UK Skilled Worker Visa ILR Requirements & 5-Year Settlement Guide
This guide explains what a Skilled Worker needs for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). It covers the residence period, the absence limit, the salary rule and the Life in the UK test.
How to Qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from a Skilled Worker Visa
Indefinite Leave to Remain: definition
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is permission to live and work in the UK with no time limit. It is also called settlement. You do not need a sponsor after you get it. A Skilled Worker qualifies after 5 continuous years on an eligible work route. You must still work for a licensed sponsor at the required salary when you apply.
To settle from the Skilled Worker route you must:
- complete the qualifying period of continuous residence in the UK;
- still work for a licensed sponsor that confirms it needs you in the role;
- earn at least the required salary for your occupation;
- pass the Life in the UK test;
- stay within the absence limit, and have no criminal record or immigration breaches.
Current law: under current UK immigration law, the standard qualifying period for ILR is 5 continuous years. The government has consulted on proposals for an “earned settlement” model. But 5 years remains the active legal requirement today. Always confirm the current rules when you submit your application. Read the GOV.UK settlement guidance.
Continuous Residence and 180-Day Absence Rules Explained
Continuous residence means that you had a valid visa on an eligible route for the full period, with no gaps. You can combine time on some other work routes with your Skilled Worker time. You must not be outside the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period. Keep a record of every trip, with dates and reasons. The application form asks for them.
How the “Rolling 12-Month” Absence Rule Works in Practice
The 180-day limit does not reset on 1 January or on the anniversary of your visa. The Home Office checks it on a rolling basis. No period of 12 consecutive months can contain more than 180 days outside the UK.
- Full days only: a day counts only if you were outside the UK for all of it. The day you leave and the day you return are not absences.
- Permitted reasons: annual leave, business trips and family visits are all permitted. The total must stay within the limit.
- Exceptions: the Home Office can excuse an absence if you had a serious emergency. Examples are severe illness, conflict, or natural disaster. Keep written evidence.
Example: you spend 100 days abroad between March and August. Then you spend 90 days abroad between November and the next February. Neither trip is long. No calendar year has more than 180 days abroad. But the 12 months from March to the next February contain 190 days abroad. This breaks your continuous residence.
If an absence breaks your continuous residence, the qualifying period starts again. Plan long trips before you book them. Keep a spreadsheet of every departure and return date from your first day in the UK. It makes the check easy. It also gives you the absence record for the application form.
Minimum Salary Requirements for ILR Settlement Applications
Your sponsor must confirm your salary. You must earn at least the general salary threshold or the going rate for your occupation code. The higher of the two figures applies. Your sponsor must also confirm that it will continue to pay you at this level. Find the going rate for your code in the eligible occupations and SOC codes list. Different figures apply to some groups of workers, as the table shows.
| Your situation | General salary threshold | Also required |
|---|---|---|
| Standard: first Certificate of Sponsorship assigned on or after 4 April 2024 | £41,700 a year | The full going rate for your occupation code, if higher |
| Transitional: first CoS assigned before 4 April 2024, with continuous Skilled Worker visas since then | £31,300 a year (£29,000 before 22 July 2025) | The lower transitional going rate for your occupation code, if higher |
| Health and Care Worker roles and jobs on a national pay scale | £25,000 a year | The national pay scale rate for the role, if higher |
Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts. This is the same rule as on your Certificate of Sponsorship. The Home Office increases these figures from time to time. The threshold on your application date is the one that applies. Confirm it on GOV.UK before you apply. Is your pay below the figure for your situation? Then it is usually safer to extend your visa while you and your sponsor solve the problem.
Life in the UK Test and English Language Requirements for ILR
Applicants aged 18 to 64 must pass the Life in the UK test. A pass certificate for the test does not expire. You do not need to prove your English again when you settle from a Skilled Worker visa. You already proved it when you got that visa.
ILR Application Process, Documents and Processing Times
- Check the date when you complete the qualifying period. You can apply up to 28 days before it.
- Book and pass the Life in the UK test.
- Ask your sponsor for a letter. It must confirm that they still need you, and your pay.
- Complete the online settlement form for work routes. Pay the fee for each applicant.
- Book a biometrics appointment and upload your documents.
You need your passport, your absence record, and recent payslips with matching bank statements. You also need the sponsor letter and your Life in the UK test pass. A standard decision usually arrives within 6 months. You can pay for a super priority service to get a faster decision, if appointments are available. You do not pay the Immigration Health Surcharge on a settlement application.
If you apply before your visa expires, your current visa conditions continue until the decision. Do not travel outside the UK until you have the decision.
Extending Your Skilled Worker Visa vs Applying for ILR
Extend your visa if you have not completed the qualifying period, or cannot meet the salary rule. An extension needs a new Certificate of Sponsorship from your sponsor. See the Certificate of Sponsorship guide. Your time continues to count towards settlement. You can apply for ILR up to 28 days before you complete the qualifying period. Do you want to change sponsor? Find licensed employers in the UK Tier 2 sponsor list.
This guide is general information, not legal advice.