UK Confirms 10-Year Earned Settlement Starting Point for ILR (Announced, 2 November 2026)

What happened

On 2 November 2026 the Home Office published A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: Government response to the consultation (CP 1707). It confirms that the starting point for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will move from 5 to 10 years under “earned settlement”, with faster paths for higher contribution and slower paths for rule-breaking. The consultation received 204,667 responses. An accessible version was added on 12 November 2026.

Status: announced, not yet in force. As of 13 November 2026, no Statement of Changes implementing it has been laid on the statements of changes page, and no start date has been given.

Who is affected

The response applies to people already in the UK as well as new arrivals. It says being in the UK does not give an automatic right to settle under the rules in place on arrival (Chapter 8). The pathways are (Table 1):

• 3 years: earned £125,141 in 3 of the 4 years before applying, or the highest talent group. Global Talent and Innovator Founder holders are estimated to fall here (Annex A), subject to a Migration Advisory Committee review (footnote 16).
• 5 years: earned £50,271 in 3 of the last 5 years; RQF 6+ health and education roles on national pay scales (Annex C); or a British connection, meaning partners, parents and children of British citizens and UK Ancestry.
• 10 years: the default, with earnings of at least £12,571 in 5 of the 7 years before applying.
• 20 years: for people who used specified public funds in the 5 years before applying, or committed a qualifying immigration breach as an adult.

Transitional protection is targeted (Chapter 8). Care workers who entered or switched into the route before the May 2025 White Paper keep 5 years if they meet the £25,000 salary, sponsorship and employment requirements. Health and education workers below RQF 6 on national pay scales who arrived before then also keep 5 years. The 15-year path proposed for roles below RQF 6 has been dropped.

BN(O) holders keep 5 years, and the EU Settlement Scheme is not affected (Chapter 4). Refugees who claim asylum in the UK face 20 years on Core Protection, or 10 years on Protection Work and Study, plus 10 years for illegal entry (Chapter 7).

What it means for your move

Everyone will need good character, no government debt, B2 English, the Life in the UK test and sustained contribution (Introduction). Any adult with a criminal record in the UK will be refused (Chapter 1). C1 English and volunteering will not shorten the wait. Couples can combine income to meet a £25,142 threshold, and children under 18 can settle with their parents (Chapters 2 and 5).

The 10-year Long Residence route will close. Time on Student, Graduate, High Potential Individual, Youth Mobility and other temporary routes will not count (Chapter 4).

What to do now

• Check your qualifying date under the current rules in our ILR guide. Current rules apply until new ones are laid.
• Work out which pathway you would fall into using our earned settlement explainer.
• Pass the Life in the UK test, work towards B2 English, clear any NHS or tax debts and keep earnings evidence.
• This is not legal advice. If you are near qualifying or have a criminal record, debts, benefit use or immigration breaches, speak to a solicitor or an IAA-regulated adviser.

What happens next

The GOV.UK outcome page says the next step is to “translate the framework into detailed rules and operational arrangements”. Technical guidance and a full impact assessment will come before implementation, and guidance for vulnerable groups is promised “next year” (Chapter 6). One dated measure is set: from 1 February 2027, care workers whose sponsor loses its licence will have up to 120 days to find a job offer and a further 60 days to resolve their status (Chapter 8). Follow the updates page and UK hub.