180 Day Absence Calculator — Free ILR 180-Day Rule Checker

Use our free absence calculator to check whether your trips outside the UK breach the 180-day rule for ILR eligibility. Enter your qualifying period start date and add each trip — the calculator checks every rolling 12-month window and shows whether you are within the limit.

• Add an unlimited number of trips
• Checks every rolling 12-month window, not just the calendar year
• Instant pass or fail result
• Shows which window is worst if you have exceeded the limit

What is the 180-day rule for ILR?

During your ILR qualifying period, you must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any single 12-month period. This window is rolling — it can start on any date, not just 1 January. Every possible consecutive 12-month period within your qualifying period is checked.

For example: if you left the UK on 1 January 2025 and returned on 1 July 2025, that is 181 days outside the UK in that particular window. That would be a breach of the rule, even if you were in the UK for all other periods.

How are days outside the UK counted?

Each day you are not physically present in the UK counts as an absence day. Using a conservative approach — which matches UKVI's practice — your departure day counts as an absence day. Your arrival day back in the UK does not count as an absence.

Short trips add up quickly. A two-week holiday, a week-long business trip, and a few weekend breaks can together amount to over a month of absences per year. Over a 5-year qualifying period, this can become a significant risk if you travel regularly.

What happens if you breach the 180-day rule?

UKVI can refuse your ILR application if your travel history shows any 12-month window with more than 180 days outside the UK. The £3,226 ILR application fee is not refunded if your application is refused.

In some cases UKVI may exercise discretion where there were genuine exceptional circumstances — for example, a serious medical emergency that kept you abroad. However, this is rare and not guaranteed. If you have breached the rule, get advice from an OISC-registered immigration adviser before applying.

Breaching the rule does not always mean a permanent bar. You may be able to wait until enough time has passed that the offending 12-month window falls outside your qualifying period.

How to keep track of your absences

Start recording every trip from the first day of your qualifying period. Note the date you left the UK and the date you returned for every journey, including short trips. UKVI cross-checks your declared travel history against UK border records.

Use this calculator regularly — not just before you apply. Checking your running total every few months means you can adjust your travel plans if you are approaching the limit, rather than discovering a problem when it is too late.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 180-day rule for ILR?

During your ILR qualifying period, you must not spend more than 180 days outside the UK in any single rolling 12-month period. The window is rolling — it can start on any date, not just 1 January — and every possible consecutive 12-month period within your qualifying period is checked.

Does the departure day count as an absence for ILR?

Yes. Using the conservative approach that matches UKVI practice, your departure day counts as an absence day. Your arrival day back in the UK does not count as an absence. This calculator uses this conservative method to give you the safest possible result.

What happens if I breach the 180-day rule?

UKVI can refuse your ILR application if any rolling 12-month window shows more than 180 days outside the UK. The £3,226 application fee is not refunded if your application is refused. In rare cases UKVI may exercise discretion where there were genuine exceptional circumstances such as a serious medical emergency, but do not rely on this. Seek advice from an OISC-registered immigration adviser before applying if you have breached the rule.

Do short trips outside the UK add up?

Yes. Short trips add up quickly. A two-week holiday, a week-long business trip, and a few weekend breaks can together amount to over a month of absences per year. Over a 5-year qualifying period, regular short trips can easily push you over the 180-day limit in a given 12-month window — even if you never took a single long trip.

Is the 180-day absence rule a calendar year or rolling 12 months?

It is a rolling window. Every possible consecutive 12-month period within your qualifying period is checked — not just January to December each year. This is why this calculator checks all possible windows, not just calendar years. A period spanning, say, June 2023 to June 2024 is assessed just as rigorously as a January-to-December period.

Can UKVI check my travel history independently?

Yes. The UK Border Force records entries and exits. UKVI cross-references your declared travel history on the application form against these records. Providing inaccurate information — even unintentionally — can lead to refusal on good character grounds and affect future applications.

Last reviewed: April 2026 — based on GOV.UK guidance. Always check GOV.UK for the latest rules.