The Home Office set out new UK settlement rules on November 2, 2026, with a default wait of 10 years. Its plan would link the route to permanent residence to earnings, public service and compliance with immigration rules.
The department estimates that more than 500,000 people would wait longer than five years to settle. However, it says people who already hold settled status would keep it.
UK settlement rules: three earnings pathways
The government’s consultation response sets out the earnings routes below. These are qualifying periods, not guarantees of approval; applicants must also meet the other conditions.
| Qualifying period | Annual earnings | Required earnings record |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | At least £125,141 | 3 of the preceding 4 years |
| 5 years | At least £50,271 | 3 of the preceding 5 years |
| 10 years | At least £12,571 | 5 of the preceding 7 years |
Source: Home Office consultation response
Data as of: 2026-11-02
Higher sustained earnings would allow a shorter qualifying period.
The Home Office also says eligible doctors, nurses and teachers could qualify after five years. A transitional five-year route would cover some care workers who entered or switched into that visa route before the May 2025 Immigration White Paper. The response says they must meet the £25,000 salary, sponsorship and work conditions, as well as the new minimum rules.
For workers in that earlier cohort who do not qualify, the department plans a further five-year visa tied to genuine care-sector work. The Home Office estimates that around a quarter of care workers would need the second route.
Minimum conditions and exceptions
The consultation response sets conditions covering criminal records, government debts, English, the Life in the UK test and sustained contribution. Higher pay would not cancel these requirements. However, it provides exemptions and adaptations for some groups, including children and certain refugees.
The Home Office says specified immigration breaches would put applicants on a longer route. Its announcement also sets out different refugee pathways, with longer waits for some arrivals outside approved routes.
Family members of British citizens, Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) and armed forces members would keep their current pathways, the department says. These exceptions mean the 10-year default would not apply to every applicant.
Further guidance before implementation
The response to the UK settlement rules consultation records concerns that pay alone does not capture a person’s contribution, including care work and public service. The Home Office says it revised the framework after considering those views.
The document promises further technical and operational guidance before implementation. The announcement therefore sets out the government’s policy, rather than a complete set of instructions for an individual application.
Sources: Home Office consultation response, Home Office announcement
