If you hold a Skilled Worker visa and are approaching five years in the UK, the current route to indefinite leave to remain remains open. The proposed earned-settlement model, which would make 10 years the default qualifying period for many migrants, is not yet in force. Until the Immigration Rules change, eligible Skilled Workers can continue applying under the existing five-year route. Our indefinite leave to remain services can help you prepare.
The Home Office forecasts 306,000 settlement grants between 2026 and 2030 for people who originally arrived on non-Health and Care Skilled Worker visas. That averages about 61,000 a year, compared with approximately 39,000 grants in 2024 to people who arrived on Worker routes. These are forecasts rather than confirmed 2026 outcomes, and they do not represent every Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker settlement case.
The increase is largely a timing effect. Many people granted work permission from 2021 onwards are now approaching the end of a five-year qualifying period. Across all routes, however, settlement did not rise in the latest annual statistics: the Home Office recorded 152,306 grants in the year ending March 2026, down 11% from the previous year.
Current rules and proposed reforms
| Point | Current position | Earned-settlement proposal |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Skilled Worker qualifying period | Five years of qualifying continuous residence | A 10-year default for many migrants |
| Legal status | In force | Consultation proposal; not yet law |
| English for settlement | B1 for applications before 26 March 2027 | A separate confirmed rule raises this to B2 from 26 March 2027 |
| Access to public funds after ILR | Possible where the person meets the relevant benefit rules | Consultation considered restricting access until British citizenship |
| Faster settlement | Available only under routes and rules currently in force | Proposed reductions for some high contributors, including certain high earners |
The government’s GOV.UK earned settlement consultation proposed a contribution-based system built around residence, character, integration and economic contribution. The consultation has closed, and the government is considering responses. Applicants should not assume that every proposal will become law in its original form or that a particular implementation date is guaranteed.
The English-language increase is different because it has already been added to the Immigration Rules. Skilled Worker settlement applications submitted before 26 March 2027 normally require at least B1 English. Applications made on or after that date normally require B2, unless an exemption applies.
Under the rules currently in force, the earliest you can normally apply is 28 days before completing the required five-year period. Applying earlier can lead to refusal. You should also apply before your existing permission expires and confirm that your qualifying visas, absences, salary and continuing sponsorship meet the settlement requirements.
Skilled Worker is not the only possible route. Some applicants qualify through the 10 year long residence route after sufficient lawful residence across eligible categories. The UK Ancestry visa application route can also lead to settlement after five years. Where your immigration history includes Student, Graduate and Skilled Worker permission, the guide to switching from a Graduate visa to Skilled Worker can help you identify which periods count.
Click here to read part 2 of this article.