UK settlement (ILR) and citizenship
On 2 November 2026 the Home Office set out its final earned settlement model. It is the biggest change to UK settlement in years and affects almost everyone who does not yet hold ILR.
Information checked: 5 November 2026 · UK rules change often; check GOV.UK before you apply
Earned settlement: your wait depends on your contribution
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will no longer follow almost automatically after 5 years. The wait now depends on earnings, occupation and compliance, and everyone must first meet four mandatory conditions, whenever they arrived.
The new qualifying periods
| Wait | Who (as announced) |
|---|---|
| 3 years | The highest earners (threshold to be set in the Rules) |
| 5 years | Earning over £50,271, and some public service workers such as doctors, nurses and teachers; separate terms for qualifying care workers |
| 10 years | The new default |
| 20 years+ | People who have breached immigration rules |
| Up to 30 years | People who arrived by small boat or other clandestine entry |
Four mandatory conditions
- A clean criminal record (stricter than today)
- English spoken to a high standard (about A-level as a foreign language)
- No debt owed to the taxpayer
- A record of sustained National Insurance contributions
Who keeps their current path
- Family members of British citizens
- Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders
- Members of the armed forces
- People who already hold settlement: it will not be removed
This is the policy the government has announced. Settlement applications are decided under the rules in force when you apply; the new periods take effect through changes to the Immigration Rules, and the exact dates and transitional terms will be in those Rules. If you are on a 5-year path, ask a UK solicitor to assess how it affects you.
GOV.UK: Home Secretary unveils new rules for migrants settling in the UK (2 November 2026) ↗
Common routes under the current rules
Until the new rules take effect, most work routes (such as Skilled Worker and Global Talent) still lead to settlement after a set period; some Global Talent categories and the Innovator Founder visa currently have a 3-year path.
ILR applications usually need the Life in the UK test, English, absences within the limit and a clean record.
Because applications are decided under the rules at the time, plans should not rely on “5 years” alone.
Becoming a British citizen
Most people wait a further period after ILR before applying to naturalise. The UK allows dual nationality, but check your other country's rules: for example, Chinese law does not recognise dual nationality, and a Chinese citizen settled abroad who voluntarily acquires another nationality loses Chinese nationality automatically.
The government is also considering linking citizenship to the earned model, so citizenship rules may change.
GOV.UK guidance ↗Main requirements today
- Aged 18 or over
- ILR or EU settled status, usually held for 12 months (spouses of British citizens can apply once they have ILR)
- 5 years' residence (3 for spouses of British citizens), with absences within the limits
- English at B1 and a Life in the UK test pass
- Good character
- From 8 April 2026, adult Home Office fees total £1,839 (£1,709 application + £130 ceremony)
Planning under the new rules
General points, not advice for your case.
Earnings matter
Whether you stay above £50,271 may decide a 5- or 10-year wait. Factor it in when you change jobs or negotiate pay.
Keep a clean record
Overstaying or breaching visa conditions can push the wait past 20 years. Arrange extensions and switches early.
Compare the U.S. and Canada
If your UK wait gets longer, a U.S. E-2, L-1 or green card, or Canadian immigration, may be quicker. See UK vs U.S. vs Canada.
Not sure which route fits?
Tell us about your situation. We will introduce a partner UK solicitor to speak with you directly, and our U.S. attorney handles anything involving the United States.