Not legal advice. This tool gives estimates from the published rules (last reviewed 30 September 2026). It can't see your full immigration history, and exceptions, transitional rules and Home Office discretion all matter. Check gov.uk or a regulated adviser (solicitor or OISC) before you apply or travel.

①

Your visa

Visa route Qualifying visa start date The date your qualifying permission began (or you arrived on it). Student, Graduate and visitor time usually doesn't count. ILR granted on (optional) Already settled? Add it for an exact citizenship date. I'm married to, or the civil partner of, a British citizen (shorter 3-year citizenship route)

—Earliest ILR apply date

—Earliest citizenship date

—Worst 12-month absence

—Left in last 12 months

ILR

Choose your route and start date to see your earliest ILR date.

②

Trips abroad

Log every trip outside the UK, past and planned. Days abroad are whole days between leaving and returning. For each trip you'll see the total for the 12 months up to that return. A trigger is raised when it passes 180 days.

Import from a spreadsheet

Copy your rows from Excel or Google Sheets and paste them here, or choose a .csv file. Each row needs a departure and a return date; the country and reason are picked up too, and anything else (like a total column) is ignored. Everything is read on your device and nothing is uploaded. For an .xlsx file, copy the cells, or use Save As → CSV.

…or choose a file

Add to my trips Replace my trips

Rule settings

# Days prior Window length. Standard: 365. # Days to trigger Standard ILR limit: 180.

③

Rolling total & trip planner

Days abroad in the previous 12 months

What if I travel?

Pick a leave date to see the longest trip you can take. Add a return date to test a specific trip, such as 10 Dec to 5 Jan.

Leave the UK Return (optional)

④

British citizenship

Citizenship

Add your visa start date above to see your earliest citizenship date.

Planned application date (optional — checks this date instead of the earliest)

You also need a pass in the Life in the UK test, the English language requirement and good character. Citizenship has no 28-day early window.

⑤

Your data

Imports, exports and the planner run entirely on your device. Signed out, your dates stay in this browser only. Signed in, they're saved to your account and visible only to you. Signing out removes them from this device. Privacy notice.

Changes to watch

The government has proposed “earned settlement”, a 10-year baseline for most routes instead of 5. As of 30 September 2026 it is not law. The Home Secretary told MPs on 15 September 2026 that the policy will be published later this year, and no transitional protection is confirmed. From 26 March 2027 the English requirement for settlement on many routes rises from B1 to B2. Check gov.uk for the latest.

Not legal advice. Permitted absences (for example compelling or compassionate circumstances, or travel disruption from disaster, conflict or pandemic) may not count towards the limits, and this tool doesn't model them. Time before you entered the UK on a visa you were granted entry clearance for also counts as absence.