u/Aggressive_Call1987

Title: Skilled Worker visa gap between employers — does this break continuous residence for ILR?

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to work out whether I’ll qualify for ILR in 2026 under the Skilled Worker route, and I’m confused about whether a gap between employers breaks continuous residence.

My timeline:

- First Skilled Worker visa valid from 12 July 2021 to July 2024
- I resigned from my first sponsored job on 5 May 2022
- I then left the UK and went back to Germany
- I got a new sponsored job in London starting 1 October 2022
- My visa was later extended and is now valid until 1 October 2027

Important detail:
I never received any curtailment notice from the Home Office after leaving my first job. As far as I know, my original visa technically remained valid until 2024.

My absence outside the UK was less than 6 months.

So my questions are:

1. Does the gap between employers break the 5-year continuous residence period for ILR?
2. If no curtailment notice was ever issued, can my qualifying residence still count continuously from July 2021?
3. Would I potentially be eligible around July 2026, or would the clock restart from October 2022?

Has anyone had a similar situation or successfully obtained ILR after changing sponsors with a gap like this?

Thanks!

Hi everyone,

I’m trying to work out whether I’ll qualify for ILR in 2026 under the Skilled Worker route, and I’m confused about whether a gap between employers breaks continuous residence.

My timeline:

- First Skilled Worker visa valid from 12 July 2021 to July 2024
- I resigned from my first sponsored job on 5 May 2022
- I then left the UK and went back to Germany
- I got a new sponsored job in London starting 1 October 2022
- My visa was later extended and is now valid until 1 October 2027

Important detail:
I never received any curtailment notice from the Home Office after leaving my first job. As far as I know, my original visa technically remained valid until 2024.

My absence outside the UK was less than 6 months.

So my questions are:

1. Does the gap between employers break the 5-year continuous residence period for ILR?
2. If no curtailment notice was ever issued, can my qualifying residence still count continuously from July 2021?
3. Would I potentially be eligible around July 2026, or would the clock restart from October 2022?

Has anyone had a similar situation or successfully obtained ILR after changing sponsors with a gap like this?

Thanks!

Hi all,

Looking for some advice:

I came to the UK in 12 July 2021 on a skilled worker visa (valid from the day) and I am a EU citizen.

I will be reaching 5 years residency soon and I know I can apply for ILR (indefinite leave to remain) 30 days before i first entered the UK 5 years ago. So I can apply on 12 June 2026.

I am looking to leave my job though because for the past months the stress has become unbearable and it started to affect my health.

I officially have a 13 weeks notice period, which my employer can reduce to 4 weeks though.

If I quit in the next few days (let’s say on 18 May) and they would decide to let me go after 4 weeks (15 June) and I applied for ILR on 12 June, do you know if I’d still be eligible/get the ILR status? At the time of the application I’d still be employed, it’s just after the application I would not be employed anymore.

I would also hand in priority application.

I assume I am too late to apply for EU settlement scheme, I know there are ways to apply later for it but I don’t think they would accept it.

Any advice is much appreciated! 🙏