Current policy is still as per CAP804:
An applicant who holds an ICAO IR(A) or military green Instrument Rating (Aeroplanes) and has passed a single-pilot IR test in the 24 months preceding the date of application for the IMC Rating / IR (Restricted) will be credited with a pass in the initial IMC Rating/ IR (Restricted) Skill Test and the written examination. The applicant must apply for the issue of the IMC rating within 24 months of the last IR test passed, The IMC Rating / IR(Restricted) will be valid for 25 months after the last day of the month in which the last IR test was successfully passed.
( Apologies for the font - the latest PPRuNe software still doesn't include user-selectable font size / type...
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