Quick Answer
On November 2, 2026 the UK government set out its Earned Settlement model in Parliament. The standard route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) rises to 10 years from 5, with 5 years for higher earners above about £50,000 a year and skilled public service workers, 20 years for migrants who claim benefits, and up to 30 years for people who enter illegally. The post says details are still to come and that a higher English standard (about B2) applies.
What the Government Announced
On November 2, 2026, the government set out its Earned Settlement model in Parliament. The headline change: the right to live in the UK permanently, known as indefinite leave to remain (ILR), will no longer be granted automatically after five years. It will have to be earned.
| Group | Wait for settlement |
|---|---|
| Standard route | 10 years, up from 5 |
| Higher earners above about £50,000 a year | 5 years |
| Skilled public service workers | 5 years |
| Refugees arriving on safe and legal routes | 5 years |
| Care workers who meet the visa requirements | 5-year route retained |
| Migrants who claim benefits | 20 years |
| People who enter illegally, including by small boat | Up to 30 years |
Every route also has conditions. Migrants with a criminal record will be prevented from settling, and applicants must meet a higher English standard, described as A-level standard and reported as B2.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
| Question | Where things stand |
|---|---|
| Is the standard wait 10 years? | Yes, announced as the new standard route |
| Who qualifies in 5 years? | Higher earners, skilled public service workers and refugees on safe and legal routes; care workers keep a 5-year route if they meet the visa requirements |
| Will it apply to people already in the UK? | The stated intention is that anyone not yet granted settlement will be covered; transition details are still being set |
| When does it start? | No single start date confirmed in the sources we reviewed |
| Does time on a Student or Graduate visa count? | Not addressed in the sources we reviewed. Historically it has not counted toward settlement |
| Are people who already hold ILR affected? | No. Those who already hold ILR keep it |
What It Means for International Students
Studying in the UK does not lead to settlement on its own. Time on a Student visa or the Graduate visa has not counted toward the settlement clock, so students normally switch into a work route first, such as a Skilled Worker visa, and the settlement wait runs from there.
- The long-term plan is longer. If you switch into the standard route, plan on a 10-year wait for ILR instead of 5, unless a shorter route applies.
- Earnings matter more. A salary above about £50,000 can shorten the wait to 5 years. Many early-career salaries sit below that.
- Your record matters. A criminal record, including minor convictions, can block settlement, and claiming specified benefits can lengthen the wait to 20 years.
- English matters. You will need a higher English standard, so keep your test results strong.
- Graduate visa length is changing too. See our guide to the Graduate visa from January 2027.
What To Do Now
- Treat settlement as a long-term goal.Decide whether you want a 3 to 5 year UK career or permanent residence, and plan for both outcomes.
- Choose your university and course for jobs.Pick a course with a clear route to a skilled job, because that is where the settlement clock starts.
- Keep your record clean.Follow your visa conditions and avoid any criminal record.
- Keep your English strong.Keep an approved English test result that can be renewed if needed.
- Check the final rules.Rules will appear on GOV.UK. We will update this guide when they do.
Sources
Based on the government's statement to Parliament on November 2, 2026, and legal commentary on the Earned Settlement proposals from Adam Bernards and Davidson Morris. This is general information, not legal advice.
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