Long Residence (LR) route - Qualifying Period
Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2026 10:42 pm
Dear Team,
Posting a question regarding "Qualifying Period" here, that might have been referred earlier but couldn't find the relevant topic. Kindly take a look whenever it's possible.
Scenario:
10 year continuous residence is going to be completed soon with various visas (Tier 2 ICT ST => Tier 2 ICT LT => Skilled Worker visa), however there was 2 month gap between conversion of ST to LT visa (as it can only be filed from home country, rather than switching here in the UK)
Earlier Reference from the forum
Point number 3 in the following link states - "Note that transitional arrangements preserve the position that if you left the UK with a valid visa and returned within 6 months the lawful residence was always maintained. This position was preserved even after the recent rule changes"
viewtopic.php?t=336067#p2171106
Reference from Appendix Long Residence Guidance
CR 4.2. Where CR 4.1(d)(i) to (iv) applies, any period of time where the applicant did not have permission will not be included in any calculation of the qualifying period in CR 1.1. (And actually CR 4.1(d)(iii) applies here)
Question:
Although continuous residence is maintained when exiting UK (with valid permission) and filing a new visa application from home country and re-entering UK within 2 months, however it might not have been lawful and hence 2 months need to be added towards the end of 10 year (from first UK entry date) to cover this 2 months gap (under long residence route). Is this understanding correct, or something I missed?
Thanks
Posting a question regarding "Qualifying Period" here, that might have been referred earlier but couldn't find the relevant topic. Kindly take a look whenever it's possible.
Scenario:
10 year continuous residence is going to be completed soon with various visas (Tier 2 ICT ST => Tier 2 ICT LT => Skilled Worker visa), however there was 2 month gap between conversion of ST to LT visa (as it can only be filed from home country, rather than switching here in the UK)
Earlier Reference from the forum
Point number 3 in the following link states - "Note that transitional arrangements preserve the position that if you left the UK with a valid visa and returned within 6 months the lawful residence was always maintained. This position was preserved even after the recent rule changes"
viewtopic.php?t=336067#p2171106
Reference from Appendix Long Residence Guidance
CR 4.2. Where CR 4.1(d)(i) to (iv) applies, any period of time where the applicant did not have permission will not be included in any calculation of the qualifying period in CR 1.1. (And actually CR 4.1(d)(iii) applies here)
Question:
Although continuous residence is maintained when exiting UK (with valid permission) and filing a new visa application from home country and re-entering UK within 2 months, however it might not have been lawful and hence 2 months need to be added towards the end of 10 year (from first UK entry date) to cover this 2 months gap (under long residence route). Is this understanding correct, or something I missed?
Thanks