Population · Migration & pressure on services · 5 November 2026
Government sets new earned settlement rules for migrants
The Home Office has announced a new Earned Settlement model that links the time migrants must wait to settle in the UK to their contribution and character. Settlement will no longer be automatic after five years but will be earned based on individual circumstances.
The Home Office has set out a new Earned Settlement model before Parliament, changing how long migrants must wait to settle in the UK. Under the plans, settlement will no longer be granted automatically after five years. Instead, it will be earned based on an individual’s contribution and character. Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "People want to see an immigration system based on control, contribution, and which rewards those who play by the rules."
The highest earners will be able to settle within three years. Those earning more than £50,271, along with some public service workers such as doctors, nurses, and teachers, will settle after five years. The new default settlement period for others is ten years. Care workers who met visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 a year can also settle after five years. Those who breached immigration rules must wait at least 20 years to settle.
Applicants must meet four conditions to qualify: a spotless criminal record, high-standard English, no debt to the taxpayer, and sustained National Insurance contributions. The criminal record threshold remains a 12-month suspended sentence. The reforms are largely in line with a consultation held in November 2025. Figures published with the announcement show that 1,800 exploitative employers have been stripped of sponsorship rights.
An estimated over 500,000 people will wait longer than five years to settle under the new rules. The department expects this to reduce the welfare bill by billions. People can apply via new visas after a settlement period of 10 years. The announcement does not specify when the new rules will come into force.
Written by StreetOwl from Home Office’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
← Back to StreetOwl