Last updated: 6 November 2026. These changes are announced policy, not law yet. Check GOV.UK before you make plans.
What changed on 2 November 2026?
The UK is doubling the standard wait for settlement (indefinite leave to remain, or ILR) from 5 years to 10 years. Some people can still settle in 5 years, or even 3. That includes higher earners, people in public service roles such as nurses, doctors and teachers, and some care workers who arrived before May 2025. The Home Secretary announced the policy on 2 November 2026, but no start date has been set.
Who settles when: the new pathways
| Wait | Who it’s for |
|---|---|
| 3 years | Very high earners (about £125,141+ in 3 of the last 4 years) and people on the highest-talent routes, such as Global Talent. |
| 5 years | Higher earners (about £50,271+ in 3 of the last 5 years), people who have worked 5 years in an eligible public service role, people with a recognised British connection, and some care workers and support staff covered by transitional rules (see below). |
| 10 years | Everyone else. This is the new default, with earnings of at least £12,571 in 5 of the last 7 years. |
| 20 years | People with an immigration breach, or who claimed certain public funds before applying. |
The earnings figures sit £1 above the UK income tax bands, so they will move if the tax bands change.
Which jobs keep the 5-year route?
The government is keeping a 5-year path for public service roles in health and education on national pay scales. Examples include:
- Nurses and midwives
- Doctors
- Paramedics and pharmacists
- Therapists (for example physiotherapists and occupational therapists)
- Teachers and head teachers
- Social workers
The full list is in Annex C of the government’s policy document (CP 1707). If you’re choosing which UK job to aim for, this matters: a nurse and a care worker on similar visas could now face very different waits for settlement.
Care workers and healthcare assistants: transitional protection
- Care workers who arrived or switched before May 2025 keep a 5-year route if they meet the £25,000 salary, sponsorship and employment conditions.
- Care workers who didn’t meet those conditions can apply for a new 5-year care visa that isn’t tied to their old employer.
- Health and education support staff below degree level on national pay scales, such as auxiliary nurses (healthcare assistants) and teaching assistants, who arrived before May 2025 also keep a 5-year route. The government describes this as a one-off arrangement.
- If you arrived after May 2025 in these roles, expect the 10-year default unless you qualify another way.
Separately, new overseas sponsorship of healthcare assistants is due to end for certificates of sponsorship issued from 31 December 2026. Read our guide to healthcare assistant visa sponsorship in 2026.
Requirements everyone must meet
- English at B2 level (up from B1)
- Pass the Life in the UK test
- No criminal record, including cautions and fines
- No unpaid debts to the government, such as NHS charges or tax
- A minimum income of £12,571 a year (couples can combine incomes)
Children, people aged 65 or over, and people with certain health conditions are exempt from the English, Life in the UK and income requirements.
What happens to the 10-year Long Residence route?
It will close. Under the new system, only time on a route designed to lead to settlement counts, such as Skilled Worker, family routes and Global Talent. Time on a Student, Graduate, Youth Mobility or Visitor visa will not count towards settlement. No closure date has been given.
What about my partner and children?
- A partner who arrived with you can settle at the same time, if they meet the requirements.
- A partner who joins later must complete the qualifying period from their own arrival date.
- Children under 18 settle with their parents.
- Young adults aged 18 to 24 can settle with the family but must meet the adult requirements, except the income test.
When do the changes start?
Not yet decided. The government published its policy on 2 November 2026. The Home Secretary said the changes will begin to be laid in the December Immigration Rules and be rolled out over 2027. Until the rules change, the current rules apply. We will update this page when dates are confirmed.
What this means if you’re job hunting from abroad
- Public service roles now have a clear edge. Nursing, midwifery, allied health and teaching roles keep both visa eligibility and the faster 5-year path. Browse the latest sponsored jobs on Lavhi.
- Salary matters more. Outside public service, roles paying about £50,271 or more keep a 5-year route.
- Plan for B2 English early. It’s now needed for both the visa and settlement.
- Understand the visa rules first. Read everything you need to know about UK healthcare and Skilled Worker visas.
Frequently asked questions
Do nurses still get ILR after 5 years?
Under the announced policy, yes. Nurses are among the public service roles on national pay scales that keep a 5-year route. The changes are not law yet.
Is the 15-year route for care workers going ahead?
No. The proposed 15-year route for workers below degree level was dropped. They now fall under the standard 10-year route, with transitional protection for some who arrived before May 2025.
I’m already in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa. Does this affect me?
It may. The government’s position is that most applications will be decided under the rules in force on the date of the decision. Transitional protection covers specific groups, such as care workers and some health and education support staff who arrived before May 2025. Check the final rules before you apply.
Does time on a Graduate visa count towards settlement?
Not under the new system. Only time on routes designed to lead to settlement will count.
When will I know the final rules?
The government expects to start laying rule changes from December 2026, with more guidance in 2027.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Home Secretary’s earned settlement statement (2 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, government response (CP 1707)
