicants), consult an IAA-registered immigration adviser.

  3. 03

    What if I'm unsure about absences?

    Order a Subject Access Request (SAR) from the Home Office for free — it returns your immigration history including UK entries and exits as recorded by Border Force. Cross-reference with your passport stamps to build a definitive timeline.

  4. 04

    Why does the route matter?

    Different routes have different qualifying periods (5 years for most work and family routes, 3 for Innovator Founder, 10 for Long Residence). Time on routes that don't lead to settlement (Student, Graduate, Visitor) doesn't count toward the 5-year clock.

  5. 05

    What if I'm short on a single criterion?

    Most ILR criteria can be satisfied with time. Continuous residence builds; you can re-take the Life in the UK test; you can take a B1 English test. Absence breaches are the hardest to remedy — you wait until the excessive-absence period drops out of the rolling 12-month window.

When you're ready

Free tools for the ILR application itself