Not Yet Got ILR? Old Rules vs. New "Earned Settlement" Pathways
Because UK settlement rules apply at the point of application, an estimated 500,000+ migrants already in the UK without ILR will transition to the new 3, 5, 10, and 20-year framework once enacted—while Partners of British Citizens, BN(O)s, and Annex C public servants keep 5-year protection.
5 yrs requires £50,271+ (3 of 5 yrs), Annex C role, or Care £25k+. Default is 10 yrs.
Student, Graduate, and temporary visas stop counting toward ILR residence.
British Citizen Partners, HK BN(O), UK Ancestry, Armed Forces & Resettled Refugees.
UK Earned Settlement (Old vs. New Rules): Complete Guide for Everyone Without ILR
Route-by-route comparison table, "Best Years" income rules, Student/Graduate impact & B2 English.
Earned Settlement Status Checker
Select your current UK visa above to check which settlement rules apply to you.
Now select your gross annual earnings band to continue.
Now select your endorsement category or application timing to continue. Now select when you entered this route to check transitional protection.
Finally, confirm your 5-year compliance & public funds status to view your result.
Because your salary is between £25,000 and £50,270 in a standard non-Annex C role, your qualifying period increases from 5 years (old rule) to the new 10-year default pathway once enacted.
Route-by-Route Earned Settlement Guides
Earned Settlement for Skilled Worker visa holders: the 3, 5 and 10-year pathways
The Government's response to A Fairer Pathway to Settlement sets four pathways: 3, 5, 10, and 20 years. For Skilled Workers, earning £50,271 in 3 of 5 years or working in an eligible Annex C public service role unlocks the 5-year route. Otherwise, the default is 10 years.
Earned Settlement for Health and Care Workers: the Annex C divide and care worker transition
The Government's response to A Fairer Pathway to Settlement divides Health and Care Worker visa holders: Annex C public service occupations keep a five-year pathway without the £50,271 salary requirement, while care workers face a ten-year default with transitional protection.
Earned Settlement for Global Talent: three years preserved, but the Highest Talent Group review begins
The Government's response to A Fairer Pathway to Settlement preserves a three-year accelerated settlement pathway, but how Global Talent visa holders access it is changing. The Migration Advisory Committee will review which routes belong in the Highest Talent Group.
Earned Settlement on the Scale-up visa: why sponsored time and unsponsored time face different hurdles
The Government's response to A Fairer Pathway to Settlement treats the Scale-up route as qualifying core permission, but reaching the five-year pathway requires meeting the £50,271 higher-rate test, and the default is now ten years.
Earned Settlement: why Temporary Worker routes will no longer lead to settlement
The Government's response confirms that temporary routes—including all Temporary Worker sub-routes, Youth Mobility, and Seasonal Workers—will no longer count towards settlement, and the 10-year Long Residence route will close.
Student route and Earned Settlement: study time will not count, and Long Residence will close
The Government's response confirms that time on the Student route will not count towards settlement. With the separate 10-year Long Residence route closing, students can no longer build a pathway to permanent residence simply by remaining in the UK on study visas.
Graduate visa and Earned Settlement: the two-year clock that no longer counts towards settlement
The Government's response confirms that the Graduate route is classified as a temporary route and will not count towards the qualifying residence period for settlement. With Long Residence closing, time on a Graduate visa will no longer build a bridge to ILR.
UK Earned Settlement (Old vs. New Proposed Rules): Complete Guide for Everyone Without ILR
Under the Government's Earned Settlement reforms, new settlement rules will apply at the point you apply for ILR—meaning over 500,000 migrants already in the UK without settled status will be assessed under the new 3, 5, 10, and 20-year framework once enacted.