Key takeaways
- On 2 November 2026 the UK Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced that most people will wait 10 years for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), up from 5.
- Higher earners can still settle faster: 5 years at £50,271 a year, and 3 years at £125,141 a year.
- Care workers who joined the route before 12 May 2025 keep a 5-year path if they earn at least £25,000 a year and meet the other conditions.
- This is not law yet. The rule changes are due to be laid from December 2026 and brought in over 2027.
Most people who move to the UK for work hope to settle after five years. On 2 November 2026 the government said that will change. Here is the plan in plain words, and what you can do about it now.
The new settlement paths
| Path | Who it is for | Earnings test |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | Very high earners, and a ‘highest talent’ group still to be defined | £125,141 a year in 3 of the last 4 years |
| 5 years | Higher earners, many public-service workers such as doctors, nurses and teachers, and people with a British connection | £50,271 a year in 3 of the last 5 years |
| 10 years | The standard path for everyone else | At least £12,571 a year in 5 of the last 7 years |
| 20 years | People who used certain public funds or broke immigration rules as an adult | Not applicable |
For a sense of scale, Al Jazeera reports that the UK median salary is about £39,000. That means most workers will land on the 10-year path unless they are in a protected group.
Care workers
Earlier plans suggested 15 years for lower-paid care workers. That has been dropped. Care workers who entered or switched into the route before 12 May 2025 keep the 5-year path if they:
- earn at least £25,000 a year,
- still have a sponsor and a care job, and
- meet the other settlement requirements.
Care workers who cannot settle after five years can apply for a further five-year Health and Care visa, limited to genuine work in the sector. Anyone who arrived after that date is on the 10-year path.
What you will also need
- English at B2 level, up from B1. For Skilled Worker settlement applications this is already due from 26 March 2027.
- A clean record. Under the plan, any UK criminal record, even a caution or a fine, leads to refusal.
- No government debt, including NHS charges, unpaid tax or unpaid National Insurance.
- A longer wait if you used certain public funds in the last five years or broke the rules as an adult.
Who is affected, and who is not
- People who already hold ILR keep it. The plan does not take it away.
- People already in the UK on the way to settlement are not given a general exemption. Only targeted protections apply, such as the care worker rule above.
- Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders, armed forces personnel and a few other groups keep their current arrangements.
- Partners who arrive with you can settle at the same time. Partners who join later must complete the same qualifying period as you.
- Children under 18 are exempt from the income, debt and English tests.
What refugees face
As reported by Al Jazeera, refugees who arrive through new safe and legal routes can settle after 5 years. For other refugees the standard wait becomes 20 years, or 10 years if they work or study. People who arrive by small boat could wait up to 30 years.
What to do now
- Work out which path you are likely to be on. Your salary and your visa start date decide this.
- Keep payslips and P60s. Earnings in the qualifying years are the main test.
- Check if you joined before 12 May 2025 if you work in care, health or education.
- Plan for B2 English early, and keep your record and any debts clean.
- If you are a student, plan your route from Graduate visa to a sponsored job with the salary test in mind.
Check your UK route
A quick check of your Skilled Worker eligibility, salary and points.
Sources describe some figures slightly differently, for example Al Jazeera rounds the thresholds to £50,000 and £125,000. We use the figures in the law-firm summaries of the Home Office response. Check the Home Office’s final rules when they are published.
General information only, not advice for your situation. Rules, fees and deadlines change; we confirm what applies at your consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What did the UK announce on 2 November 2026?
Is the 10-year rule in force?
What do I need to earn to settle after 5 years?
Do care workers still get 5 years?
Does this apply to people already in the UK?
Will my partner and children settle with me?
Official sources
- Al Jazeera — UK to double wait for permanent residency, with exemptions for care workers, 3 November 2026
- Lewis Silkin — Home Office sets out revised earned settlement framework, 3 November 2026
- DavidsonMorris — Earned settlement: UK ILR changes confirmed
- Employment Immigration Network — Earned settlement: the government has announced its policy, but the law has not yet changed
General information only, current at the date shown. It is not immigration advice for your circumstances. Information on this site is general guidance only and not legal, migration or investment advice. Rules, fees and occupation lists change frequently — always confirm current requirements with the relevant government authority before acting.
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Who will assist you
Sumit Kumar
Chartered Accountant & Australian Registered Migration Agent · MARN 1803385
I migrated from India to Melbourne as a skilled migrant in 2005 and became an Australian citizen in 2010, so I know first-hand what it takes to rebuild a career and a life in a new country — the paperwork and the waiting, and also the job search, the loneliness and the pressure of starting over far from home. Since 2013 I have advised individuals, families and businesses on migration and cross-border moves, combining migration casework with a Chartered Accountant's view of tax, funds and business structure.
