You must not be absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying residence for settlement. Log your trips below to check your worst rolling window against the limit.
Worst rolling 12-month absence total
The Home Office doesn't check absences against a fixed calendar year — it checks every rolling 365-day window within your qualifying period. This tool takes every trip you enter and, for each one, works out the total absence within the 12 months ending on that trip's return date (plus the date you choose to check against), then reports the single worst window found.
| Worst rolling 12-month absence | Status |
|---|---|
| Under 150 days | Comfortably within the limit |
| 150–180 days | Approaching the limit — plan future trips carefully |
| Over 180 days | Exceeds the limit — continuous residence may be broken |
No more than 180 days in any rolling 12-month period during your qualifying residence — checked as a rolling window, not a fixed calendar year.
No. You can be under 180 days in every calendar year and still breach the rule if a 12-month window spanning two calendar years contains more than 180 days absence — which is exactly what this calculator checks for.
Your continuous residence can be broken from the point the limit was reached, restarting your qualifying period — unless the Home Office exercises discretion for exceptional circumstances such as serious illness, bereavement, or a compulsory overseas work posting.
Also check whether you meet the spouse visa savings requirement, the Skilled Worker salary threshold, take the free Quick Check, or get in touch directly.