Is ILR Being Extended to 10 Years? Current Status April 2026

The current qualifying period for ILR is still 5 years. As of April 2026, the proposal to extend this to 10 years has NOT been passed into law. If you are eligible to apply under the current 5-year rule, you can apply now. You do not need to wait.

Key Facts at a Glance

Detail	Current Position
Current ILR qualifying period	5 years
Proposed new qualifying period	10 years [Proposed — not yet law]
Has the proposal been passed?	No — as of April 2026
Source of proposal	2025 Immigration White Paper
What to do if you are eligible now	Apply under the current 5-year rule
ILR application fee (from 8 April 2026)	£3,226 per person
Life in the UK test required?	Yes, for most applicants

Quick Overview

✅ The 5-year qualifying period is the current law — it applies today
✅ You can apply for ILR as soon as you have completed 5 years with the right visa
⚠️ The 10-year extension was proposed in the 2025 Immigration White Paper — it is not law
⚠️ White Papers are proposals, not legislation — proposals can change significantly before becoming law
📌 The government has not confirmed a start date for any 10-year rule
📌 Transitional protections were mentioned in the proposal but have not been confirmed in detail
💡 If you are eligible to apply now, do not delay — apply under the rules that exist today
💡 Only apply when you genuinely meet all requirements — a premature application risks refusal

The 5-Year Rule Is Still the Law

The qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain is 5 years. This has not changed. If you have spent 5 continuous years in the UK on a qualifying visa — such as a Skilled Worker visa — you can apply for ILR today.

You need to meet all of the following:

5 years continuous residence in the UK
Passed the Life in the UK test
Met the B1 English language requirement
No significant absences (generally no more than 180 days in any 12-month period)
Good character

These are the rules as they stand in April 2026. You must also meet the 180-day absence rule — use our free UK absence calculator to check if any of your trips breach the limit in any 12-month period.

What the 2025 Immigration White Paper Actually Proposed

In 2025, the government published an Immigration White Paper. It included a proposal to extend the qualifying period for settlement from 5 years to 10 years. This would affect most people on work and family visas who want to apply for ILR.

A White Paper is a statement of policy intent. It is not legislation. Before any proposal becomes law, it must:

Be drafted into a Bill
Pass through Parliament
Receive Royal Assent

As of April 2026, none of those steps have happened for the 10-year qualifying period. The proposal exists on paper. The law has not changed.

What Was Said About Transitional Protections

The 2025 White Paper mentioned that transitional arrangements would be considered for people already in the UK on qualifying visas. This was not confirmed in detail.

[Proposed — not yet law] The suggestion was that people who had already begun their qualifying period under the 5-year rule would not necessarily need to start again. But this has not been written into law. The details have not been confirmed.

Do not plan your application around unconfirmed transitional arrangements. Apply as soon as you meet the current requirements.

Who Would Be Affected If the 10-Year Rule Became Law

If the proposal did become law, it would primarily affect:

Skilled Worker visa holders approaching their 5-year mark
Family visa holders (spouses, partners)
Student visa holders transitioning to work visas
Other work visa categories

EU citizens with Settled Status obtained through the EU Settlement Scheme would likely not be affected. Their route was established separately under different legislation.

Should You Rush Your ILR Application?

Only apply when you genuinely meet all the requirements. A rushed or incomplete application risks refusal. A refusal can affect future immigration applications.

If you are 3-4 months away from your 5-year qualifying date, prepare your application now. Gather your documents so you can submit as soon as you are eligible. Do not submit early. Use our ILR eligibility calculator to confirm your exact qualifying date and see your total estimated costs.

If you are more than 6 months away from eligibility, monitor GOV.UK for legislation updates. Do not make major life decisions based on a proposal that has not become law.

The Life in the UK Test Has Not Changed

The Life in the UK test itself has not changed in 2026. The fee is still £50. The format is still 24 questions in 45 minutes. The pass mark is still 18 out of 24.

Your test result is valid for life. If you have already passed, you do not need to retake it — even if immigration rules change.

Common Mistakes

❌ Treating the White Paper proposal as confirmed law Many people read news coverage of the 10-year proposal and assumed it had already passed. It has not. If someone tells you the qualifying period has already changed, check GOV.UK directly. The current rule is 5 years.

❌ Delaying an application because rules might change If you are eligible today, delaying gives you no benefit. If the law does change, transitional protections may apply — but that is not guaranteed. Apply when you meet the requirements.

❌ Rushing to apply before meeting all requirements Some applicants panic about potential rule changes and submit before they are ready. An application submitted before you complete 5 years will be refused. The £3,226 fee is not refunded on refusal.

❌ Confusing the White Paper with actual Home Office guidance GOV.UK immigration guidance reflects current law. The White Paper is a separate government document. If GOV.UK still says 5 years, 5 years is the requirement. Use GOV.UK as your source — not news articles.

❌ Assuming the 10-year rule will affect everyone the same way The proposal focused on new arrivals and future visa holders. People already in the UK on qualifying visas were likely to receive some form of transitional protection. The details have not been confirmed.

Expert Tips

Bookmark the GOV.UK ILR page and check it monthly. If any rule change is confirmed, it will appear there first. Set a monthly reminder and check it — do not rely on news coverage.
Prepare your application documents now, even if you are not yet eligible. Gathering payslips, employer letters, and bank statements takes time. Starting early means you can submit the moment you qualify.
Do not confuse "proposed" with "announced". Politicians propose many things. Legislation is different. Only GOV.UK guidance or an Act of Parliament confirms a real change in law.
If you are close to the 5-year mark, apply promptly. There is no benefit to waiting once you are eligible. The sooner you have ILR, the sooner you can work towards British citizenship if you want it.
Get regulated immigration advice if the timeline genuinely matters. If your visa expires before you would qualify under a longer period, you may need to extend it. An OISC-regulated adviser can help you plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the ILR qualifying period already changed to 10 years?

No. As of April 2026, the qualifying period is still 5 years. The 10-year extension was proposed in the 2025 Immigration White Paper but has not been passed into law.

When will the 10-year ILR rule come into effect?

There is no confirmed start date as of April 2026. The proposal has not progressed to legislation. It is not possible to say when, or whether, it will become law.

If the rule changes, will I have to start my qualifying period again?

The 2025 White Paper mentioned transitional protections for people already in the UK. But the details were not confirmed. Do not plan around this — apply under the current 5-year rule if you are eligible.

Does the 10-year proposal affect EU citizens with Settled Status?

EU citizens who obtained Settled Status through the EU Settlement Scheme have a separate immigration status. The ILR qualifying period change was primarily aimed at work and family visa holders. Settled Status holders are unlikely to be affected.

Can I still take the Life in the UK test now even if rules might change?

Yes. The test is the same regardless of immigration rule changes. Your pass result is valid for life. There is no reason to delay taking the test.

What if my visa expires before I complete the qualifying period?

You need to extend your visa before it expires. You cannot apply for ILR on an expired visa. If your visa expiry date and qualifying period are very close, get advice from an OISC-regulated immigration adviser.

Where can I check the current ILR rules?

Check GOV.UK — search "indefinite leave to remain". That page reflects current law and is updated when rules change. That is the only reliable source.

How This Aligns With Official Guidance

The Home Office publishes all current immigration requirements on GOV.UK. As of April 2026, the guidance states a 5-year qualifying period for ILR for most visa categories. The 2025 Immigration White Paper is a publicly available government document, but it is not Home Office operational guidance. Any confirmed rule changes will be reflected on GOV.UK immigration pages before they take effect.

Official Resources

Our Free Tools

If you still need to pass the Life in the UK test as part of your ILR application, start here:

570 practice questions — full question bank, free
Mock exam — 24 questions, 45 minutes, just like the real test
Cheat sheet — key dates, facts and people to memorise
Study guide — how to prepare in the least time possible

Start Your Preparation Now

The 5-year rule still applies. If you are eligible or approaching eligibility, begin your preparation today. Pass the Life in the UK test, gather your documents, and apply as soon as you qualify. That is the most sensible response to any uncertainty about future rule changes.

Last reviewed: April 2026 — figures correct at time of publication. Always check GOV.UK for the latest fees and requirements.