Proposal: earned settlement would raise the usual wait to settle to 10 years
Published Checked by Edward Owusu
At a glance
What changed
This is a proposal, not law. In November 2025 the Home Office consulted on 'earned settlement', which would raise the usual qualifying period for settlement from 5 to 10 years, with time added or taken off based on contribution and integration. It also asked whether people sponsored in jobs below degree level (RQF 6), such as care workers on the Health and Care Worker visa, should have a 15-year baseline. The consultation closed on 13 February 2026, and on 25 October 2026 GOV.UK did not show a published government response.
Who it affects
If adopted, it would affect people on Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas and their dependants who do not yet have settlement. The consultation proposed applying the changes to everyone in the UK who has not already been granted indefinite leave to remain.
When it starts
No start date has been set; the consultation ran from 20 November 2025 to 13 February 2026.
What it does not change
Nothing has changed in the rules yet: the GOV.UK Skilled Worker settlement guide still describes a 5-year qualifying period. The government said it would not remove settlement from people who already have it.