ILR refusals are serious — they can require applicants to restart a qualifying period or leave the UK. Most ILR refusals result from absence limit breaches, gaps in lawful leave, or character issues.
Based on current UK Home Office immigration rules (updated 2026)
The most common ILR refusal reason. For most routes, applicants must not have spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period of the qualifying period. Absences must be carefully calculated before applying. Use all passports and travel records to compile a complete absence log.…
ILR requires continuous lawful leave throughout the qualifying period. Gaps — where leave expired before a renewal was granted — break the qualifying residence unless Section 3C leave applied. Where an application was submitted late (after the leave expired), there is likely to be a gap in lawful r…
For most routes, no more than 180 days in any 12-month period of the qualifying period. Calculate this carefully across all qualifying years.
Depends on the offence and sentence. Some convictions result in mandatory refusal. Others are discretionary. Take legal advice before applying.