Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/continuous-residence

Change description : 2025-07-29 00:01:00: Names of the routes to settlement have been updated. Crown Dependencies section has been updated to reflect that time spent in the Crown Dependencies (on particular grants of permission) counts towards continuous residence for Long Residence applicants. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2024-11-28 16:43:07.347470169 +00:00..2025-08-07 22:52:51.212623506 +00:00

Guidance

Continuous residence: caseworker guidance

Immigration staff guidance on assessing and calculating the continuous residence requirements under Appendix Continuous Residence.

From:
UK Visas and Immigration
Published
19 February 2021
Last updated
2928 JulyNovember 20252024 — See all updates

Documents

Continuous residence guidance (accessible version)

HTML

Continuous residence guidance

PDF, 355433 KB, 4344 pages

Details

UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) guidance on how staff assess the continuous residence requirements for applications for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) in the UK under the following routes where Appendix Continuous Residence applies.applies:

Updates
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    1. Namesand Tier 2 (Sportsperson))

    2. Representative of an Overseas Business (and Media Representative and Sole Representative)
    3. UK Ancestry
    4. Global Talent (and Tier 1 (Exceptional Talent))
    5. Innovator
    6. Domestic Worker in a Private Household
    7. International Agreement Worker (and Private Servant in a Diplomatic Household)
    8. Hong Kong British National (Overseas)
    9. Dependants and Child Dependants of the routes tolisted above, except for UK Ancestry and Representative of an Overseas Business where there is no qualifying period of continuous residence for dependants
    10. Appendix Settlement Family Life (previously included as 10 year partner or parent settlement haveunder beenAppendix updated.FM)
    11. Appendix CrownPrivate DependenciesLife section(previously hasparagraphs been276ADE(1)-276DH updatedof toPart reflect7) that– timethis spentguidance inapplies thefor Crownall Dependenciessettlement (onapplications particularwith grantsthe exception of permission)a countschild towardsborn in the UK with 7 years continuous residence who is applying for Longimmediate Residencesettlement applicants.

      – for guidance on children born in the UK refer to Settlement family and private life

    • Updates to this page

    Published 19 February 2021
    Last updated 28 November 2024 + show all updates

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    Update history

    2025-07-29 00:01
    Names of the routes to settlement have been updated. Crown Dependencies section has been updated to reflect that time spent in the Crown Dependencies (on particular grants of permission) counts towards continuous residence for Long Residence applicants.

    2024-11-28 16:35
    Updated to remove reference to biometric residence permits.

    2024-10-08 00:01
    Updated guidance to clarify the transitional arrangements for applicants under Appendix HM Armed Forces and to apply Appendix Continuous Residence to Appendix ECAA Settlement.

    2024-07-09 16:45
    Updated to clarify the transitional arrangements for applicants under Appendix Long Residence.

    2024-04-12 11:11
    Added guidance for Long Residence and HM Armed Forces (settlement as a partner or child) routes.

    2022-08-17 12:22
    Updated guidance to include applications under Appendix Family Settlement and Appendix Private Life.