Petition · Home Office
Allow those on 5-year ILR route to combine time spent on all eligible visas
Closed
257 signatures
What the petition asks
Currently, some visa holders must restart their 5-year qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) when switching between eligible visa categories. We believe this is creating unnecessary barriers to settlement and potentially increasing the risk of exploitation.
We propose that visa holders on a 5-year ILR route be allowed to count time spent across all eligible visa categories, toward their 5-year qualifying period. This would be provided that they meet other criteria, such as continuous lawful residence and adherence to visa conditions.
Timeline
| 16 Jan 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 16 Jul 2025 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
257
Status
Closed
Department
Home Office
Opened
16 Jan 2025
Closed
16 Jul 2025
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 6 Aug 2026.