Residence & citizenship

UK EU Settlement Scheme status — five-year absence

Ordinary EU Settlement Scheme settled-status holders can spend up to five consecutive years abroad without losing that status.

Untild · Residency · Source reviewed 2026-10-30

Check your own dates: UK EU Settlement Scheme status — five-year absence calculator →

Summary

Day rule / reminder: 5 calendar years • each recorded absence
Window: 60 calendar months from the recorded departure
What the tool measures: A date or day-count reminder
Official reference: UK Home Office ↗

Ordinary EU Settlement Scheme settled-status holders can spend up to five consecutive years abroad without losing that status.

Who it applies to

Settled-status holders other than Swiss citizens and their family members.

The rule

The UK government explains entering the UK during that period restarts the absence period. Swiss citizens and their families use a four-year rule instead. The anniversary reminder does not verify status.

Counting the days

For each recorded absence, the reminder date is the departure date plus five 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.

Check your dates with the free calculator

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

This reminder is for EU Settlement Scheme settled-status holders other than Swiss citizens and their family members. Return to the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man restarts the absence period. Swiss citizens and their family members should use the four-year reminder.

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 EU Settlement Scheme settled-status holders can spend up to five consecutive years abroad without losing that status.

Which counting window does this tool use?

60 calendar months from the recorded departure. For each recorded absence, the reminder date is the departure date plus five 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.