How to Get Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
on a UK Skilled Worker Visa

After five years on a Skilled Worker visa, you can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — permanent settlement in the UK. No more visa renewals, no more employer ties, and a clear path to British citizenship. But the process is not automatic, and getting any detail wrong can mean refusal — or worse, resetting the clock.

This guide covers everything you need to know about ILR for Skilled Worker visa holders in 2026: eligibility rules, current fees, salary thresholds, the 180-day absence limit, the coming Earned Settlement changes, and the route to British citizenship. Every figure is verified as of May 2026.

1. Who qualifies for ILR on a Skilled Worker visa?

Under the current rules (before Earned Settlement launches), you can apply for ILR if you meet all of the following:

• 5 continuous years on a qualifying visa (Skilled Worker, former Tier 2 General, or Health and Care Worker)
• A valid Skilled Worker visa at the time of application
• Ongoing employment with a licensed sponsor whose Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is current
• Your job meets the skill level (RQF Level 3+) and salary threshold
• You have not been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period
• You pass the Life in the UK test and meet the B1 English language requirement
• No unspent criminal convictions or character/suitability issues

2. Salary thresholds for ILR in 2026

Your salary is assessed against the thresholds in force at the time you apply for ILR — not the rates when your visa was first granted. This catches many applicants off guard. A shortfall of even a few hundred pounds triggers refusal.

3. The 180-day absence rule (continuous residence)

This is one of the strictest and most misunderstood parts of ILR. You must not be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying period.

• The 180-day limit is assessed on a rolling 12-month basis, not by calendar year or visa year
• Both business and personal travel count toward the total
• A single absence of more than 6 months can reset the entire qualifying period
• Every 12-month window across your qualifying period is checked separately

Permitted exceptions (days that do not count toward 180):

• Assisting with a national or international humanitarian crisis abroad
• Travel disruption caused by natural disaster, military conflict, or pandemic
• Compelling, compassionate personal circumstances (e.g. life-threatening illness of applicant or close family member)

4. ILR fees in 2026

ILR is expensive. And unlike the visa application, there is no employer contribution — you pay the full cost. Fees increased in April 2026.

5. Life in the UK test

All ILR applicants aged 18–65 must pass this test before submitting their application. You cannot submit and then take the test — the pass certificate is a required document.

• Format: 24 multiple-choice questions, 45 minutes
• Pass mark: 75% (18 out of 24 correct)
• Content: British history, customs, traditions, values, and civic knowledge
• Fee: £75 per attempt (increased from £50)
• Exemptions: Under 18, over 65, or those with qualifying long-term physical or mental conditions

The pass certificate does not expire and can be reused for your citizenship application later.

6. English language requirement (B1 level)

For ILR, you need to prove English at CEFR B1 level (speaking and listening) — one level higher than the B1 required for the initial visa application. The approved tests are:

• IELTS for UKVI — B1 Life Skills (speaking and listening only)
• Trinity College London — GESE Grade 5
• LanguageCert International ESOL

Who is exempt from the English test:

• Nationals of majority English-speaking countries (USA, Australia, Canada, etc.)
• Holders of a degree taught or researched in English (subject to stricter verification from 2025)
• Applicants under 18 or over 65
• Those with qualifying medical conditions

7. Combining time on different visas

You can combine time spent on certain qualifying visa types toward the 5-year ILR period. This is common if you switched visa routes.

Example: 2 years on Tier 2 (General) + 3 years on Skilled Worker = 5 years qualifying. But 2 years on a Graduate visa + 3 years on Skilled Worker = only 3 years — the Graduate visa time does not count.

8. Switching employers and the ILR clock

Changing employers does not reset your 5-year ILR clock — as long as you maintain continuous lawful residence and do not have any gaps in your immigration permission.

• You can switch employers by applying for a new Skilled Worker visa with a new CoS
• Short gaps between employers generally do not break continuity, but gaps of more than 14 days between visa permissions can cause problems
• You must have valid immigration permission throughout the entire qualifying period — any period of overstaying resets the clock
• Your CoS must be valid and current at the time you apply for ILR — an expired or incorrect CoS is a leading cause of refusal

9. Processing times

Processing times are measured from the date of your biometrics appointment, not from online submission. The wait between submission and biometrics (typically 1–4 weeks for standard service) is on top of this.

Standard ILR applications are running significantly longer than usual in 2026 due to a volume spike — many applicants are rushing to submit before the Earned Settlement reforms take effect.

10. The Earned Settlement changes (coming autumn 2026)

The Government's Immigration White Paper (May 2025) proposed replacing the current 5-year ILR route with an “Earned Settlement” system. The consultation ran from November 2025 to February 2026, and implementation is expected in autumn 2026. Here is what we know:

11. The 10-year long residence route

There is currently an alternative route to ILR based on 10 years of continuous lawful residence in the UK, regardless of visa type. This route has its own rules:

• 10 full years of lawful and continuous residence
• No single absence exceeding 180 days in any 12-month period
• Total absences must not exceed 540 days over the 10-year period
• Valid leave to remain at time of application
• Pass Life in the UK test and B1 English requirement

Time that does not count: Visitor visas, short-term student visas, and Ukraine scheme time.

12. Top reasons ILR applications are refused

ILR refusals are expensive and time-consuming to fix. Here are the most common reasons — all are avoidable with proper preparation:

1. Salary shortfall. Your current salary does not meet the threshold in force at the time of application — even if it met the rules when your visa was granted.
2. Exceeding the 180-day absence limit. Being outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period.
3. CoS issues. Incorrect salary details, wrong occupation codes, expired sponsorship, or your employer's licence being revoked or suspended.
4. Job duties mismatch. Your actual job duties have changed significantly from the original CoS without being updated.
5. Applying too early. Submitting more than 28 days before completing the qualifying period.
6. Documentation gaps. Missing payslips, P60s, tax records, or other evidence. Caseworkers are applying stricter evidential standards.
7. Gaps in immigration permission. Any period of overstaying or being without valid leave, even briefly.
8. Outstanding NHS debt. An NHS debt of £500 or more can result in refusal.

13. After ILR: the path to British citizenship

ILR is not the finish line — it is the gateway to British citizenship. Here is the standard route:

• Hold ILR for at least 12 months before applying (no wait if married to a British citizen)
• Have lived in the UK for at least 5 years before the application date (3 years if married to a British citizen)
• Not been absent for more than 450 days during those 5 years (270 days if married to a British citizen)
• Not been absent for more than 90 days in the final 12 months
• Meet the good character requirement
• Intend to continue living in the UK

The Life in the UK test certificate from your ILR application can be reused for citizenship — you do not need to take it again.

14. ILR application checklist

Use this checklist to make sure everything is in order before you apply: