On 2 November 2026, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, set out further details on the UK Government’s earned settlement proposals. The Government’s full response to the consultation is available here.
The pathways to settlement
The default qualifying period for settlement doubles from five years to ten. From that starting point, the time a person must wait will depend on a range of factors, including their circumstances, their earnings, the work they do and their compliance record. Each pathway will have its own requirements. In outline:
- Three years for the highest earners (£125,141 a year in three of the last four years) and those in the highest-talent categories.
- Five years for those earning £50,271 or more in three of the last five years, those working in eligible public service roles, and those with a recognised British connection.
- Ten years as the standard route, subject to a minimum earnings requirement of £12,571 a year in five of the previous seven years (eligible couples may combine their earnings to meet a joint threshold of £25,142).
- Twenty years for those whose immigration breaches or reliance on public funds exclude them from the shorter routes.
Applicants will also need to meet mandatory requirements, which cannot be offset by higher earnings, public service or other positive contributions.
Certain groups fall outside the scope of the earned settlement proposals (e.g. the EU Settlement Scheme). There are also concessions for care workers.
The Government further intends to abolish the separate ten-year long residence route. This route currently allows applicants to apply for settlement after ten years of continuous lawful residence in the UK and is often relied upon by those who have spent many years in the UK under different types of permission (for example, as a student, a graduate or a dependant).
When the changes take effect
The changes are expected to be implemented over the course of 2027. The precise commencement dates and the final Immigration Rules on earned settlement have yet to be confirmed and, until they are, the proposals do not have the force of law.
Impact of the proposed changes
If implemented as proposed, the reforms will allow a small cohort to secure settlement after just three years – a welcome outcome for those individuals. For the large majority, however, the wait for settlement is likely to be considerably longer. Individuals, families and employers will all feel the effect, particularly as the new rules are expected to apply to those already in the UK. Many people who came to the UK expecting to settle after five years will find that the goalposts have moved mid-route.
People have built careers, raised families and made long-term commitments on the basis of an expected five-year route to settlement. While the final position could have been considerably worse, changing the rules partway through that journey raises serious questions of fairness.
In addition, the requirements add complexity to an already complex system. In many routes it is already difficult enough to understand and apply the salary requirements, and now the salary requirements for any accelerated settlement option have to be factored in also.
For businesses that sponsor overseas workers, the result is a longer and more expensive sponsorship relationship. Rather than progressing to indefinite leave to remain at year five, many sponsored employees will require further visa extensions, additional Certificates of Sponsorship and, where it applies, further payment of the Immigration Skills Charge. Because settlement under the new model relies heavily on evidence of sustained earnings, payroll, salary and working-hours records will come under closer scrutiny.
Employees in identical roles may also face very different settlement timelines depending on when they arrived and what they earn, with real implications for retention and workforce planning.
