The UK government has announced a new Earned Settlement policy that will extend the standard route to permanent residence from five to ten years, but will preserve a five‑year pathway for a number of specific groups. The policy, unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on 2 November 2026, replaces the existing five‑year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) with a system that rewards migrants on the basis of earnings, professional contribution and immigration history.
Under the revised framework, migrants who meet certain criteria will still be able to apply for permanent residence after five years. The Home Office has identified the following categories:
- High‑earning foreign workers – those earning more than £50,271 per year for at least three of the five years before application.
- Doctors, nurses and teachers – foreign nationals working in qualifying healthcare and education occupations.
- Eligible care workers – those who entered or switched into the social care route between 2022 and 2025, complied with visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 annually.
- Eligible family members of British citizens – certain partners, parents and children of British citizens, subject to applicable immigration rules.
- Refugees arriving through approved safe and legal routes – those granted refugee status after arriving via government‑approved channels.
Other groups will retain their existing settlement pathways, including Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders, members of the British Armed Forces, people with a British connection and migrants on legacy routes such as the Windrush arrangements.
Applicants under the new scheme must satisfy four key conditions: a clean criminal record, a high standard of English language proficiency, no outstanding debt to the British government (including unpaid taxes) and evidence of sustained National Insurance contributions. Breaches of immigration rules could trigger a 20‑year qualifying period, while those who have claimed public funds must demonstrate five continuous years without relying on benefits before applying.
The changes will be incorporated into the UK’s Immigration Rules from 2027. The government plans to publish the updates in December 2026, with implementation rolling out over the course of 2027. Until the new rules take effect, migrants can continue to apply for ILR under the existing requirements.
Officials estimate that more than 500,000 migrants could face longer waiting periods under the reforms.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
