Insight · 14 November 2026

Earned settlement: does the ten-year ILR announcement change your plans now?

In May 2025 the government published a white paper policy document with proposals for changes to the immigration system. One of the proposed changes was to increase the overall qualifying period required for indefinite leave to remain. On 2 November 2026, one year after the government had put forward its proposals out to public consultation, they announced their new revised plans to be implemented over the course of 2027.

What is the qualifying period for settlement?

For most routes, the current qualifying period required for settlement is 5 years.

Under the new plan, the default qualifying period will increase to 10 years and migrants will also need to "earn" their settlement (subject to meeting all other requirements).

Whilst the starting point is 10 years, this may increase or decrease depending on their contribution and character. For example:

  • The highest earners will be able to settle within 3 years.
  • Those earning £50,271 and some public service workers (e.g. doctors, nurses and teachers) will be able to settle after 5 years.
  • Those who have breached the immigration rules will only be able to settle after at least 20 years.

The Home Office have also announced 4 non-negotiable conditions applicants must meet regardless of when they arrived in the UK:

  1. A spotless criminal record.
  2. English spoken to a high standard (equivalent to A-level English as a foreign language).
  3. No debt owed to the taxpayer.
  4. A record of sustained National Insurance contributions.

Will the new rules impact you?

Whilst the Home Office has announced that they intend to implement these changes over the course of 2027, the exact dates remain unknown. Depending on when the changes are implemented, some people may still be able to apply under the current rules whilst others will have to renew before their current permission expires and wait several more years before they can settle.

For those impacted, in addition to maintaining a spotless criminal record, remaining debt-free and making sustained NI contributions, they will need to take into account future costs (visa renewal fees) which can be challenging in light of the high cost of living crisis impacting the UK.

What should you do?

Whether or not you would have qualified for indefinite leave to remain in 2027 (notwithstanding the proposed changes), it is important to keep an eye out for further news and announcements to check whether you will be subject under the current or new rules. If you do not qualify for indefinite leave to remain under the new rules, you will need to renew your permission before your visa expires until such time you can apply for indefinite leave to remain.

This article is general information, not individual immigration advice or a guarantee of outcome.

Official sources