UK ILR Eligibility and Countdown Calculator
Enter your qualifying visa start date to see your exact ILR eligibility date, live countdown, absence headroom, and whether your qualifying period is on track. Pre-filled with a typical Skilled Worker scenario.
Based on 2024 UK Home Office rules. ILR requires 5 continuous qualifying years (Skilled Worker). Absence limit: 180 days per 12-month rolling period. Not immigration advice. Verify at gov.uk.
Determines the qualifying period. Most Nigerian graduates will be on Skilled Worker (5 years). Global Talent Exceptional Promise allows ILR after 3 years.
The date your current qualifying visa began. For Skilled Worker with employer changes, use your first Skilled Worker start date only if there was no gap in qualifying leave between changes.
Your current Skilled Worker visa expiry date. Used to check whether you need a renewal before ILR, and to flag Section 3C risk.
Your best estimate of total UK absence days. The 180-day rule is per rolling 12-month window, not the total. This tool flags risk if your total is high. Keep a full travel log for the actual ILR check.
Required for most ILR applicants aged 18 to 64. Book early. Slots in London, Birmingham, and Manchester fill up months in advance.
Each must have 5 qualifying years on their own dependant visa. Each pays £2,885.
ILR Mistakes That Delay or Refuse Applications
Not tracking UK absence dates from day one of the qualifying visa
The 180-day absence rule applies to any rolling 12-month window, not just the calendar year. You need exact departure and return dates for every trip abroad, from the first day of your qualifying Skilled Worker visa. Many Nigerian workers only start tracking travel from the year they plan to apply for ILR, losing records of earlier trips. The Home Office has access to your travel history via border control records. Inconsistencies cause refusals.
Allowing a gap in qualifying leave when changing jobs
When switching Skilled Worker employers, the new Skilled Worker visa must begin before or on the last day of the old job. Even a one-day gap where you are not on qualifying leave can interrupt the continuous qualifying period. If a gap occurs, your ILR clock may reset to the start of your new qualifying period. Apply for the new employer’s Skilled Worker visa well before starting the new role.
Applying more than 28 days before the ILR eligibility date
Many Nigerian applicants, keen to secure ILR as quickly as possible, apply slightly too early. An ILR application submitted more than 28 days before the qualifying period is complete will be refused. The refusal fee is not refunded. The earliest you can apply is 28 days before your qualifying period completes.
Letting the Skilled Worker visa expire before ILR is granted
Your Skilled Worker visa may expire before your ILR qualifying period completes. In that case, you must renew the Skilled Worker visa (paying fees again) before applying for ILR. Alternatively, you can submit your ILR application before the Skilled Worker visa expires, at which point Section 3C leave protects you. Letting the visa expire without an in-time application is a serious error that may affect both ILR eligibility and your right to work.
How the ILR Eligibility Calculator Works
The calculator takes your qualifying visa start date and route, then computes the earliest ILR eligibility date by adding the required qualifying period (5 years for Skilled Worker, 3 years for Global Talent Exceptional Promise). It then counts down the days and months from today to that eligibility date and checks your absence record against the 180-day rule.
ILR Eligibility Scenarios for Nigerian Skilled Workers
| SW start date | Visa expiry | ILR eligible | Apply from | Renewal needed? | Status today (Mar 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | Dec 2024 | Jan 2025 | Dec 2024 | No (expired; Section 3C) | Eligible |
| Jan 2021 | Jan 2026 | Jan 2026 | Dec 2025 | No (visa covers ILR date) | Eligible |
| Jan 2022 | Jan 2025 | Jan 2027 | Dec 2026 | Yes (visa expired; renew) | 23mo remaining |
| Sep 2022 | Sep 2025 | Sep 2027 | Aug 2027 | Yes (visa expires Sep 2025) | 18mo remaining |
| Jan 2023 | Jan 2028 | Jan 2028 | Dec 2027 | No (visa covers ILR date) | 34mo remaining |
| Sep 2024 | Sep 2027 | Sep 2029 | Aug 2029 | Yes (visa expires Sep 2027) | 42mo remaining |
