A significant transformation in the UK policy of acquiring Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). On 20 November 2025, the UK government officially revealed its intention to change the ILR system under the new “earned settlement” model presented in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement. These proposed changes would, if accepted, totally alter the current settlement regime in the UK. The policy would give up a mainly automatic five-year path to ILR and replace it with a longer, more conditional process based on various factors such as contribution, integration, compliance, and character. Right now, a public consultation lets people, employers, and organizations share their views on the earned settlement system. They can discuss how it should work, who should apply to it, and what exemptions they should allow. What Is “Earned Settlement”? The suggested settlement in the UK system would not primarily rely on the migrant’s physical presence in the country anymore. Gradually, they would award ILR, and the evaluators would assess every alien based on the four basic pillars. Personality Joining Giving Living All the visa paths would start with a minimum period of stay required, which factors such as the person’s income, English proficiency, contributions to the public service, immigration record, and reliance on government support could shorten or lengthen. How Settlement Works Under the Current System At present, ILR is largely time-based: Once these conditions are met, settlement is generally straightforward. What Is Changing Under the New Proposal? 1. A Longer Default Qualifying Period Under the earned settlement proposal: Settlement would no longer be automatic at the end of a qualifying period; it would depend on meeting mandatory criteria and earning time reductions. Mandatory Requirements for All Applicants To be eligible for ILR, every applicant has to fulfill all the requirements that won’t be subject to negotiations, among which are: Ways in Which the Qualifying Period Could Be Shortened Who Will Still Qualify in 5 Years? Some routes are expected to retain a five-year path, including: However, even these groups would still need to meet the new mandatory criteria, unless specific exemptions are introduced. Factors That Could Extend Your Route to ILR Certain actions could significantly lengthen your qualifying period, potentially up to 30 years in extreme cases. Examples include: These extensions would apply on top of the baseline qualifying period. Impact on Key Groups Skilled Workers & Health and Care Workers Entrepreneurs & Exceptional Talent Families of British Citizens Long Residence, Private Life & Protection Routes
