Side-by-side comparison
| Topic | Current rules | Earned Settlement |
|---|---|---|
| Standard qualifying period | Usually 5 years on most work and family routes | 10 years by default, from 3 to 20 depending on contribution and record |
| High earners | Same period as everyone else on the route | 3 years at £125,141+, 5 years at £50,271+, on the high-talent routes |
| Lower-skilled workers | 5 years on Skilled Worker | 10 years (15 years was proposed then dropped) |
| English | B1 | B2 |
| Criminal record | Longer sentences normally lead to refusal, with discretion for lesser offences | Any adult criminal record in the UK leads to refusal |
| Government debt | Can lead to refusal | All NHS, tax, National Insurance and Home Office debt must be cleared |
| Public funds | Most routes restrict access but past use has no common settlement penalty | Claiming in the last 5 years means a 20-year pathway |
| Long Residence | 10 years of continuous lawful residence on almost any route | Route closes |
| Temporary routes | Can count towards Long Residence | Do not count towards settlement |
| Volunteering | Not a factor | Proposed as a way to shorten the wait, then dropped |
| Partners of British citizens | 5 years | 5 years (British connection) |
| Partners of settled people | 5 years | 10 years by default |
| Couples’ income | Not applicable to settlement | Couples can combine to meet £25,142 |
| Existing care workers | 5 years | Still 5 years if they joined before 12 May 2025 and meet the £25,000 salary rules |
What stays the same
- The Life in the UK test remains, with the same exemptions, though it is being reviewed.
- Children under 18 can still settle with their parents.
- Hong Kong BN(O), Afghan schemes, the Armed Forces, bereaved partners and victims of domestic abuse keep their own arrangements.
- The EU Settlement Scheme is unaffected.
See which pathway applies to you, and your earliest estimated date.
Check my pathwayWhat is still to be confirmed
The start date, the exact list of public funds that count, safeguards for vulnerable groups, the Highest Talent Group and the treatment of Leave Outside the Rules are all due in later guidance.
Questions and answers
Will the new rules apply to people already in the UK?
The framework is intended to apply to people who have not yet settled, with transitional protection for some existing groups such as care workers who joined before 12 May 2025. Detail is expected in guidance.
Should I apply under the old rules now?
If you are already eligible under the current rules, speak to a regulated adviser about whether applying before the change is right for you.
This is not legal advice. This guide explains the Government’s published proposals for Earned Settlement, which are not yet in force and may change. For advice on your own situation, speak to a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor, or check GOV.UK. Read our full disclaimer.