Individuals holding Indefinite Leave to Enter/Remain (ILE/ILR)
lose their status if they are outside the UK for more than two
consecutive years. While even a brief visit to the UK resets this
two-year clock, many people find themselves in this position.
For those with Permanent Residence (PR) or Settled Status (SS)
under EU or post-Brexit rules, the absence period is extended to
five years - except for Swiss nationals, where the limit is four
years.
For simplicity, this article will refer to ILE, ILR, PR, and SS
collectively as "settlement."
The returning resident
If you've lost settlement due to an extended absence, the
Returning Resident visa offers a pathway to regain it. As with most
immigration applications, there are three categories of
requirements to meet: validity, suitability, and eligibility.
