If you have recently been granted your long-term UK visa – whether as a skilled worker, health and care professional, family member, or graduate switching to a work route – the government’s new “Earned Settlement” rules announced in November 2025 will almost certainly affect you.

From April 2026, the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will rise from five years to ten. For many health and social care visa holders it will be 15 years, and it can stretch to 20 or even 25 years if you or your dependants have claimed benefits for more than a short period. 

Dependants over 18 will also need to qualify in their own right rather than automatically following the main applicant. That said, the new system is deliberately designed with shortcuts. It is possible to reduce the ten-year baseline dramatically – in some cases, down to as little as three years – if you meet certain criteria:

• Earn an average of £50,270 or more over any three years, and you can drop to five years; £125,140+ can bring it down to three. 
• Achieve C1 (advanced) English proficiency for a one-year reduction. 
• Carry out substantial community volunteering or charitable work and shave off three to five years. 
• Work in the NHS, teaching, or certain public-sector roles and retain a five-year route. 
• Enter via the Global Talent or Innovator Founder visas and cut seven years from the total. 
• Keep a completely clean immigration and criminal record and avoid non-emergency use of public funds.

Start planning now

Planning early is now essential. Language classes, career moves that push your salary above the thresholds, and documented volunteering can all make a measurable difference. Equally important is understanding exactly which benefits (including tax credits and housing support) trigger penalties, and how the rules apply to adult dependants.

The Home Office consultation on the detailed rules runs until 12 February 2026, so some aspects may still be refined, especially around transitional protection and vulnerable groups. 

To stay fully informed and receive clear, practical guidance on the fastest legitimate routes to settlement under the new framework, please email info@ukessentialsguide.co.uk. You’ll get regular updates, and checklist templates delivered directly to your inbox – all at no cost.T

The rules have changed, but with the right preparation, many newcomers will still reach ILR much faster than the headline ten-year figure suggests. Start planning today.

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