Earnings thresholds and the "best years" rule
Updated 2 November 2026
Your earnings decide which pathway you are on. The thresholds are linked to income tax thresholds and will move if those change.
The thresholds
| Pathway | Annual earnings | Linked to |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years | £125,141 | Additional rate of income tax |
| 5 years | £50,271 | Higher rate of income tax |
| 10 years (minimum) | £12,571 | Basic rate of income tax |
How "best years" works
You do not need to hit the threshold every year:
- 3-year pathway: the threshold in 3 of the 4 years immediately before applying.
- 5-year pathway: the threshold in 3 of the 5 years immediately before applying.
- 10-year pathway: £12,571 in 5 of the 7 years immediately before applying.
The government gives the example of a woman who earns above £12,571 for three years, takes two years of maternity leave, then returns and earns above it for two more. She has met the threshold in 5 of 7 years, so she meets the contribution requirement.
Couples and household income
Eligible couples can combine earnings to meet the minimum contribution requirement. The household threshold is £25,142, twice the individual minimum. The partner must be in a genuine and subsisting relationship, and only one person may rely on the other's income. A partner who works fewer hours, for example to care for children, does not necessarily need £12,571 individually.
Exemptions
Exemptions apply where it would be inappropriate to require the minimum income: children, people aged 65 and over, and people unable to meet it because of a physical or mental condition.
Source: A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: Government Response to the Consultation (CP 1707), November 2026, chapter 2.
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.
More guides
- Earned settlement explained: the UK's new settlement rulesThe 3, 5, 10 and 20-year pathways and the mandatory requirements
- 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