Residence & citizenship

UK permanent immigration permission — two-year absence

Ordinary UK permanent immigration permission generally expires after more than two uninterrupted years abroad.

Untild · Residency · Source reviewed 2026-10-30

Check your own dates: UK permanent immigration permission — two-year absence calculator →

Summary

Day rule / reminder: 2 calendar years • each recorded absence
Window: 24 calendar months from the recorded departure
What the tool measures: A date or day-count reminder
Official reference: UK Home Office ↗

Ordinary UK permanent immigration permission generally expires after more than two uninterrupted years abroad.

Who it applies to

People with indefinite permission to enter or remain in the UK whose status is outside the EU Settlement Scheme.

The rule

Use the actual two-year anniversary of departure as a reminder. Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme uses a different five-year or four-year absence period, and specified exceptions can apply. The counter cannot determine whether immigration permission has expired.

Counting the days

For each recorded absence, the reminder date is the departure date plus two calendar years. The numerical absence total excludes departure and return dates. This counter shows the recorded absence whose reminder date is nearest.

Choose the date through which you want to count, then add your recorded visits.
Use the counting convention above. Include recorded trips abroad and returns home, so the tool can distinguish separate absences.
Read the result alongside the conditions. Missing records and other eligibility requirements are not inferred from a total.

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Examples

These examples demonstrate the counter's arithmetic, using a count-through date of 30 October 2026. They do not determine legal status or eligibility.

Example 1 — one recorded visit

2026-10-20 to 2026-10-29 · France

Recorded result: 8 days

Example 2 — overlapping records

2026-10-15 to 2026-10-25 · France
2026-10-20 to 2026-10-29 · France

Recorded result: 13 days

Example 3 — two visits with a gap

2026-10-05 to 2026-10-10 · France
2026-10-20 to 2026-10-29 · France

Recorded result: 8 days

Exceptions & edge cases

Ordinary permanent permission to enter or remain in the UK generally expires after more than two continuous years outside the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man. Settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme has separate five-year or four-year rules. Exceptions apply.

Use the official reference for the full conditions and any changes since the source review date shown on this page.

Common misconceptions

“A counter result is the same as permission or eligibility.”

The counter measures recorded dates. Your actual permission, status and other conditions remain separate.

“Missing records count automatically as days abroad.”

Only recorded journeys contribute. Unknown gaps are not filled in as absences.

Frequently asked questions

What does this rule count?

Ordinary UK permanent immigration permission generally expires after more than two uninterrupted years abroad.

Which counting window does this tool use?

24 calendar months from the recorded departure. For each recorded absence, the reminder date is the departure date plus two calendar years. The numerical absence total excludes departure and return dates. This counter shows the recorded absence whose reminder date is nearest.

What else should I check before relying on the total?

Where can I read the official requirements?

Read UK Home Office ↗. The source was last reviewed on 2026-10-30.