TL;DR - Last Reviewed: 30 May 2026
- The government proposes increasing the ILR qualifying period from 5 years to 10 years for most visa routes
- The settlement consultation closed in February 2026 with over 200,000 responses
- Legislation is now expected in Autumn 2026, later than the April 2026 date initially indicated
- A points-based earned settlement system would allow some to qualify sooner based on earnings and conduct
- If enacted, existing visa holders may also be affected - not just new applicants
What Is Being Proposed
The UK government has proposed replacing the current standard 5-year qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) with a baseline of 10 years for most sponsored workers, under a new points-based earned settlement framework. The proposal was set out in the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and has been the subject of a public consultation that closed in February 2026, attracting more than 200,000 responses - an unusually high level of engagement for an immigration consultation.
Under the proposed earned settlement model, the 10-year baseline could be reduced for individuals who demonstrate strong integration into UK society, through factors such as annual earnings above a threshold of roughly £12,570 for a minimum of 3 to 5 years, a clean immigration history, and personal circumstances. However, the exact structure of the points system has not yet been legislated.
Where the Legislation Stands
As of May 2026, the settlement reforms have not yet been enacted into law. Legislation was initially expected to come into force in April 2026, but Clyde and Co, an international law firm that monitors UK immigration developments, reported in March 2026 that the new law is now expected in Autumn 2026 due to requirements for additional Parliamentary scrutiny. The House of Commons Library confirms that no changes to current ILR eligibility requirements are in force yet and that applicants approaching eligibility should check the rules at the time they apply.
Could It Apply to Existing Visa Holders
Government statements since the initial announcement have implied that the changes may apply to everyone, not just new visa applicants, though references to earned settlement suggest some individuals could qualify on shorter timelines depending on their employment record and other activities in the UK. This ambiguity has caused significant concern among current Skilled Worker visa holders who may have structured their lives around a 5-year ILR pathway. Immigration practitioners have advised those approaching 5 years of qualifying residence to consider applying under the current rules before any change takes effect.
The 10-Year Long Residence Route
Separately, the White Paper also proposes abolishing the existing 10-year long residence route to ILR, which currently allows individuals to combine time across multiple visa categories to reach the 10-year threshold. If abolished, this would particularly affect people with complex immigration histories who do not qualify under a single visa category route. This change has also not yet been legislated.
