Long residence: caseworker guidance
Immigration staff guidance on how to consider applications from people applying on the basis of long residence in the UK.
Documents
Details
UK Visas and Immigration guidance on how staff consider indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and leave to remain applications from people applying on the basis of long residence in the UK.
This guidance is based on the Immigration Rules.
The rules on long residence recognise the ties a person may form with the UK over a lengthy period of residence here.
ILR can be granted under Appendix Long Residence after a period of 10 years’ continuous lawful residence.
Updates to this page
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Guidance updated as detailed on page 5.
Update history
2025-11-24 15:40
The guidance has been updated to reflect the change to the Immigration Rules Appendix Long Residence to apply Part Suitability.
2025-07-29 02:00
Guidance updated as detailed on page 5.
2024-12-18 05:00
Updated the guidance to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules excluding time with permission on Ukraine Schemes from counting towards the qualifying period requirement under the long residence route, clarify the guidance on periods exempt from immigration control and clarify the guidance on permission extended by virtue of section 3C of the Immigration Act 1971.
2024-07-09 16:46
Updated to clarify the transitional arrangements for long residence applicants relating to permissible absences and continuous residence.
2024-04-11 00:01
Guidance updated to reflect the introduction of the newly inserted Appendix Long Residence, which replaced the long residence rules in Part 7 of the Immigration Rules.
2023-10-05 00:01
Updated to reflect changes to the Immigration Rules where time spent in the UK with leave as a visitor, short-term student, and seasonal worker (under current or predecessor routes) does not count as lawful residence.
2023-05-17 17:16
Updated the guidance.
2023-04-12 17:19
Guidance updated. Changes are detailed on page 4 of the PDF and section 1.3 of the accessible version.