Earned Settlement Announcement

Earned settlement: summary of announced changes to settlement from 2027 (at 11 November 2026)

On 2 November 2026, the Government announced changes to settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain) in the UK, following a consultation on their proposals for “Earned Settlement”.

We will not know the full details until the revised Immigration Rules are published in December 2026.

The changes will be brought in in 2027, but the date /dates are not yet known.

Earned Settlement key points:

• The changes apply to people already in the UK who have not yet been granted Indefinite Leave to Remain.

• The qualifying period will change from 5 to 10 years for most applicants, with limited exceptions who remain in a 5-year route:

• • Partners, parents or children of British citizens

• • EU Settlement Scheme

• • Care workers who arrived in the UK before May 2025, are still sponsored and employed and earn at least £25,000 per year

• • Workers in eligible healthcare and education occupations

• • Other routes including Ancestry route, Hong Kong BN(O), HM Forces, bereaved partners, victims of domestic abuse, children in local authority care and children / young adults with insecure immigration status who have grown up in the UK

• Some Applicants will need to meet a longer qualifying period of 20 years including Refugees in core protection route, those who have immigration breaches or claimed public funds (see below) or 30 years for applicants who entered the UK illegally.

Applicants need to meet mandatory requirements:

• Character and suitability

• • A criminal record in the UK will result in refusal of settlement for an adult applicant, including fines and cautions. There will be a discretion where an offence was committed when the person was under 18. Overseas convictions can also lead to a refusal if they would constitute a criminal offence in the UK.

• • Immigration breaches e.g. overstaying or breaching a visa condition (when applicant was aged over 18) will put them on a 20-year path to settlement with no exemptions.

• • Applicants must have no outstanding government debts including NHS, tax, litigation debt owed to the Home Office or Refugee debt for asylum support.

• English language – This is increasing to CEFR Level B2 (A2 for family reunion applicants). It will still be a test in speaking and listening for family applicants and in speaking, listening, reading, and writing for work applicants.
• Economic contribution – Applicants must show a minimum income of £12,571 per year for at least 3 years prior to applying. Eligible couples can combine income to meet this, but the threshold is then doubled to £25,142.
• Public funds – Applicants must not have claimed public funds in the 5 years prior to application. If they do then they must complete a 20-year qualifying period.
• Dependant partners and children will continue to be able to settle at the same time as the main applicant, provided they meet the relevant requirements.
• Applicants who arrived in the UK as dependant children will only be able to apply as dependents up to the age of 24. Once they are over 25, they will be expected to qualify for settlement in their own route.

• Higher earnings can reduce qualifying period to:

• • 3 years for those with income of at least £125,141 per year for at least 3 out of 4 years prior to application

• • 5 years for those with income of at least £50,271 per year for at least 3 out of 5 years prior to application

Again, eligible couples can combine income to meet this, but the threshold is then doubled.

• Long residence route is closing, until now based on 10 years combined lawful residence in any route except as a visitor. Time spent with immigration status that is not a route to settlement will no longer count towards the qualifying period e.g. Student / Graduate.

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