10-Year Long Residence Route to ILR: Complete 2025 Guide

Ten years can feel like forever when you’re counting every stamp, every rental, every renewal. Imagine: after a decade in the UK – school, work, new family – a London applicant marks the date for their ILR. Then comes the last hurdle: can a couple of missed days or a visa switch ruin it? That’s what this guide is for – precision, relief, and a clear path to settlement.

As Trusted UK Immigration & Business Lawyers, Conroy Baker helps professionals, students, and families understand the 10-Year Long Residence ILR.

Let’s begin with a plain-English definition and practical facts.

The 10-Year Long Residence ILR allows people who have lived lawfully and continuously in the UK for a full decade to apply for settlement. This period can include most visa types – but NOT time as a Visitor, Short-term Student (English language), Seasonal Worker, Ukraine schemes, immigration bail, or significant overstaying.
Who qualifies?
You need:

• 10 years continuous lawful residence (see exceptions below)
• To meet suitability & character requirements (no serious immigration or criminal breaches)
• Life in the UK test and at least B1 English for ILR

Included:

• Student/General Student
• Skilled Worker/HSMP/Tier 1, 2, 5 (main categories)
• Global Talent/Innovator
• UK Dependant Visa, family, parent, child (qualifying routes)
• EEA/EEA family (up to Dec 2020/EUSS window)
• Time exempt from control

Excluded:

• Visitor, Short-term Student (English language), Seasonal Worker
• Immigration bail, asylum/humanitarian protection without permission
• Ukraine routes, time in Ireland (Crown Dependencies: eligible only if on equivalent route)

Pre-11 April 2024 (Historic Rule):

• No single trip >184 days
• Total absences ≤548 days over 10 years
• Only absences starting before 11 April 2024 count toward the old 548-day pot

From 11 April 2024 (New Rolling Rule):

• No more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period
  (Use the Home Office’s rolling window not “per year”)

Transitional Cases (When 10 Years Straddle the Date)

• Absences starting before 11 April 2024: Use the old rule
• Absences starting on or after 11 April 2024: Use the rolling rule

Worked Example

• 120 days out (in yearly chunks before April 2024) + 170 days (May 2024–May 2025, non-overlapping) = possibly eligible if neither cap broken at the wrong time.

How to Count Days

• Only whole days out count. Part-days do NOT count. Always check return dates.

Permitted/Forgiven Absences

• Certain absences (compassionate/compelling, crisis, research) may be forgiven; strong evidence is needed (official letters, tickets, supporting statements).

• If your permission was granted on or after 11 April 2024, you must be on your current route for at least 12 months before applying.
• If granted before that date: No 12-month requirement.
  (Step through a decision tree to check your eligibility.)

• Overstaying periods “disregarded” under rule 39E won’t break lawfulness but also don’t count toward your 10 years.
• Invalid applications, immigration bail, certain gaps can break continuous residence; careful review is needed.

Waiting under “Section 3C” (with an in-time application pending) counts only if your underlying route counts toward ILR.

Applicants must pass the Life in the UK test and show B1 English (unless exempt by age/disability). Get both done early – don’t leave them until the last week.

Know more >

You can apply up to 28 days before hitting 10 years – but not earlier, or you’ll be refused. Calculate this exactly using our online ILR calculator.

• Current & all old passports, BRP or eVisa code
• Strong proof for every year: tenancy, utility, council tax, bank, payslips, GP/school/uni letters, HMRC/employer confirmations
• Absence evidence: entry/exit stamps, travel schedules, employer/uni travel permissions

Tip: Each evidence type should fill at least one year’s residence “gap”.

1. Online application (SET(LR)) via GOV.UK
2. Upload documents and pay (£3,029 – always confirm). (GOV.UK)
3. Attend UKVCAS for biometrics
4. Wait for decision (usually within 6 months; super priority may be faster)
5. Note: Only the applicant can apply – no dependants included on this route.

10-Year Long Residence ILR is solo – dependants must qualify on their own 10-year period or switch to another route (usually Appendix FM for family/children).

• Mis-counted absences (use the calculator and checklist)
• Small gaps/invalid apps breaking the 10-year chain
• Missing early-years evidence (gather school or GP records if needed)
• Applying too early or too late due to miscalculations

A client spent 210 days out for urgent medical care (with documents). Discretion was granted under CR 3.4 after a detailed statement and supporting letters showed “compelling compassionate grounds,” proving that strong evidence and legal argument can save an application.