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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