Skilled Worker Visa to ILR
The Complete Guide

Your qualifying period begins on the date your Skilled Worker visa was issued — not the date you entered the UK. This is the "valid from" date on your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) or digital immigration status.

If you entered the UK after your visa was issued, the days between visa issue and UK entry count toward your 180-day absence limit. If the gap exceeds 180 days, your qualifying period starts from your actual entry date instead.

You can apply for ILR up to 28 days before your 5-year anniversary. For example, if your visa was issued on 15 March 2021, your 5-year mark is 15 March 2026, and you can apply from 15 February 2026.

During your qualifying period, you must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period. This is assessed on a rolling basis — not per calendar year.

The Home Office checks every possible 12-month window during your qualifying period. Going over 180 days in any single window breaks continuous residence and will normally result in refusal.

How absence days are counted

Only whole days outside the UK count. Your departure day and return day are not counted as absent days because you were in the UK for part of those days. For example:

• Depart Monday, return Thursday = 2 absent days (Tuesday and Wednesday)
• Depart 1 December, return 15 December = 13 absent days

This includes all travel — holidays, business trips, family visits, and emergencies. There is no exemption for work travel on the Skilled Worker route.

The ILR application involves several fees. As of April 2025, these are:

Each dependant (spouse, partner, children under 18) pays the full application fee separately. A family of four applying together would pay over £12,000 in fees alone. The fee is non-refundable if your application is refused.

Always check the current fees on gov.uk before applying, as they change annually.

Most applicants aged 18–64 must pass the Life in the UK Test before applying for ILR. The test consists of 24 multiple-choice questions drawn from the official handbook, and you need to score at least 75% (18 correct) to pass.

The test costs £50 and is taken at an approved test centre — not online. You can book at gov.uk/life-in-the-uk-test. If you fail, you can retake it after 7 days. Your pass certificate never expires for ILR purposes.

Exemptions apply if you are under 18, aged 65 or over, or have certain long-term physical or mental health conditions that prevent you from taking the test.

You must demonstrate English language ability at B1 CEFR level or above for ILR. If you already proved your English at B1 or higher when applying for your Skilled Worker visa, you do not need to take another test.

Accepted evidence includes:

• A passing score in an approved SELT (Secure English Language Test)
• A degree taught in English (from a majority English-speaking country or UK ENIC recognised)
• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country

Note: From January 2026, initial Skilled Worker visa applicants must show B2 level. However, the ILR requirement remains B1 for those already on the route.

Here is what the ILR application process looks like from start to finish:

ILR applications on the Skilled Worker route are most commonly refused for:

• Exceeding the 180-day absence limit — Even by a few days. The Home Office checks every rolling 12-month window.
• Gap in employment — You must have been employed by a licensed sponsor throughout your qualifying period. Gaps between jobs can be problematic if your visa was tied to a specific employer.
• Salary below the threshold — Your salary must meet the minimum for your occupation code at the time of application.
• Missing or inconsistent documents — Discrepancies between your stated travel history and passport stamps are a common issue.
• Criminal convictions — Certain convictions can lead to refusal under the good character requirement.

If your application is refused, the fee is not refunded. It is worth getting your documents thoroughly prepared before applying.