What Are the New UK ILR Rules? Everything Immigrants Need to Know

Most Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, and other qualifying work or family visa holders can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years of continuous lawful residence, provided they meet salary, English language, and Life in the UK Test requirements. This five-year route remains fully in force. The proposed 10-year qualifying period has not been introduced into the Immigration Rules.

Earned Settlement is the UK Government's proposed overhaul of how Indefinite Leave to Remain is granted. Instead of qualifying mainly through time spent in the UK, applicants would need to earn settlement through factors like sustained earnings, compliance history, English language ability, and financial responsibility. The model was set out in the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and developed through a consultation that closed in February 2026.

Yes. The 10-year qualifying period and Earned Settlement model are proposals from a closed public consultation, not confirmed law. The Home Office is reviewing around 130,000 consultation responses, and details such as exemptions, transitional arrangements, and reduction thresholds could change before the rules are formally laid before Parliament. Only the B2 English language requirement, effective 26 March 2027, has been confirmed.

The Home Office reviews consultation responses and prepares a formal response before drafting new Immigration Rules. These rules must then be laid before Parliament and typically go through a set notice period before taking effect. Implementation of Earned Settlement is currently targeted for autumn 2026, though the Government has not confirmed a binding date.

Under the proposed model, the Government intends the new rules to apply to people already in the UK who have not yet secured settlement, not only future applicants. Those who already hold ILR, settled or pre-settled status, or Windrush status would not be affected. Final transitional arrangements for those partway through a five-year route are still under review.

This depends on transitional arrangements the Government has not yet confirmed. Under the proposals, most people who have not yet been granted ILR when new rules take effect would move to the new framework, though how existing qualifying residence is credited remains unresolved. Applicants should watch for the Government's formal response before assuming time already accrued will carry over.

Applications submitted and decided before any new Immigration Rules take effect are assessed under the rules in force at the time of application. The Government has stated it will not interfere with the rights of those already granted settlement. Applications still pending when new rules commence could potentially be affected, depending on transitional provisions yet to be confirmed.

Yes. The current five-year and ten-year ILR routes remain fully in force, and no new Immigration Rules have been introduced. Eligible applicants can continue applying under the existing framework while the Earned Settlement proposals remain under review. Waiting for the proposals to be finalised is not necessary if you already meet current eligibility requirements.

Most work and family visa routes leading to settlement would move to the proposed 10-year baseline, though public service workers and high earners could qualify for shorter five-year or three-year routes. Refugees would have a separate 20-year baseline under the proposals. Routes already granted ILR or protected under the EU Settlement Scheme would fall outside the changes.

Yes, potentially. Under the Earned Settlement proposals, the standalone 10-year long residence route would be absorbed into the new baseline qualifying period rather than remain a separate pathway. The distinct long residence route as it currently exists could be restructured rather than kept unchanged, though this has not yet been confirmed in law.

Dependants applying for ILR alongside a main applicant would generally follow the same qualifying period and requirements as the person they are attached to under the proposed model. Specific provisions for dependent children, partners, and family members have not yet been finalised, so confirmation should be checked once the Government publishes its formal position.

The confirmed increase from CEFR B1 to B2 applies to several settlement routes from 26 March 2027, though some applicants may qualify for exemptions based on age, medical conditions, or nationality, consistent with existing English language exemption rules. Applicants nearing eligibility before this date may still apply under the current B1 requirement.

No changes have been proposed to British citizenship eligibility itself. However, since ILR is typically a prerequisite for naturalisation, a longer ILR qualifying period would indirectly extend the overall timeline to citizenship for those affected by the new settlement rules. Citizenship requirements, including residence and good character criteria, remain governed separately.

Yes. Indefinite Leave to Remain is a UK-wide immigration status set by the Home Office and Immigration Rules, so any changes would apply consistently across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. There are no proposed regional variations to the qualifying period, Earned Settlement model, or English language requirement.

Yes, in most cases you can apply to extend your current visa if you have not yet met the qualifying period for ILR, provided you continue to meet the conditions of your visa route. Extension eligibility depends on your specific visa category, so checking route-specific requirements before your current visa expires is recommended.

Switching visa routes is possible in many cases, subject to the eligibility rules of the new route and your current immigration status. Since the Earned Settlement proposals are not yet law, switching does not currently guarantee protection from future rule changes. Seeking guidance based on your specific circumstances is advisable before switching.

If approved, the Government would lay new Immigration Rules before Parliament, formally introducing the 10-year baseline qualifying period, the Earned Settlement contribution framework, and any confirmed transitional arrangements. Implementation is currently targeted for autumn 2026. Applicants would then be assessed under whichever rules are in force on the date they apply.

The UK Indefinite Leave to Remain application fee is £3,226 per applicant, following an increase from 8 April 2026. This fee is paid when submitting the application and does not include additional charges for Priority or Super Priority processing, where available, or the Immigration Health Surcharge paid earlier in the visa process.

The most reliable source for updates is the UK Government's official website, particularly the Immigration Rules and Home Office announcements pages. The Fairer Pathway to Settlement consultation page also publishes updates on the Earned Settlement proposals. Checking these sources directly ensures information reflects the current legal position rather than unconfirmed proposals.

Yes, especially given the pending changes to settlement rules. An immigration adviser can confirm your current eligibility, flag how proposed reforms might affect your specific visa route, and help you decide whether applying now under existing rules is preferable to waiting. This is particularly useful for applicants close to their qualifying date.