Long residence: caseworker guidance
Immigration staff guidance on how to consider applications from people applying on the basis of long residence in the UK.
Updates to this page
- From:
-
- UK Visas and Immigration
- UK Visas and Immigration
PublishedPublished:- 17 October 2014
- Last
updatedupdated: -
24November2025—8SeeOctoberallupdates
Documents
Long
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The KB,guidance 18has pages
Details
UKbeen Visasupdated andto Immigrationreflect guidancewhen ona howLong staffResidence considerPermission indefinite leave to remainStay (ILR)application andis leave to remainbe applicationsvaried fromto peoplean applyingAppendix onFM theor basisAppendix ofPrivate longLife residencePermission into theStay UK.application.
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Updated basedto onreflect the Immigrationchange Rules.
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ILR can be granted under Appendix Long Residence after a period of 10 years’ continuous lawful residence.
-
The
KB,guidance18haspages
Details
UKbeen Visasupdated andto Immigrationreflect guidancewhen ona howLong staffResidence considerPermission indefinite leave to remainStay (ILR)application andis leave to remainbe applicationsvaried fromto peoplean applyingAppendix onFM theor basisAppendix ofPrivate longLife residencePermission into theStay UK.application.
This
Updated basedto onreflect the Immigrationchange Rules.
Theto rulesthe onSuitability longRule residencechanges recogniserelating theto tiesimmigration abail personand may form with the UKExceptions overfor aOverstayers lengthy period of residence here.provisions.
ILR can be granted under Appendix Long Residence after a period of 10 years’ continuous lawful residence.
Updates to this page
Documents
Long residence
PDF, 311 KB, 19 pages
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.
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Update history
2026-10-08 09:00
The guidance has been updated to reflect when a Long Residence Permission to Stay application is to be varied to an Appendix FM or Appendix Private Life Permission to Stay application.
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.