UK Earned Settlement Reform: Key Updates, November 2026
The standard qualifying period for obtaining ILR is increasing from 5 to 10 years.
Accelerated routes will be available depending on income, profession and immigration route:
ILR qualifying period | Eligibility criteria |
3 years | Applicants earning £125,141 or more per year for 3 out of the last 4 years, as well as certain categories of highly skilled professionals. |
5 years | Applicants earning £50,271 or more per year for 3 out of the last 5 years, certain healthcare and education workers, spouses of British citizens and other eligible categories. |
10 years | Standard qualifying period for most other eligible applicants. |
20 years | Cases involving breaches of immigration rules and/or receipt of public funds. |
The changes may be applied retrospectively to all visa holders already in the UK
Specific transitional arrangements will remain in place for certain categories, particularly some Health & Care Workers, education and public service workers who entered the relevant routes before the publication of the White Paper in May 2025.
New mandatory requirements for prospective ILR applicants (with certain exceptions):
· English language proficiency at B2 level;
· Life in the UK Test.
· Clean criminal record
· Immigration compliance
· No unpaid debts
· No NHS debts
· National insurance contributions (will be assessed individually)
Long Residence route to ILR based on 10 years lawful residence will be abolished
Time spent on the following visas will not count towards a 10-year-qualifying period:
· Student
· Visitor
· Youth Mobility
· Seasonal Worker
· Graduate
· Ukraine Schemes
· Leave Outside the Rules
What remains unchanged
· The Hong Kong BN(O) route - 5 years to settlement
· EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
· Bereaved partners
· HM Armed Forces
· Afghan Schemes
· Tier 1 Investor (closed route)
· Certain other categories
“A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” demonstrates a government final response to the public consultation and it is expected that a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules will be published in December 2026, with the changes getting into force throughout next year.
