Home/UK/Ilr 5 Year Skilled Worker Calculator
Home Office Skilled Worker Settlement180-Day Continuous Residence Rule£41,700 Standard Salary Threshold

5-Year Skilled Worker ILR Eligibility Calculator

Estimate the key requirements for settlement after a 5-year qualifying period, including continuous residence, the current salary rules, Life in the UK and English.

10-Year Long Residence ILR →UKVI Visa Hub →

Skilled Worker ILR Eligibility Checker

Check the main settlement conditions. This is not a substitute for a full UKVI eligibility assessment.

The 5 years can in some cases include qualifying time on other settlement routes, not only Skilled Worker.
Normally no more than 180 days in any 12-month period.
£
£
Enter the applicable settlement going rate for your SOC 2020 occupation and working pattern.
The correct reduced threshold depends on the exact Immigration Rules applicable to your case.
B1 normally applies before 26 March 2027; B2 is scheduled from that date, subject to exemptions.

Skilled Worker Settlement Requirements

RequirementCurrent rule
Qualifying PeriodNormally 5 years of qualifying continuous residence; certain other routes can count.
Continuous ResidenceNormally no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period, subject to statutory exceptions.
Standard SalaryAt least £41,700 and at least the relevant going rate, whichever is higher.
Transitional / Reduced SalaryLower thresholds can apply in specifically defined cases (£33,400, £31,300 or £25,000).
Life in the UKRequired for applicants aged 18 to 65 unless an exemption applies.
EnglishB1 generally applies before 26 March 2027; B2 is scheduled from 26 March 2027, subject to exemptions.
SponsorThe sponsor must still be approved and confirm that the applicant is required for the job for the foreseeable future.

Continuous Residence and Absence Rules

Appendix Continuous Residence requires that the applicant normally must not have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period. The calculation is performed across the qualifying period rather than simply adding all days abroad and comparing the result with 180.

Certain statutory exceptions can mean an absence is not counted. These rules should be checked individually where illness, travel restrictions or other exceptional circumstances are involved.

Employer Confirmation

For Skilled Worker settlement, the sponsor in the applicant's most recent permission must still be approved to sponsor Skilled Workers. The sponsor must confirm that the applicant is still required for the job for the foreseeable future and that the salary will continue to meet the applicable settlement requirements.

A generic “sponsor letter” is therefore not enough by itself; the confirmation must address the requirements specified in the Immigration Rules.

Frequently Asked Questions (6)

The usual qualifying period is 5 years of continuous residence. It does not necessarily have to consist entirely of Skilled Worker permission: qualifying time on certain other routes can count toward the 5-year settlement period, subject to the rules for those routes.

You must not normally have been outside the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the qualifying period. The continuous-residence rules contain specific provisions for absences that may be disregarded, so a simple single total for the whole five years is not enough to establish compliance.

For the standard settlement case, salary normally needs to be at least £41,700 a year and at least the applicable going rate for the sponsored occupation, whichever is higher. Lower salary thresholds apply in specified circumstances, including certain transitional cases and qualifying occupations on the Immigration Salary List (£33,400) or in health (£31,300) and education (£25,000).

Yes, unless an exemption applies. Applicants aged 18 to 65 normally need to meet the Life in the UK requirement and the applicable English-language requirement. For settlement applications made before 26 March 2027, the required English level is generally B1. From 26 March 2027, the settlement English requirement is scheduled to rise to B2 for applicants who are not exempt.

The settlement rules allow the qualifying period to be calculated using the date most beneficial to the applicant within the permitted window. In practical terms, GOV.UK states that an applicant can normally apply up to 28 days before completing the required 5-year period.

Your sponsor must still be approved to sponsor Skilled Workers and must confirm that they still require you to work for them for the foreseeable future. The sponsor must also confirm that you are paid, and will continue to be paid for the foreseeable future, at least the required settlement salary for your circumstances and occupation.

Official UKVI Sources

Skilled Worker ILR Quick Reference

Qualifying period5 years
Absence limit180 days / 12 months
Standard salary£41,700 + going rate
Life in UKRequired (18 to 65)*
EnglishB1 / B2 transition
*Subject to statutory exemptions.

Important

This is an informational screening tool. A full ILR assessment must consider the exact SOC code, salary history, sponsor confirmation, qualifying immigration categories, absences and settlement exemptions.

Skilled Worker Salary Calculator

Check the Skilled Worker salary rules separately.

Live Expat FX Tool 0% Hidden Spread
International Money Transfer & FX Rates

Sending funds for tuition, rent, or immigration fees? Retail banks sneak 2.5%–4% into exchange rates. Check today's real mid-market rate first.

High-Street Banks:~3.5% Hidden Markup
Wise Mid-Market:Zero Markup (Google Rate)
Compare Live Exchange Rate
⚡ Free live comparison • 50+ currencies supported