Under the new Earned Settlement model, migrants who breach immigration rules could face a waiting period of at least 20 years, while those who arrive through small boats or clandestine routes could wait up to 30 years before qualifying for settlement.
The changes were announced in a statement published by the Home Office on Monday, November 2, 2026, and laid before Parliament.
New Settlement Rules Link Waiting Period to Contributions
The Earned Settlement model makes the time required to qualify for permanent settlement dependent on migrants’ economic contributions and compliance with immigration rules.
Under the arrangements, the highest earners will be eligible to apply for settlement after three years, while those earning more than £50,271 annually and certain public service workers, including doctors, nurses and teachers, will qualify after five years.
Migrants who have breached immigration rules, however, will have to wait at least 20 years before becoming eligible.
The government also outlined four conditions that all applicants must satisfy, regardless of when they arrived in the UK.
They include having a clean criminal record, demonstrating a high standard of English, owing no debt to the taxpayer and maintaining a record of sustained National Insurance contributions.
The Home Office said the criminal record requirement would be stricter than the existing threshold, while the English language standard would be equivalent to A-Level English as a foreign language.
Explaining the policy, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said permanent settlement should no longer be granted almost automatically but earned through contribution and responsible conduct.
“Those who contribute most will settle fastest. Those who don’t play by the rules will be refused or wait much longer,” she said.
Care Workers Get Five-Year Settlement Route
The government has introduced a five-year settlement pathway for eligible care workers who complied with their visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 annually.
The Home Office said the arrangement recognises the contribution care workers made during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the sector faced significant pressure.
However, it said the care sector had also experienced abuse by employers who sponsored foreign workers for jobs that did not exist.
The government disclosed that 1,800 employers had been stripped of their sponsorship rights over alleged exploitation.
Care workers who do not qualify for the five-year settlement route, estimated to represent about a quarter of the group, will be offered a new five-year visa and can apply for settlement after completing it.
Similar arrangements will apply to some public service workers in healthcare and education who arrived during the same period.
More Than 500,000 Migrants Could Wait Longer
The reforms are expected to leave more than 500,000 people waiting longer than five years to obtain permanent settlement.
According to the Home Office, the changes could reduce government welfare spending by billions of pounds.
The government also said migrants affected by the new arrangements would not automatically be required to leave the UK, adding that they would have the opportunity to apply for new visas that could allow them to qualify for settlement after 10 years.
Refugees Face Different Settlement Conditions
The policy also introduces different waiting periods for refugees, depending on how they entered the UK.
Those arriving through Home Office-approved routes will be eligible to apply for settlement after five years, while others could face a 20-year waiting period.
However, refugees who work or study will have their waiting period reduced to 10 years.
People who entered the UK through small boats or other clandestine routes could face an additional 10-year waiting period, taking the total time required to qualify for settlement to as long as 30 years.
The government said people who already hold settled status would not lose it under the new policy.
Family members of British citizens, Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) and members of the armed forces will also retain their existing settlement pathways.
Prime Minister Backs Immigration Reforms
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed support for the changes, saying the proposals were designed to reward migrants who contribute to the country and comply with its immigration rules.
He said those making valuable contributions to their communities should have the opportunity to settle earlier, while others should expect longer waiting periods.
The Home Office said the reforms largely reflect proposals outlined in its November 2025 consultation.
It also maintained that the UK would continue to offer what it described as Europe’s most business-friendly migration system for highly skilled workers.
