I think that aslong as you have passed all the required examinations relevant to the licence category within the 5yr timespan then there is no expiration date. Grateful if somebody could confirm if this is correct?
However also in accordance with the ELGD it states.
Section D3.2
"All applicants must have gained at least one year’s experience on aircraft typical of the category or sub-category applied for. Of this one year’s experience, six months must have been gained in the 12 months immediately before application. The remainder must have been gained in the 7 years before application."