In November 2026 the government published its response to the earned settlement consultation, "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement". It confirms that the standard wait for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will move from 5 years to 10 years, with shorter routes for higher earners, some health and education workers and families of British citizens. No start date has been set. Until the Immigration Rules are changed, the current 5-year rules still apply.
Latest update (14 November 2026): government response published, no start date yet. The Immigration Rules have not changed. We will update this page as soon as a start date or new rules are published.
Source: GOV.UK: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, government response (last updated by GOV.UK on 12 November 2026).
Earned settlement at a glance
| Status | Confirmed policy direction, government response published November 2026 |
| Start date | Not set. The government says guidance will be published before implementation |
| New standard wait for ILR | 10 years |
| Faster routes | 5 years for higher earners and some public service workers; 3 years for the highest earners |
| Who keeps 5 years | Partners, parents and children of British citizens; UK Ancestry; eligible health and education workers; care workers who entered before May 2025 |
| Not affected | The EU Settlement Scheme and other separate or legacy arrangements |
| Closing | The long residence (10-year) route |
| English | B2 standard (already law for ILR applications from 26 March 2027) |
The new qualifying periods
The response sets out tiers based on earnings over several years:
| Qualifying period | Who |
|---|---|
| 3 years | Earned at least £125,141 in 3 of the last 4 years |
| 5 years | Earned at least £50,271 in 3 of the last 5 years |
| 10 years (default) | A sustained contribution of at least £12,571 in 5 of the last 7 years |
| 20 years | People who have accessed specified public funds in the 5 years before applying, or who have certain immigration breaches as an adult |
The response also says:
- Volunteering will not shorten the wait. This was proposed in the consultation but dropped.
- C1 English will not give an extra reduction. B2 is the standard.
- Adults with a UK criminal record will be refused settlement. The response defines a criminal record broadly, including fines and discharges. Offences committed under 18 are considered with discretion.
- Illegal entry as an adult generally adds an extra 10 years, subject to a safeguard for refugees (Article 31).
- The proposed 15-year route for lower-skilled workers has been dropped. They use the 10-year route if they meet the requirements.
Who keeps a 5-year route?
Families of British citizens
The response says "recognised British connections will continue to qualify for a five-year pathway". That includes eligible partners, parents and children of British citizens, and Commonwealth citizens on the UK Ancestry route. See the spouse visa route.
Partners of people who are settled but not British
The response says people on family routes not sponsored by a British citizen "will move to a longer pathway to settlement". If your partner has ILR but is not British, expect a longer wait once the changes start.
Health and education workers
Eligible workers in specified health and education jobs on national pay scales, such as doctors, nurses and teachers, will be able to settle after 5 years if they meet the other requirements.
Care workers who arrived before May 2025
Care workers who entered or switched into the route before the May 2025 White Paper keep a 5-year route if they meet the salary (£25,000), sponsorship and employment requirements.
Public service workers below degree level who arrived before May 2025
Health and education workers in jobs below degree level (RQF 6) on national pay scales who came to the UK before the May 2025 White Paper also keep a 5-year route. The government describes this as a one-off arrangement.
Does it apply to people already in the UK?
Mostly, yes. The response says "being in the UK does not give someone an automatic right to settle under the rules that existed when they first arrived", and that the transitional arrangements "do not create a wider exemption for everyone already living in the UK".
Protection is limited to specific groups, such as the care workers above. People on pre-April 2024 Skilled Worker transitional arrangements can extend their visas on their current terms until 2035 (this extends their visas; it does not grant settlement). The response does not spell out how everyone part-way through a 5-year route will be treated. That should come in the guidance published before implementation.
What this means in practice: if you qualify for ILR under the current rules, there is a strong case for applying as soon as you are eligible, before any new rules start.
Who is not affected?
- EU Settlement Scheme: listed among separate or legacy arrangements that are "not affected by the Earned Settlement reforms". See the EU Settled Status route.
- Children under 18 can settle with their parents and are exempt from the income, government debt, English and Life in the UK requirements. Suitability and criminality rules still apply.
- A partner who arrives with the main applicant can settle at the same time. A partner who joins later must complete the same qualifying period.
The long residence route will close
The response says: "Under Earned Settlement, the Long Residence route will close." Time on temporary routes such as Student and Graduate will no longer count towards settlement through it. No closing date has been published. See the long residence route.
What should you do now?
- Check if you already qualify under the current rules. Use the ILR calculator. If you do, consider applying without delay.
- Pass the Life in the UK test early. It is needed on every route and the pass never expires. Start with our free practice tests.
- Plan for B2 English if you will apply for ILR on or after 26 March 2027. That change is already law. Check with the B1 or B2 English checker.
- Keep your absences low and avoid claiming public funds, which could put you on a 20-year route. Check trips with the absence calculator.
- Watch for the implementation guidance and a start date. We will update this page and our route guides as soon as they are published.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ILR changing to 10 years?
Yes, as a confirmed policy direction. The November 2026 government response says the standard starting point for settlement will move to 10 years, with 5 and 3-year routes for higher earners and some other groups. No start date has been set, so the current 5-year rules still apply until the Immigration Rules change.
When does earned settlement start?
No general start date has been published. The response says guidance will be published before implementation, but gives no date. The only specific date in it is 1 February 2027, for care workers who lose their job because their sponsor lost its licence: they get 120 days to find a new job offer.
Do spouses of British citizens still get ILR after 5 years?
Yes. The response says recognised British connections, including eligible partners, parents and children of British citizens, will continue to qualify for a 5-year pathway.
Will the 10-year rule apply to me if I am already in the UK?
Probably, unless you are in a protected group. The government says being in the UK does not give an automatic right to settle under the old rules, and transitional protection only covers specific groups such as care workers who entered before May 2025.
What salary do I need for 5-year settlement under earned settlement?
At least £50,271 in 3 of the last 5 years. The 3-year route needs at least £125,141 in 3 of the last 4 years.
Are EU Settled Status holders affected?
No. The EU Settlement Scheme is listed as not affected by the earned settlement reforms.
Is the long residence route closing?
Yes. The government response says the long residence route will close under earned settlement. No closing date has been set yet.