The three refugee pathways
| Route | Pathway | Who |
|---|---|---|
| Safe and legal routes | 5 years | Refugees admitted through the UK Resettlement Scheme and other designated resettlement or sponsorship routes |
| Protection Work and Study | 10 years | Refugees in sustained work, education or training |
| Core Protection | 20 years | Refugees not on Protection Work and Study |
Resettled refugees
Refugees admitted through designated safe and legal routes can settle after 5 years. None of them need to show they have been off public funds.
Refugees who came through the UK Resettlement Scheme need A2 (basic) English rather than B2. They also do not need to pass the Life in the UK test until a version at A2 level is available. Refugees on other designated safe and legal routes, such as Community Sponsorship, keep the B2 English requirement.
UK Resettlement Scheme arrivals before 6 April 2027, Community Sponsorship, the Mandate Resettlement Scheme and earlier resettlement schemes are treated as legacy safe and legal routes, which keep settlement after 5 years subject to the route requirements.
See which pathway applies to you, and your earliest estimated date.
Check my pathwayProtection Work and Study
Refugees who move into sustained work, education or training can join Protection Work and Study, which leads to settlement after 10 years on that route. If working, they need to earn at least £12,571 a year in 3 qualifying years. People in education or training do not need to meet the earnings test. Time before joining, on Core Protection, does not count towards the 10 years.
Core Protection
Refugees on Core Protection follow a 20-year pathway. Moving into sustained work, education or training opens the shorter Protection Work and Study route.
Illegal entry
Adults who entered the UK illegally ordinarily face an extra 10 years, which could mean 30 years on Core Protection. This does not apply where Article 31 of the Refugee Convention protects the person. See immigration breaches and illegal entry.
If you claimed asylum before 2 March 2026
Time you have already spent with refugee status counts towards settlement.
Asylum support repayments
Asylum support you have been asked to repay counts as Government debt. Keeping to an agreed repayment plan is expected to be taken into account. See Government debt.
Questions and answers
Does volunteering count as work or study?
The Government dropped volunteering as a general way to shorten settlement. What counts as sustained work, education or training for refugees will be set out in guidance.
Are Ukrainian and Hong Kong arrivals refugees under these rules?
No. Ukraine schemes are temporary routes that do not count towards settlement, and Hong Kong BN(O) has its own 5-year arrangement.
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.