How the checker counts
- The limit is 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period, set by Appendix Continuous Residence (rule CR 3.1).
- For permission granted on or after 11 January 2018, absences are checked on a rolling basis, so the checker tests a 12-month period starting on every day of your qualifying period.
- Only whole days count. The day you leave and the day you return are not counted as days away, in line with the caseworker guidance on whole days.
- The qualifying period is counted back from the application date you enter. Pick 5 years for most work routes, 3 years where your route allows it and 10 years for the partner route.
- Trips that overlap are counted once.
Absences that are not counted for the 180-day limit, such as travel disruption from a natural disaster or compelling and compassionate circumstances, are set out in the continuous residence rules. Remove those days from your trip dates before checking.
Updated: 4 Nov 2026