Lilshira
UK earned settlement proposals set new qualifying periods
The UK government has detailed new qualifying periods for settlement under the ‘earned settlement’ proposals, creating three‑year, five‑year or ten‑year routes depending on visa category. The announcement was made on 3 Nov 2026, with certain provisions, such as the care‑worker safeguard, starting on 1 Feb 2027. The changes affect high‑talent migrants, public‑service workers, carers, refugees and most other applicants.
Dans cet article
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L’essentiel
- What changes
- Qualifying residence periods now range from three to ten years with added mandatory minimums
- Timing
- Announced 3 Nov 2026; some provisions start 1 Feb 2027
- Who is affected
- High‑talent visa holders, public‑service staff, British‑connection migrants, carers and most other migrants
Les détails
- Annoncé par
- Home Secretary
- Règle précédente
- Previously the standard route to indefinite leave to remain was a ten‑year long residence period with limited detail on dependants and no explicit three‑ or five‑year routes.
- Nouvelle règle
- The earned settlement proposals introduce a three‑year route for high‑talent migrants, a five‑year route for public‑service workers and those with a British connection, and retain a ten‑year route for other applicants, all subject to new mandatory minimum requirements.
Qualifying periods by visa category
The proposals set three distinct residence periods that determine when an applicant may apply for settlement. High‑talent routes – Global Talent, Innovator Founder and Sportsperson – will qualify after three years of residence. Public‑service workers in education or healthcare, as well as migrants with a British connection such as partners or parents of British citizens and those on the UK Ancestry route, will qualify after five years. All other applicants will follow a ten‑year standard route, with some exceptions noted elsewhere.
- Three‑year route: Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Sportsperson
- Five‑year route: public‑service jobs (education, healthcare) and British‑connection categories
- Ten‑year route: all remaining migrants
Mandatory minimum requirements
Every applicant, regardless of the qualifying period, must satisfy a set of mandatory minimums. A ‘spotless’ criminal record is required – any conviction, caution or absolute discharge will lead to refusal. Applicants must demonstrate English at level B2, except refugees on a UK Resettlement Scheme. Unpaid government debt, including NHS or litigation debt, disqualifies an applicant. Finally, three years of National Insurance contributions are needed, assessed at the household level.
- No criminal record of any kind
- English language at B2 level (except certain refugees)
- No outstanding NHS or other government debt
- Three years of NI contributions measured household‑wide
Transitional provisions and special routes
Carers who entered the Skilled Worker route before the White Paper of May 2025 receive special transitional treatment. Those meeting the salary threshold of £25,000 keep a five‑year qualifying period; others can obtain a further five‑year visa extension not tied to a specific employer. From 1 Feb 2027, care workers whose sponsor licence is withdrawn have 120 days to secure a new job offer and a further 60 days to resolve their visa status, after which the visa may be curtailed. Public‑service workers who joined before May 2025 and are on a national pay scale below RQF level 6 also retain a five‑year route. Refugees arriving via the forthcoming safe and legal routes will have a five‑year settlement pathway, while those arriving outside those routes face a 20‑year period, extended to 30 years for illegal arrivals.
- Carers with salary ≥ £25,000 keep five‑year route
- Carers without salary threshold receive five‑year extension
- Care workers losing sponsorship have 120 days for a new offer from 1 Feb 2027
- Pre‑May 2025 public‑service staff on national pay scales get five‑year route
Ce que cela change pour les voyageurs
Préparation du voyage
- Applicants already on a high‑talent visa should note settlement can be applied for after three years instead of ten.
- Public‑service workers who started before May 2025 must verify they remain on the five‑year track for planning future travel.
- Refugees entering via the new safe routes can expect a five‑year settlement window, affecting long‑term stay plans.
Coût et documents
- No new fees are mentioned; applicants must still provide evidence of a spotless criminal record.
- Proof of English at B2 level, such as an IELTS or Trinity test result, is now mandatory for all non‑refugee applicants.
- Applicants need to demonstrate three years of National Insurance contributions, assessed at the household level.
Ce que vous devez faire
- Check that personal criminal history meets the ‘spotless’ standard before submitting a settlement application.
- Arrange an English B2 test and retain the certificate for the application.
- Gather household National Insurance contribution statements covering the required three‑year period.
- Carers and public‑service workers who joined before May 2025 should confirm salary and sponsorship status to benefit from transitional provisions.
Qui est concerné
-
High‑talent visa holders
The proposals assign a three‑year qualifying period to Global Talent, Innovator Founder and Sportsperson routes.
À faire Plan settlement application after three years of continuous residence.
-
Public‑service workers in education or healthcare
These workers receive a five‑year qualifying period under the new rules.
À faire Ensure mandatory minimums are met and monitor the five‑year timeline.
-
Carers on Skilled Worker route before May 2025
Transitional provisions give them either a five‑year route or a five‑year extension depending on salary and sponsorship.
À faire Verify salary level and sponsorship status to determine the applicable pathway.
-
Refugees entering via safe and legal routes
They are allocated a five‑year settlement route, shorter than the default twenty‑year route for other arrivals.
À faire Consider moving onto the Protection Work and Study route to benefit from the reduced period.
-
General migrant applicants not in the above categories
All other migrants fall under the standard ten‑year qualifying period.
À faire Prepare to meet the mandatory minimums and plan for a ten‑year residence before applying.
Questions fréquentes
What are the new settlement qualifying periods in the UK?
The earned settlement proposals set three‑year qualifying periods for high‑talent routes, five‑year periods for public‑service workers and British‑connection migrants, and a ten‑year period for all other applicants, subject to mandatory minimum requirements.
When do the new settlement rules start?
The Home Secretary announced the changes on 3 Nov 2026; most provisions apply from the date of announcement, while the specific care‑worker safeguard begins on 1 Feb 2027.
Which visa categories get a three‑year settlement route?
Global Talent, Innovator Founder and Sportsperson visas are the only categories assigned a three‑year qualifying period under the earned settlement proposals.
What are the mandatory minimums for settlement under the earned settlement proposals?
Applicants must have a spotless criminal record, meet English B2 level (except certain refugees), owe no unpaid government debt, and have three years of National Insurance contributions measured at the household level.
How do the transitional provisions affect carers on the Skilled Worker route?
Carers who joined before the May 2025 White Paper keep a five‑year qualifying period if they earn at least £25,000; those below the salary threshold receive a five‑year visa extension not tied to a specific employer.
Can time on refugee routes be combined with work routes for settlement?
No. Time spent on protection or human‑rights routes, such as refugee or Article 8 routes, cannot be combined with time on work or family routes to meet the qualifying residence period.
