The 10-Year Route Has Changed. Here Is What You Need to Know.
The 10-year Long Residence ILR route was, for many years, the primary settlement pathway for people who had spent a decade building their lives in the UK without qualifying through a specific work or family visa route. As of the 2025 immigration reforms, that route has been abolished for new applicants.
If you are reading this page because someone told you to apply for ILR on long residence grounds, the first question is whether you actually still qualify to do so. The answer depends on two specific facts: how much qualifying residence you had accrued before the commencement date, and whether you submitted a valid application before that date.
Route abolished for new applicants: The 10-year Long Residence ILR route is closed to applicants who had not completed the full qualifying period before the 2025 commencement date. Submitting an application under this route when you do not qualify under the transitional provisions will result in refusal and a wasted application fee.
Who the Transitional Provisions Cover
The 2025 reforms included transitional provisions for two categories of applicant.
Category one. Applicants who had accrued the full 10 years of continuous lawful residence before the commencement date and had not yet applied. These applicants can still submit an ILR application under the transitional provisions. The application is assessed against the rules that applied immediately before the commencement date.
Category two. Applicants who had submitted a valid 10-year Long Residence ILR application before the commencement date and were awaiting a decision. These applications are processed under the old rules regardless of when the decision is issued.
Applicants who were still accumulating residence at the commencement date and had not yet reached 10 years do not fall within either transitional category. The route is closed to them regardless of how close to 10 years they were.
Not sure which category you fall into? The commencement date and your specific visa grant history are the two facts that determine it. We can verify this from your immigration documents and give you a clear answer before any application decision is made.
What the Transitional Application Requires
For applicants who do qualify under the transitional provisions, the application requirements remain as they were under the pre-reform rules.
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 visa validity dates shown on the document.
Absence Limits
Total absences during the 10-year period must not exceed 540 days. No single 12-month period within the qualifying period may have absences exceeding 180 days. With real-time UKVI eGates travel data now available to caseworkers, absence calculations that do not match the official record are 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 letter.
Life in the UK and English Language
A valid Life in the UK test certificate obtained within three years of the ILR application date is required. English language at CEFR B1 level must be demonstrated through a UKVI-approved provider. Check both requirements against the current approved lists at the date of application.
If the 10-Year Route Is No Longer Available to You
For applicants who fall outside the transitional provisions, the realistic options in 2026 depend on the individual's current visa, residence history, and personal circumstances. The most common alternative 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 five-year 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
- FLR(FP) leave to remain — for those who have a qualifying private or family life case in the UK but 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.
Why Long Residence ILR Applications Are Refused
A gap between consecutive visas, however short, breaks the continuous lawful residence requirement. The gap itself may be historic and undiscoverable without checking the original grant letters against each other. This must be verified before the application is submitted.
An applicant who had not completed the full 10 years before the commencement date submits under the transitional route. The application is refused and the fee is lost. The position must be verified before the application is lodged.
Self-calculated absences that undercount travel days lead to 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 verifying whether the transitional provisions actually apply to your case based on your specific visa history and residence record. If they do, we map your continuous residence, conduct a full absence audit against UKVI travel data, check the Good Character position, and prepare the complete application.
If the transitional provisions do not apply, we identify the correct alternative route, give you a realistic assessment of your options, and advise on the steps needed to progress your case under the current 2026 rules.
We work on a fixed-fee basis. We are IAA-regulated (F202536292).