Rules 7

Does time on a Graduate visa count towards settlement?

Student, Graduate and HPI time does not count towards Skilled Worker settlement, but it may count towards 10-year long residence.

Figures in force on this page
Figure	In force	Since	Authority
Time on Skilled Worker before applying to settle	5 years	Start date not verified	Skilled Worker visa: Overview (gov.uk)

Settlement, also called indefinite leave to remain (ILR), is reached through a qualifying route. This entry sets out which visas lead to it and how time on other visas is treated.

How each visa counts towards settlement

Settlement by visa
Visa	Counts towards Skilled Worker settlement?	Leads to settlement on its own?
Student	No Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 21.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:	No Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Student (introduction) (gov.uk). The passage relied on The Student route is not a route to settlement.
Graduate	No Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 21.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:	No Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (introduction) (gov.uk). The passage relied on The Graduate route is not a route to settlement.
High Potential Individual (HPI)	No Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on Your time on an HPI visa will not count as time spent in the UK if you apply to settle in the UK.	No Authority GOV.UK guidance, High Potential Individual (HPI) visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on The High Potential Individual route is not a route to settlement.
Youth Mobility Scheme	No: not on the list in SW 21.2 Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 21.1 and SW 21.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:	No Authority Immigration Rules, Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme (introduction) (gov.uk). The passage relied on The Youth Mobility Scheme route is not a route to settlement.
Skilled Worker	Yes Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 21.1 and SW 21.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:	You may be able to apply after 5 years Authority GOV.UK guidance, Skilled Worker visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’).
Global Talent	Yes: on the list in SW 21.2 Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 21.1 and SW 21.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:	You may be able to, after a period that depends on your field and how you apply Authority GOV.UK guidance, Apply for the Global Talent visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you apply.
British National (Overseas), BN(O)	No: not on the list in SW 21.2 Authority Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 21.1 and SW 21.2 (gov.uk). The passage relied on SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:	Yes, after the period in the rule Authority GOV.UK guidance, British National (Overseas) visa: Overview (gov.uk). The passage relied on After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you can apply to live in the UK permanently.

Student, Graduate and HPI time does not count

Paragraph 1

For Skilled Worker settlement, the qualifying period must be time with permission, not as a dependant, on the routes listed in SW 21.2. Student, Graduate, High Potential Individual (HPI) and Youth Mobility time is not on that list.

Paragraph 2

The listed routes are Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, T2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Representative of an Overseas Business, Tier 1 (other than Tier 1 (Graduate Entrepreneur)) and Scale-up. Time on any of them, or a combination, can make up the period.

SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:

Immigration Rules, Appendix Skilled Worker, SW 21.1 and SW 21.2 (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Paragraph 3

GOV.UK also says time on an HPI visa will not count as time spent in the UK if you apply to settle.

Paragraph 4

The Student, Graduate and Youth Mobility Scheme routes are not routes to settlement on their own: each appendix of the Immigration Rules says so in its introduction.

The Graduate route is not a route to settlement.

Immigration Rules, Appendix Graduate (introduction) (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

The Skilled Worker qualifying period

Paragraph 5

After 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK. Absences, continuous residence and the other settlement requirements also apply.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’).

gov.uk guidance, Skilled Worker visa: Overview (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Paragraph 6

The English requirement sets out the English level for settlement.

Scheduled: Settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027 need English speaking and listening at B2, unless an exemption applies. (HC 1691)

Long residence counts most visa time

Paragraph 7

Long residence is a separate way to settle. It needs a qualifying period of 10 years spent lawfully in the UK, and GOV.UK guidance limits time outside the UK during it.

You can leave the UK during the continuous residence for up to 180 days in any 12 month period.

gov.uk guidance, Long residence: Eligibility (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Paragraph 8

Time with permission can count, except permission under the Ukraine schemes or as a Visitor, Short-term Student (English language) or Seasonal Worker. Student, Graduate, HPI and Skilled Worker permission are not excepted.

Proposed, not law

Paragraph 9

A Home Office consultation on earned settlement proposes that routes such as Skilled Worker default to a qualifying period of 10 years, except where an earned reduction applies. It is a proposal, not the rules: see earned settlement.

This means, however, that with the exception of the above categories, those routes (for example, the Skilled Worker route) that currently lead to settlement after 5 years continuous stay will cease to do so and will default to a qualifying period of 10 years, except where an earned reduction on the basis of contribution or integration applies.

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement (CP 1448 (gov.uk). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.

Paragraph 10

The steps before a Skilled Worker visa are in after your course ends and switching before your course ends. Other entries are in Rules.

The settlement changes announced in 2025 are sorted into law and proposal on the white paper page.

History

26 March 2027. Scheduled. English level for settlement raised, HC 1691.
8 October 2026. Entry updated.
7 October 2026. Entry first published.

Common questions

Does Graduate visa time count towards ILR?

Not towards Skilled Worker settlement: the Graduate route is not on the list of routes in SW 21.2, and it is not a route to settlement on its own. Graduate time can count towards the 10 years long residence period.

Does Student visa time count towards the 10-year route?

It can. Long residence counts time with permission on most routes; the rule leaves out only a few, such as Visitor and Seasonal Worker. Student time is not one of them.

Does time on an HPI visa count towards ILR?

Not towards Skilled Worker settlement. GOV.UK says time on a High Potential Individual visa will not count as time spent in the UK if you apply to settle. It can count towards long residence.

How long before a Skilled Worker can apply for ILR?

After 5 years on a Skilled Worker visa, you may be able to apply to settle, also known as indefinite leave to remain. Other requirements also apply.

Sources

Skilled Worker visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’).
Immigration Rules: Appendix Skilled Worker (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
SW 21.2. The 5-year continuous period must consist of time with permission (not as a dependant) on any of, or any combination of, the following routes:
SW 21.1. The applicant must have spent a continuous period of 5 years in the UK.
SW 22A.1. Where the date of application is on or after 26 March 2027, the applicant must, unless an exemption applies, show English language ability on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in speaking and listening to at least level B2.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Student (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
The Student route is not a route to settlement.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Graduate (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
The Graduate route is not a route to settlement.
High Potential Individual visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
Your time on an HPI visa will not count as time spent in the UK if you apply to settle in the UK.
Immigration Rules: Appendix High Potential Individual (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
The High Potential Individual route is not a route to settlement.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Youth Mobility Scheme (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
The Youth Mobility Scheme route is not a route to settlement.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Long Residence (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
LR 3.1. The applicant must have spent a qualifying period of 10 years lawfully in the UK, for the entirety of which one or more of the following applied:
(a) the applicant had permission, except permission under Appendix Ukraine Scheme, or permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student (English language) or Seasonal Worker (or under any of their predecessor routes); or
Long residence: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You may be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain if you’ve been in the UK legally for 10 continuous years (known as ‘long residence’).
Long residence: Eligibility (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You must also have been in the UK legally for 10 years without gaps (known as your ‘continuous residence’). This can include time on most immigration categories, or a combination of different immigration categories.
You can leave the UK during the continuous residence for up to 180 days in any 12 month period.
Global talent: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
You may be able to get indefinite leave to remain so you can settle in the UK after 3 or 5 years, depending on which field you work in and how you apply.
Immigration Rules: Appendix Global Talent (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
Global Talent is a route to settlement.
British National (Overseas) visa: Overview (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
After you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years, you can apply to live in the UK permanently.
Earned settlement: statement and consultation (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
This means, however, that with the exception of the above categories, those routes (for example, the Skilled Worker route) that currently lead to settlement after 5 years continuous stay will cease to do so and will default to a qualifying period of 10 years, except where an earned reduction on the basis of contribution or integration applies.
Statement of Changes HC 1691: explanatory memorandum (gov.uk). Checked 7 October 2026.
The passage relied on
5.62 These changes will come into force on 26 March 2027.
6.3 For the changes that introduce a visa requirement on Nicaragua and St Lucia, those changes will come into effect at 1500 GMT on 5 March 2026. All other changes will come into effect on various dates from 26 March 2026 and are detailed in the implementation section of the Statement of Changes.

How each figure is checked: Sources and method.

This is general information about the rules, not legal advice. For advice on your own situation, use a solicitor or an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (gov.uk).