Earned settlement checker: which path would you be on?
The government has confirmed plans to change how long it takes to get ILR. Answer a few questions to see which path the announced policy would put you on, and why.
- Based on the November 2026 government response
- 3, 5, 10 or 20 years
- Not law yet
Checked against current gov.uk rules · 2026-11-10
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Earned settlement checker: which path would you be on?
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· Rules checked against gov.uk on Nov 10, 2026
Not law yet
The government confirmed these plans on 2 November 2026 (CP 1707), but no Immigration Rules have been laid and there is no start date. Until then, the current rules apply.
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For guidance only — the Home Office decides.
This checker reflects the policy announced in the government response, not the Immigration Rules. The final rules, thresholds and lists may change. Check gov.uk or get advice before making plans.
Source: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, government response (CP 1707), November 2026Official gov.uk rules
How earned settlement would work
Under earned settlement, the standard wait for ILR goes up from 5 to 10 years. You can get there sooner by earning more, working in an eligible public service job, or having a British connection. Breaking immigration rules as an adult, or claiming public funds in the 5 years before you apply, means 20 years. Everyone also needs B2 English, the Life in the UK Test and a minimum income of £12,571 a year (or £25,142 as a couple), with exemptions for children, people aged 65 and over and people whose health prevents them from working.
Common questions
- What is earned settlement?
- It is the government's new system for deciding how long someone must live in the UK before getting ILR. The starting point is 10 years. Higher earners, eligible public service workers and people with a British connection can qualify sooner. People who break immigration rules or claim public funds wait longer. The details are in the government response to the consultation (CP 1707), published on 2 November 2026.
- When does earned settlement start?
- No start date has been announced, and no changes to the Immigration Rules have been laid yet. The government says it will publish further guidance and a full impact assessment before it starts. It also says that, unless transitional provisions are made, applications are normally decided under the rules in force on the date of the decision.
- Does earned settlement affect people already in the UK?
- In most cases, yes. Only some groups keep their current 5-year period: care workers who entered or switched into the route before the May 2025 White Paper and meet the £25,000 salary and other requirements, and health and education workers below RQF 6 on a national pay scale who came before May 2025. Some groups, such as Hong Kong BN(O) holders and HM Armed Forces, keep their existing arrangements.
- Is the Long Residence route closing?
- Yes. Under earned settlement the 10-year Long Residence route will close, and time on temporary routes such as Student and Graduate will no longer count towards settlement.
Also required
Heading for ILR or citizenship?
You'll also need to pass the Life in the UK test. Practise in your own language.
Next on your journey
ILR date calculator
Find the earliest date you can apply for settlement, including the 28-day early window.