Rule guide
UK ILR continuous residence: track route-specific absences
Many UK settlement routes assess absences within a continuous qualifying period, often using a 180-day framework. The applicable period, calculation and exceptions depend on the route and dates involved. Check Appendix Continuous Residence and the route-specific rules before relying on a total.
What this page does not decide
An absence count cannot establish continuous residence by itself. Route changes, permitted absences, historical rule versions and evidence requirements can alter the assessment.
Build a reviewable absence record
List every departure from and return to the UK, then group dates into the qualifying period used by your route. Preserve the reason and evidence for any absence you think may be disregarded.
- Confirm the exact settlement route.
- Check which rule version covers each part of the period.
- Read the current caseworker guidance as well as the Immigration Rules.
Fictional example
Example only: Jo has several work trips across two 12-month periods. A simple five-year total hides how those absences fall within the route’s assessment periods, so Jo reviews each interval against the current official text.
Official record and rule sources
Check the authority.
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