ILTR or extend spousal visa???

Hello

My wife is an Australian citizen and has been living in the UK since January 2013 initially on a Youth Mobility Visa (Tier 5). Timeline as follows:

Jan 2013 - Arrive in UK on Youth Mobility Visa (Tier 5)
Sept 2013 - We meet and commence relationship
Jan 2015 - Tier 2 visa approved (sponsored by employer in UK)
Mar 2015 - Begin co-habitation
June 2017 - We got married
Jan 2018 - Our son is born
Feb 2018 - 2.5 year portion (of 5 year spousal visa route) approved
Aug 2019 - Our daughter is born

The initial 2.5 year portion of the spousal visa expires in September, so we will likely need to renew this, however I wondered whether there was any possibility of my wife applying for ILTR at this stage given that she has been living in the UK far in excess of the required 5 year period. Or does each new visa 'reset' the clock on this and the extension of the spousal visa is really our only option?

Thanks
Jack

The initial 2.5 year portion of the spousal visa expires in September, so we will likely need to renew this, however I wondered whether there was any possibility of my wife applying for ILTR at this stage given that she has been living in the UK far in excess of the required 5 year period.

No there is not. She cannot combine different visa categories to make up 5 years. She needs 5 years as a spouse visa holder before she will qualify for indefinite leave to remain. It is not only about residence, she must have held the relevant visa categories for the 5 years too.

Or does each new visa 'reset' the clock on this and the extension of the spousal visa is really our only option?

Her indefinite leave to remain 5 year clock was reset to zero when she switched from tier 2 to spouse visa in 2018. Had she remained on tier 2, she would have qualified for ILR in December last year.

Very clear - thank you!!