How Long Can You Stay Outside the UK Without Losing Settled Status
Settled status lapses after 5 years outside the UK (4 years for Swiss nationals). Here's what resets the clock and when the status is lost for good.
VisaProAdviserVisas, migration and life abroad

Tracks Polish emigration to the UK and what happens to those already there: earnings, the job market, everyday news from the country they live in. It looks harder than most not at the pay figure itself, but at what's left after rent, gas and grocery bills — and whether staying still makes sense. Readers get a sober weighing of pros and cons instead of an emotional "it's better there" or "worse here." Coverage includes analysis of moving back to Poland with commentary from someone who's been through it, plus a regular roundup of UK news: state pension increases, shifts in the rental market, government tax decisions. It keeps a separate eye on everyday pressure points — from rising gas prices to food supply problems that hit an emigrant's budget directly. Political theories and unrelated scandals are left out; the focus stays on money, prices and the decision to stay or go home.
Settled status lapses after 5 years outside the UK (4 years for Swiss nationals). Here's what resets the clock and when the status is lost for good.