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I’m seeking confirmation on whether a specific period can be counted toward my 5-year continuous residence requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain under the Skilled Worker route.

Here are the relevant details of my case:
• I held a valid Tier 4 (General) visa until 28 March 2021
• I submitted an in-country Skilled Worker application on 3 July 2020
• My application used the biometric reuse process (UKVCAS was not required)
• My Certificate of Sponsorship listed a work start date of 3 September 2020
• I began working on 3 September 2020, while waiting for a decision
• My Skilled Worker visa was granted on 8 October 2020

I would like to confirm whether the period between 3 September 2020 (my CoS start date and work start) and 8 October 2020 (visa grant) can be counted toward the 5-year ILR qualifying period, given that I was lawfully in the UK and had submitted the application before my Tier 4 leave expired.

Benefiting from the concession due to the Covid services disruption in 2020, you already were eligible for ILR on 3 July 2020 + 5 years - 28 days.

The CoS work start date and the actual date when you started working are irrelevant for ILR.

See: https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... ing-period

Thank you! Have people been able to obtain ILR successfully with this rule?

Beaniegal21 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 10:25 am

Thank you! Have people been able to obtain ILR successfully with this rule?

There are a ton of people in this forum and others who have posted about getting their ILR successfully using this concession rule to count the 5-year qualifying date. You can search for "COVID concession" and find all the threads.

Beaniegal21 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 10:25 am

Thank you! Have people been able to obtain ILR successfully with this rule?

Click on the link I posted before and read the information:

Due to major disruption to UKVI services during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tier 2 (General) and Skilled Worker applicants in the UK were permitted to start work for their sponsors while waiting for decisions on their applications. This time while they were waiting, but able to work, also counts towards the continuous 5-year period

That UKVI guidance is very clear about it.

Beaniegal21 wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 08, 2025 10:25 am

Thank you! Have people been able to obtain ILR successfully with this rule?

Yes, there are many. Why would you doubt something that is so clearly supported in the rules ?
Immigration system is not an experience based system. You follow the rules

This is asked and answered many times before: viewtopic.php?t=354274#p2193676