How to calculate Long Residence for 10 years of permanent residence in the UK? 2026 policy changes
This is how many people reach the stage of Long Residence: they finish their studies as students, change their work visas, and change their status once or twice in the process. The five-year permanent residence path is not feasible, so they put their hope on the old path of "residing legally for 10 consecutive years." But the policy trends in 2026 are making this path complicated.
📌 Let me start with the conclusion in one sentence: The Long Residence (long-term residence) 10-year permanent residence path still exists and can still be applied for, but it is being included in the discussion scope of the government's "Earned Settlement (earned permanent residence)" reform, and there are variables in its future shape. Those who can meet the conditions today are advised not to delay.
Core conditions for permanent residence in the UK Long Residence for 10 years
According to the current "Immigration Rules" Appendix Long Residence, the hard threshold for 10-year permanent residence is: continuous and legal residence in the UK for 10 years . The word "legal" is very important - every day during these 10 years, you must hold a valid legal status (any visa that meets the rules can be accumulated, including student, work permit, spouse, and even time before exercising EEA treaty rights). Even if the visa is suspended for one day or overstayed for one day, the entire timeline may be interrupted and recalculated.
In addition, there are two requirements that are inevitable for almost all permanent residence paths: passing Life in the UK Test, and meeting the English language requirement (currently B1 in most cases, but please pay attention to the latest official requirements for higher English standards).
The 180-day red line for permanent residence abroad: how to calculate 2026 so as not to step into a trap
This is where Long Residence makes people most likely to "wait in vain". April 11, 2024 is a watershed, and the rules are different:
🔹 after April 11, 2024: The standard of "outbound travel within a rolling 12-month period shall not exceed 180 days". Note that is not calculated based on natural years, nor is it a 10-year average of , but any consecutive 12-month window must meet the standard individually.
🔹 The old rules of before April 11, 2024: a single absence from the country shall not exceed 184 days, and if your 10-year period is completed before that date, the total total absence from the country shall not exceed 548 days.
✅ Good news: As long as any part of your 10-year term extends beyond April 11, 2024, that 548-day total cap no longer applies, just stick to the "rolling 12-month 180-day period." For those who have been stranded overseas for a long time during the epidemic, this is a real relief.
The most torturous part about the number of days to leave the country is the "rolling window" - many people think that they have not exceeded it based on their impressions, but after actual calculation, they find that a certain 12-month interval just breaks the red line. This kind of accounting is easy to make mistakes by relying on your head. It is recommended to use 永居计算器 APP to calculate each period of departure to the day and mark the risk window in advance.
The visa must be valid for 12 months before applying for permanent residence: a new rule that is easily ignored
A new requirement that is easily overlooked has been added since April 11, 2024: If your current visa of is that was approved on or after April 11, 2024, you must hold it on the same path for at least 12 months before you can submit an application for Long Residence permanent residence.
For example: If you switch to a Skilled Worker visa on May 1, 2024, even if you have lived legally for 10 years before, you will not be able to apply until May 1, 2025. If your current visa was approved before on April 11, 2024, you are not subject to this restriction. Friends who are approaching their 10th year must first check the approval date of their most recent visa.
UK permanent residence reform: Will Long Residence be cancelled?
This is the most important trend to watch in 2026. In November 2025, the government released an Earned Settlement consultation document called "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement". The consultation ended on February 12, 2026 . Its core direction is to "extend the permanent residence qualification period for most paths to 10 years as the baseline", and then advance it based on contribution, integration and compliance with the law (highly skilled public service personnel may be 5 years, and high-income and entrepreneurs may be 3 years at the fastest).
The key is: the relevant documents mention that the independent 10-year Long Residence path of may be merged into the new Earned Settlement framework and will no longer exist independently; and the reform discussion includes the possibility of retroactivity for "persons in the UK who have not yet obtained permanent residence", and only transitional protection provisions are still being consulted. In other words, today’s clear 10-year-old path may operate under different rules in the future.
⚠️ As of the end of June 2026, the government’s final response to the consultation and specific implementation terms are still in progress. Everything is subject to the latest announcement of GOV.UK. But the direction is clear: the policy will only become stricter, not looser. For those who have met or are about to meet the current conditions, the sooner they submit, the more proactive they will be.
What should these types of people do now?
① has been completed or is close to 10 years of : Check the continuity, number of days of departure, and current 12-month visa requirement as soon as possible. If the conditions are met, don’t wait for the reform to be implemented. ② There are doubts about the breakpoints in the timeline. : Clearly list the start and end dates of each status and the number of days each time you leave the country. If necessary, find a licensed lawyer to make a legality judgment. ③ is still a few years away from : Pay attention to the progress of Earned Settlement simultaneously, and don’t put all your bets on "the old rules will remain unchanged".
This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific cases. If you are not sure about "accounting questions" such as the number of days of departure and continuity, use the 永居计算器 APP to calculate, or add our lawyers on WeChat to chat first.
💬 Let’s chat in the comment area: In your Long Residence 10 years, which period worries you the most - was it the interruption in the visa process, or was it that you went abroad for too long in a certain year and exceeded the 180-day red line? Tell us your timeline and we’ll help you organize your thoughts.
Policies are changing and rules may be adjusted at any time. If finds it useful, bookmark this article so that you can check back at at any time in the future. For the countdown to permanent residence and the number of days to leave the country, you can use 永居计算器 to calculate the days by clicking on the menu bar at the bottom of this official account.
[Data source] GOV.UK Long Residence(gov.uk/long-residence), Immigration Rules Appendix Long Residence, A Fairer Pathway to Settlement(earned settlement consultation, gov.uk).
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