UK Immigration Reforms-10-Year Settlement Requirement

Table Of Contents:

1. Minimum requirements to qualify for settlement
2. New Settlement Timeline
3. Considerations that will increase the 10-year baseline qualifying period
4. Considerations that will reduce the 10-year baseline qualifying period
5. The following reductions are not subject to consultation
6. Migrants who stay out of the scope of consultation and the planned reforms
7. Conclusion

On 12 May 2025, the UK government released a “Restoring Control over the Immigration System: white paper”.  The document proposed significant reforms to make it harder for migrants to move to and settle in the UK, intending to reduce inward migration. In the white paper, it was proposed to double the qualifying period for settlement to 10 years from the current qualifying period of 5 years on most routes, with a scope of “earned settlement” for those making significant contributions to the UK’s economy and society. 

On 20 November 2025, the Home Secretary (UK) Shabana Mahmood presented a paper, “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement”, before the parliament. This paper sets out the details of a consultation on proposals to reform the current rules for settlement in favour of an “earned settlement” model. The consultation process will run for 12 weeks until 12 February 2026. Migrants will not be able to settle automatically after a fixed period. Instead, they will have to earn it by showing sustained good conduct, contribution, integration, and a higher English standard.

The consultation seeks views on several options to reduce the number of people eligible for settlement in the coming years and their impact. The paper seeks a view on several options, namely 

a) increasing the baseline qualifying settlement period to 10 years, and

b) increasing the qualifying settlement period to 15 years for those in the Skilled Worker route in a job role below RQF level 6, and 

c) implementing an NRPF (No Recourse to Public Funds) condition at Settlement. 

Post consultation, the UK government will set out its preferred option, or combination of options, to achieve this. The resulting changes are expected to affect almost 2 million migrants who arrived in the UK from 2021.

Minimum requirements to qualify for settlement

• The applicant must satisfy suitability criteria for an application, as set out in Immigration Rules – Part Suitability – for example, not having a criminal conviction.
• The applicant must show that they meet English language requirements at the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) B2 level.
• The applicant must show that they have passed the Life in the UK test.
• Applicant has contributed to the Exchequer by having an annual income of more than £12,570 for at least 3 to 5 years (subject to consultation), in line with the current thresholds for paying NICs (National Insurance Contributions) and income tax, or an alternative amount of income. 

New Settlement Timeline

• For skilled workers in a role at RQF level 6 or above, the qualifying period for settlement will double to 10 years. 
• Low-waged health and social care workers and their dependents who arrived in the UK in the 2022-2024 period would be subjected to a qualifying settlement period of 15 years rather than the 10-year baseline.
• NHS (National Health Service) doctors and nurses will qualify for settlement after 5 years (unchanged).

Considerations that will increase the 10-year baseline qualifying period

Only one of the following considerations (i.e., the one that causes the maximum increase) would be applied for any single application. This will take precedence over any reduction to the 10-year baseline.

1. Migrants in receipt of public funds for:

• Less than 12 months will be subjected to a qualifying settlement period of 15 years, which is a 5-year increase on the 10-year baseline. 
• For less than 12 months, but meet the English language consideration at CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) C1 level, would be faced with a total settlement qualifying period of 14 years, which is a 4-year increase on the 10-year baseline.
• More than 12 months will be subjected to a qualifying settlement period of 20 years, which is a 10-year increase on the 10-year baseline. 

2. Those who entered the UK through Illegal means, such as a small boat, overstayed their permission for 6 months or more, or entered the UK on a UK visit visa, would have to wait for 30 years to settle, which is a 20-year increase on the 10-year baseline.

Considerations that will reduce the 10-year baseline qualifying period

All measures listed below are subject to consultation. Only one of the following considerations (i.e., the one that causes the maximum reduction) would be applied for any single application, and additional years will take precedence over any reduction to the 10-year baseline.

• Those earning taxable income of more than £125,000 ($163,000) for 3 years immediately before applying for settlement would be allowed to apply to settle in the UK after 3 years, which is a 7-year reduction on the 10-year baseline.
• Those earning taxable salaries between £50,270 and £125,000 for 3 years immediately before applying for settlement would be allowed to apply to settle in the UK after 5 years, which is a 5-year reduction on the 10-year baseline.
• Migrants on Global Talent or Innovator Founder Visa in the UK for 3 or more years could only have to wait up to 3 years for settlement, which is a 7-year reduction on the 10-year baseline.
• Skilled worker employed in a specified public service occupation for 5 years will be able to settle after 5 years of continuous residence, which is a 5-year reduction on the 10-year baseline 
• Those having competency in English at the CEFR C1 level would have to wait for 9 years to settle, which is a reduction of 1 year from the baseline of 10 years.
• Those who have volunteered extensively in their local communities would have to wait 5-7 years, which is a reduction of 3-5 years from the baseline of 10 years.
• Acknowledgement of certain specific and vulnerable groups having a reduction

The following reductions are not subject to consultation

• Reductions of 5 years from the 10-year baseline qualifying period for settlement for partner/parent/child of British citizens 
• Reductions of 5 years from the 10-year baseline qualifying period for settlement for BNOs (British National Overseas) 

Migrants who stay out of the scope of consultation and the planned reforms

• Those with Settled status under the EUSS (EU Settlement Scheme). 
• Those granted a settlement in the UK under the Windrush Scheme 
• Individuals already holding a settled status.

The issue of providing a clear pathway to settlement in the UK for children in care and care leavers is also out of scope of this consultation.

The consultation seeks views on whether other groups, such as children who grew up in the UK and victims of domestic violence or abuse, should also be exempt.

Conclusion

The reforms announced on 20 November 2025 by the Home Secretary (UK) for the “Earned Settlement” model mark the biggest restructuring of the UK legal migration system in decades. Extending the qualifying settlement period to 10 – 30 years and tying eligibility to significant contributions to the UK’s economy and society is aimed at rewarding high-wage earners, high-skilled, and well-integrated individuals while imposing tougher restrictions on others.