Earned Settlement Checker

Partner or parent of a British citizen: the 5-year settlement route

The government has kept a five-year pathway for people with a recognised British connection. This covers eligible partners, parents and children of British citizens, and Commonwealth citizens on the UK Ancestry route who qualify through a UK-born grandparent.

In the government's own example, someone earning £42,000 and married to a British citizen qualifies for the five-year pathway even though they do not meet the £50,271 earnings threshold.

Worked example. The dates below are illustrative, calculated as of 2 November 2026. They assume every other requirement is met.

Earliest settlement: March 2028 (5-year pathway)

On what you told us, your route leads to a 5-year pathway.

Pathway
5-year pathway
Earliest date
March 2028

Why this pathway

  • Recognised British connections (eligible partners, parents and children of British citizens, and UK Ancestry through a UK-born grandparent) keep a 5-year pathway if they meet the route and mandatory requirements.

Before you apply

  • Met No criminal record
  • Met No outstanding government debt
  • Met English at B2
  • Met Life in the UK test passed
  • Met Sustained contribution (at least £12,571 a year)Assessed over several years using your best years, so a short low-income period such as maternity leave need not count against you.
  • Met No public funds in the last five years
  • Met No immigration breach as an adult

Good to know

  • Family members: a partner who arrives with you can generally settle at the same time. A partner who joins later completes the same qualifying period from their own arrival. Children under 18 settle with parents. Young adults aged 18 to 24 who remain dependants settle alongside their family, and those aged 25 or over must qualify independently.
  • Only time on routes that count towards settlement builds your qualifying period. Time on temporary routes such as Student or Graduate does not.
  • Estimates assume continuous lawful residence. Rules on absences from the UK are not covered here.
  • The government response does not give an implementation date and says further guidance will follow. Applications are normally decided under the rules in force on the date of the decision, so treat dates as estimates.

Based on A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: Government Response to the Consultation (CP 1707), Home Office, November 2026. Rules as of 2 November 2026. General information only, not immigration advice.

Check your own situation

Frequently asked questions

Can couples combine their earnings?

Yes. 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.

Does my partner need to meet the English requirement?

Yes, all adult applicants must meet the B2 English requirement unless exempt (children, people aged 65 or over, or those unable to because of a condition).

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.

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