Earned Settlement Checker

Skilled Worker earning over £50,271: the 5-year settlement route

The 5-year pathway stays open to higher earners. The threshold is £50,271, which is aligned to the higher rate of income tax and will move in line with future changes to that threshold.

You do not need to earn above it every year. The "best years" approach lets you rely on 3 of the 5 years before you apply, so a lower-earning year does not automatically push you onto a longer route.

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

Earliest settlement: September 2027 (5-year pathway)

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

Pathway
5-year pathway
Earliest date
September 2027

Why this pathway

  • Earnings of at least £50,271 in 3 of the 5 years before you apply qualify for the 5-year pathway.

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

Do I need to earn over £50,271 for all five years?

No. You need to meet the threshold in 3 of the 5 years immediately before applying, so two of those years can be below it.

What else do I need on the 5-year pathway?

All the mandatory requirements still apply: no criminal record, no outstanding government debt, B2 English, a pass in the Life in the UK test and no public funds claimed in the five years before applying.

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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