UK ILR After 5 Years on Skilled Worker: 2026 Guide

Qualifying period (in force)5 years continuous residence

Earliest application28 days before you complete 5 years

AbsencesMax 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period

ILR fee£3,226 per person (priority +£500, super priority +£1,000)

Life in the UK test£50; ages 18–64; 24 questions, 45 minutes, 75% pass mark

English for ILRB1 proof from your visa counts now; B2 required from 26 Mar 2027

Rules in force today vs proposed changes

Keep these two things separate.

In force on 15 Oct 2026: Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa holders qualify for ILR after 5 years. GOV.UK still shows this, and no Statement of Changes altering the qualifying period has been laid.

Laid and coming: from 26 March 2027, ILR applicants on Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Scale-up and other routes must show English at B2, not B1. This was laid in HC 1691 and applies to people already on the route.

Proposed only (earned settlement): the November 2025 consultation "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement" proposed a 10-year baseline, 15 years for Skilled Workers in jobs below RQF 6, and reductions for high earners (for example 5 years off for earning £50,270 for 3 years, 7 years off for £125,140), public service, C1 English and volunteering. It closed on 12 February 2026 with over 200,000 responses. No rules have been laid. Transitional protection for people already on the route is undecided. The Home Secretary said in March 2026 that changes would apply to people in the UK who have not yet settled; in September 2026 she was reported to have told MPs it would come "in good time before February 2027".

Practical takeaway: if you reach 5 years soon, apply as early as the rules allow and before 26 March 2027 if your English proof is only B1. Watch the UK rule changes page.

Eligibility checklist

5 years' continuous residence on Skilled Worker (or Tier 2 General), or combined with certain other work routes. Time on Student, Graduate, Visitor, High Potential Individual or India Young Professionals visas does not count.
Absences: no more than 180 days outside the UK in any rolling 12-month period across the 5 years, not per calendar year. Limited exceptions exist for serious illness or compassionate reasons.
Salary: GOV.UK's ILR salary page sets the usual test as the higher of £41,700 or the going rate for your occupation code. Health and education jobs on national pay scales and some other cases have different rules. Check the salary requirements page against your own job before applying.
Sponsor confirmation: your employer must confirm it still employs you, needs you for the foreseeable future and pays you the stated salary.
Life in the UK test passed, if aged 18–64.
English: currently the proof used for your visa counts. From 26 March 2027 you will need B2.
No serious criminality or immigration breaches.

Life in the UK test

Book it only on the official GOV.UK booking site. It costs £50, has 24 multiple-choice questions in 45 minutes, and you need 75% (18 correct) to pass. The questions come from the official handbook Life in the United Kingdom: A Guide for New Residents. You need the ID you use when booking, so use your current passport. Your pass does not expire, and the same pass is used later for citizenship. Book 6 to 8 weeks before you want to apply; slots in big cities can fill up.

Fees, priority services and how long it takes

Item	Cost (from 8 Apr 2026)
ILR application, per person	£3,226
Priority service	+£500
Super priority service	+£1,000
Life in the UK test	£50
Biometrics at UKVCAS	Free standard slots; paid slots optional

A family of three (you, partner, child) pays £9,678 in ILR fees alone, about ₹12.2 lakh at ₹126 per pound. Standard decisions usually take up to 6 months. Priority aims for a decision within about 5 working days and super priority by the end of the next working day after biometrics, subject to availability. There is no IHS on ILR.

Documents to prepare

Current passport and the passports you used during the 5 years (to check travel stamps).
A full list of trips abroad with dates. Rebuild it from your passports, airline booking emails and work travel records.
Employer letter confirming job, SOC code, salary and that you are still needed.
Recent payslips (often the last 3 months) and your P60.
Life in the UK test pass reference.
English evidence used in earlier applications (degree certificate with Ecctis statement or SELT).
For your partner and children: relationship and birth certificates, and evidence you live together.

Use the UK document checklist to track them.

Partner and children

Your partner and children can usually apply for ILR at the same time as you, each paying £3,226. A partner normally needs to have lived in the UK as your partner for 5 years and pass the Life in the UK test if aged 18–64. Children under 18 do not take the test; both parents must be settling or applying together, unless one parent has sole responsibility. If your partner joined you later, they may need to extend their dependant visa and settle later. Check this well before your 5-year date.

Common mistakes

Counting absences per calendar year. The 180 days applies to every rolling 12-month window.
Applying too early. More than 28 days before 5 years means refusal and a lost fee.
Salary drift. A pay cut, unpaid leave or going part-time near the end can mean you fall below the ILR threshold.
Changing jobs at the wrong time. A new sponsor must also confirm you; gaps in employment raise questions.
Leaving the Life in the UK test to the last week.
Assuming the 10-year proposal applies now. It does not, but it might before your date. Do not delay.
Forgetting B2 English from 26 March 2027. If your only proof is B1, applying before then avoids a new test.

Plan the full path with the ILR and citizenship timeline.

Step by step

Calculate your 5-year dateFind when your continuous residence started and the date you complete 5 years. You may apply up to 28 days before it.
Audit your absencesList every trip abroad and check no 12-month window exceeds 180 days.
Pass the Life in the UK testBook on GOV.UK for £50, study the official handbook and pass with at least 18 out of 24.
Get your employer's confirmationAsk HR for a letter confirming your job, salary and that they still need you, and check the salary meets the ILR rule.
Apply onlineComplete the Skilled Worker settlement form on GOV.UK, pay £3,226 per person and any priority fee.
Give biometricsAttend a UKVCAS appointment or use the ID Check app if offered, and upload documents.
Receive your eVisaYour ILR appears in your UKVI account. Do not travel abroad while the application is pending.

Questions people ask

Is ILR still 5 years for Skilled Workers in 2026?

Yes. On 15 October 2026 the 5-year route is in force. The 10-year earned settlement idea is only a proposal, and transitional rules are undecided.

How much is the UK ILR fee in 2026?

£3,226 per person since 8 April 2026, plus £500 for priority or £1,000 for super priority.

How early can I apply for ILR?

Up to 28 days before you complete 5 years of continuous residence.

What if I spent more than 180 days outside the UK in one year?

If any rolling 12-month period exceeds 180 days, your continuous residence is usually broken, unless an exception such as serious illness applies. Get advice.

Do I need B2 English for ILR?

Not before 26 March 2027. From that date, ILR applicants on Skilled Worker and similar routes need B2, including people already on the route.

Can I travel while my ILR application is pending?

Avoid it. Leaving the UK usually means your application is treated as withdrawn.

Official sources

Checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with the authority before you apply.

Applying for ILR after 5 years as a Skilled Worker