Guides to the earned settlement rules
Plain-English explanations built from the Home Office's published government response.
General information only. This is not immigration advice and is not affiliated with the Home Office or GOV.UK. Rules may change and guidance is still to come. For advice on your own case, speak to an OISC-regulated adviser or a solicitor.
- Earned settlement explained: the UK's new settlement rulesThe 3, 5, 10 and 20-year pathways and the mandatory requirements
- Earnings thresholds and the "best years" ruleThresholds, best years, household income and exemptions
- Which visa time counts towards settlementCounting routes, non-counting routes and the end of Long Residence
- Care workers and the transitional arrangementsThe one-off 5-year route, second chance and sponsor protections
- Public service occupations that qualify for 5-year settlementThe Annex C list of eligible health and education occupations
- Refugees, Core Protection and illegal entrySafe and Legal routes, Core Protection and the 10-year illegal entry addition
- What can block or lengthen settlementCriminal record, debt, immigration breaches and public funds
- Settlement for partners, children and other dependantsPartners, children, young adults and the age 25 rule
- Settlement and British citizenship: how they connectHow a longer ILR wait pushes back naturalisation