Eligibility Calculator

How this calculator works

This tool checks your eligibility against the residence and absence rules published in the official GOV.UK guidance for British citizenship (naturalisation) and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) / Settled Status. It works out your earliest eligible application date by logging your trips abroad and applying the qualifying period and absence limits for your route.

Routes covered

• Standard route: Generally 5 years of lawful residence in the UK before applying for citizenship, with no more than 450 days spent outside the UK during that 5-year period, and no more than 90 days of absence in the 12 months immediately before applying.
• Married to / in a civil partnership with a British citizen: Generally 3 years of lawful residence, with no more than 270 days of absence during those 3 years, and no more than 90 days in the final 12 months.
• ILR / Settled Status: Usually requires 5 continuous years of residence (under the EU Settlement Scheme or a work/family visa route), with no single absence exceeding 180 days in any rolling 12-month period.

Why the 180-day rule matters

For ILR and Settled Status, absences are checked on a rolling 12-month basis rather than a fixed calendar year — meaning any 365-day window ending on any day of your residence period must show 180 days or fewer spent outside the UK. This calculator checks every rolling window automatically, which is easy to get wrong doing it by hand.

This calculator is provided for guidance only and is not a substitute for official advice from UKVI or a qualified immigration adviser. Always confirm your specific case on GOV.UK.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is the eligibility calculator?

It applies the residence and absence rules published on GOV.UK for the route you select. It's a guide to help you plan, not an official decision — always confirm with UKVI or a qualified adviser before applying.

What counts as an absence for the 180-day or 450-day rules?

Any full day spent outside the UK counts, including the departure and return days in most cases. Log each trip's departure and return date and the calculator works out the totals for you.

Why does ILR use a rolling 12-month window instead of a calendar year?

UKVI checks every possible 365-day period within your residence, not just January-to-December, so a cluster of trips spanning two calendar years can still breach the 180-day limit. The calculator checks every rolling window automatically.

Does my data get saved anywhere?

Your trip history is stored locally in your browser only and never sent to our servers. You can export it to Excel to back it up or move it to another device.

What if I'm not sure which route applies to me?

The calculator covers the Standard route, being married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen, and ILR/Settled Status. If you're unsure which applies, the residence and absence requirements on GOV.UK explain the eligibility criteria for each.