The 10-Year Long Residence Route Is Still Open. Change Is Coming.
The 10-year Long Residence route remains a valid settlement pathway in 2026. It is in force under Appendix Long Residence and open to new applicants. If you have lived in the UK lawfully for 10 continuous years, you can still apply for ILR on this basis today.
What has changed is the direction of travel. In May 2025 the Government published its immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, proposing a new earned settlement model. Under that model the standalone long residence route would be abolished and absorbed into a new 10-year baseline qualifying period. The Government consulted on these proposals until 12 February 2026. They are not yet law. No Statement of Changes has been laid to abolish the route.
The practical issue is timing. The route is open now. If the reforms take effect, this pathway is expected to close to anyone who has not already settled, and the Government has stated that it intends the new rules to apply to people in the UK who have not yet obtained ILR. That makes the position of anyone close to 10 years time-sensitive.
Act on the timeline, not on rumour. The route is open today. The proposed reforms are expected from Autumn 2026 at the earliest, and some elements may arrive later. If you have already accrued 10 years of continuous lawful residence, the strongest position is usually to apply under the current rules rather than wait. We will tell you honestly whether you qualify now.
The Current Requirements
For applicants who meet the 10-year threshold, the requirements under Appendix Long Residence are as follows.
Ten Years of Continuous Lawful Residence
Every day of the 10-year qualifying period must have been spent in the UK with valid leave, with no gaps between consecutive grants of leave. A single day without leave, whether through a late renewal, a Section 3C failure, or an administrative gap, breaks continuity and the 10-year clock restarts from that point. Verify the actual grant dates on every visa during the qualifying period, not just the validity dates shown on the document.
Absence Limits
Continuous residence is assessed under Appendix Continuous Residence, which permits absences of no more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period across the qualifying period. Absences that fall before 11 April 2024 are assessed under the long residence rules that applied at that time, which used different limits: no single absence exceeding 184 days, and no more than 548 days in total. Anyone whose 10 years spans 11 April 2024 needs both tests applied to the correct periods. UKVI caseworkers now hold eGates travel data, so a declared total that does not match the official record is identified immediately. Obtain verified travel data before submitting any absence declaration.
Good Character
The Good Character assessment under the February 2025 guidance applies in full. Any criminal matter, financial compliance issue, immigration condition breach, or undisclosed overstay during the qualifying period must be proactively disclosed and addressed with a supporting narrative.
Life in the UK and English Language
A valid Life in the UK test certificate is required, together with English language at CEFR B1 level demonstrated through a UKVI-approved provider. Note that a higher CEFR B2 English requirement was laid in the March 2026 Statement of Changes and commences on 26 March 2027. Applications made from that date will be assessed against the higher standard. Check both requirements against the rules and approved lists in force at your date of application.
If You Do Not Yet Qualify for Long Residence
If you have not reached 10 years, or your continuity has been broken, the route is not available to you in its current form, and the proposed reforms may remove it before you reach 10 years. The realistic alternatives in 2026 depend on your current visa, residence history, and personal circumstances. The most common pathways are as follows.
- Settlement through a qualifying work visa. For those who hold or can obtain a Skilled Worker, Global Talent, or other qualifying visa with a settlement route.
- Settlement through the partner route. For those in a qualifying relationship with a British citizen or settled person.
- The 20-year private life route. For those who have lived in the UK for 20 or more continuous years, available regardless of current immigration status. This grants leave to remain, from which settlement follows after a further qualifying period.
- FLR(FP) leave to remain. For those with a qualifying private or family life case who do not yet meet the 20-year threshold.
Identifying the right alternative is case-specific. It requires a review of the full immigration history, current visa, relationship status, and residence record. A strategic assessment before any application is made is the correct first step, and it matters more now that the reforms are on the horizon.
Why Long Residence ILR Applications Are Refused
A gap between consecutive visas, however short, breaks the continuous lawful residence requirement. The gap may be historic and undiscoverable without checking the original grant letters against each other. This must be verified before the application is submitted.
Absences before and after 11 April 2024 are assessed under different rules. Applying a single test across the whole 10 years produces a miscalculation that can place an applicant over the limit and lead to refusal. Each period must be tested against the rule that applied to it.
Self-calculated absences that undercount travel days produce a declared total that is inconsistent with the eGates record. This triggers a Good Character investigation regardless of whether the absences are within the permitted limits.
Any matter in the immigration or criminal history that falls within the February 2025 Good Character guidance must be declared. Undisclosed matters discovered during the caseworker's checks are treated as deception.
How ClearVisa Can Help
We begin by confirming whether you meet the 10-year requirement now. If you do, we map your continuous residence, conduct a full absence audit against UKVI travel data under both the pre and post April 2024 rules, check the Good Character position, and prepare the complete application before any window closes.
If you do not yet qualify, we identify the correct alternative route, give you a realistic assessment of your options, and advise on timing in light of the proposed earned settlement reforms.
We work on a fixed-fee basis. We are IAA-regulated (F202536292).