UK ILR Eligibility and Countdown

UK ILR Eligibility Date and Countdown Calculator 2024
DeyWithMe ILR rules guide ↓

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.

0 days
or type: days

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.

0

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.

Do Not Miss This Step:  UK Visa Route Recommender

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 Date = Qualifying Start + Qualifying Years (5yr for SW, 3yr for GT Exceptional Promise) Earliest Apply Date = ILR Eligibility Date – 28 days Days Remaining = ILR Eligibility Date – Today (negative if already eligible) Qualifying % = Days Completed / (Qualifying Years × 365) Abs Headroom/year = 180 – Max(absences in any 12mo window) Renewal Needed? = YES if Visa Expiry < ILR Eligibility Date
The 180-day absence check in this tool uses your total absences as a proxy only. The actual ILR test checks every possible 12-month rolling window during the qualifying period. If all your absence days fall in one 12-month window, you can fail even if your total is under 180 over 5 years. Keep a complete travel log with exact dates from the first day of your qualifying visa.

ILR Eligibility Scenarios for Nigerian Skilled Workers

SW start dateVisa expiryILR eligibleApply fromRenewal needed?Status today (Mar 2026)
Jan 2020Dec 2024Jan 2025Dec 2024No (expired; Section 3C)Eligible
Jan 2021Jan 2026Jan 2026Dec 2025No (visa covers ILR date)Eligible
Jan 2022Jan 2025Jan 2027Dec 2026Yes (visa expired; renew)23mo remaining
Sep 2022Sep 2025Sep 2027Aug 2027Yes (visa expires Sep 2025)18mo remaining
Jan 2023Jan 2028Jan 2028Dec 2027No (visa covers ILR date)34mo remaining
Sep 2024Sep 2027Sep 2029Aug 2029Yes (visa expires Sep 2027)42mo remaining
Check your visa expiry date against your ILR date now, not in the month before. If your current Skilled Worker visa expires before your ILR qualifying date, you need a renewal. Renewal applications take 3 to 8 weeks, cost approximately £827 (visa fee) plus IHS for the renewal period, and must be submitted before the existing visa expires. Planning this 6 months in advance avoids any lapse in right to work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I need on Skilled Worker before ILR?
5 continuous qualifying years on Skilled Worker or another qualifying route. There must be no gap in qualifying leave during the 5-year period. You can apply up to 28 days before the 5-year date.
Does changing jobs reset the ILR clock?
No, as long as there is no gap in qualifying leave. Apply for the new employer’s Skilled Worker visa before starting the new role. Any gap in qualifying leave may interrupt the continuous period and reset the clock.
What is the earliest I can apply for ILR?
28 days before your qualifying period is complete. Applying earlier than this will result in a refusal, and fees are not refunded. This tool shows the exact earliest application date for your qualifying start date.
What is Section 3C leave?
Section 3C leave protects your right to remain and work in the UK if you submit a qualifying application (such as an ILR application or Skilled Worker renewal) before your current visa expires and the decision has not yet been made. Your existing visa conditions continue under Section 3C until the decision is issued. It does not apply if you allow your visa to expire without submitting an in-time application.
How much does ILR cost?
£2,885 per person (2024). No IHS on ILR. Life in the UK test £50 each. Dependants pay £2,885 each. Optional priority processing approximately £500 to £1,500 extra. Verify at gov.uk before applying.
Disclaimer: ILR eligibility depends on your complete immigration history, absence record, visa compliance, and Home Office assessment of your application. This calculator uses your qualifying start date and total absences as inputs and provides estimates only. The 180-day absence rule applies to any rolling 12-month window and requires a complete travel log to assess accurately. ILR fees and qualifying rules can change. Verify all requirements at gov.uk before submitting an application. DeyWithMe is not affiliated with the UK Home Office. This is not immigration advice.
Do Not Miss This Step:  UK Visit Visa Eligibility Checker
ILR summary copied

Wait, There’s More