UK ILR Rules 2027: Earned Settlement Explained
Indefinite Leave to Remain, ILR, is how you settle in the UK for good. It lets you live, work and study here as long as you like, claim benefits if you are eligible, and apply for British citizenship after 12 months. Today you can usually apply after 5 years on a work or family visa. That is about to change. On 2 November 2026 the government announced earned settlement: the standard wait rises from 5 years to 10 years. That plan is announced, not law yet. This guide sets out what applies today, what has been announced, and what is still unknown.
At a glance
- Cost:
- £3,226 per person (from 8 April 2026)
- Total time:
- About 6 months for a decision (standard service)
- Steps:
- 8 steps
- Where to apply:
- gov.uk
Last reviewed November 2026 against official sources. Re-checked every 6 months · next review due May 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official UK sources(November 2026).
0 of 8 steps
- Before You Go 10 min
What ILR is and what it gives you
ILR is also called settlement. Once you have it, there is no time limit on your stay. You can live, work and study in the UK as long as you like. You can claim benefits if you are eligible. After 12 months with ILR you can usually apply for British citizenship. You stop paying the immigration health surchargeIHS — The fee most UK visa applicants pay upfront to use the NHS — £1,035 per year for most adults (2025 rate).Click for official info ↗ once you have ILR. If you spend more than 2 years outside the UK in a row, you can lose it.
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- Before You Go 10 min
The rule today: 5 years still applies
Nothing has changed in law yet. GOV.UK still says you can usually apply after 5 years of living and working in the UK on a work visa. Some routes are shorter: 2 or 3 years on a Tier 1 visa, 3 years on Innovator Founder or Global Talent. If you are ready to apply now, apply under the rules as they stand today. Do not wait for the new rules, and do not assume they already apply to you.
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- Before You Go 15 min
What the government announced on 2 November 2026
On 2 November 2026 the Home Secretary set out earned settlement in Parliament, and the Home OfficeUK Home Office — The government department responsible for visas, immigration, and citizenship in the UK.Click for official info ↗ published its response to the consultation, A Fairer Pathway to Settlement (CP 1707). The standard wait for ILR goes from 5 years to 10 years. How long you wait will depend on what you have earned, what you do, and how you have lived here. The new rules are expected in a Statement of Changes laid before Parliament in December 2026, and they will be brought in in stages during 2027. Until those rules are laid, this is announced policy, not law.
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- Fill / Prepare 15 min
The faster paths: 3 and 5 years
Under the announced plan, you can still settle sooner if you meet one of the faster paths. Three years: you earned at least £125,141 in 3 of the last 4 years. Five years: you earned at least £50,271 in 3 of the last 5 years, or you work in a listed public service job, or you have a British connection. Ten years is the standard path: you earned at least £12,571 in 5 of the last 7 years. There are also longer paths for people who do not meet the standard, but the details of those are still to come. These income figures come from the government response. They are not in the Immigration Rules yet.
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- Before You Go 10 min
The four conditions everyone must meet
Whatever path you are on, the plan sets four conditions for everyone. You must have no criminal record. You must show English at B2 level. You must have no outstanding debts to the taxpayer or public funds. And you must show a steady record of National Insurance contributions. If you do not meet these, you do not qualify, however long you have lived here.
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- Before You Go 15 min
B2 English from 26 March 2027
This date is firm, and it is already law. A rule laid on 5 March 2026 raises the English level for settlement from B1 to B2 for applications made on or after 26 March 2027, on most routes. B2 is a higher level than B1: you need to understand the main ideas of complex text and speak fluently enough to hold a normal conversation. If your ILR application falls on or after that date, plan to sit a B2 test, not B1. Under earned settlement, B2 also becomes the usual standard, with some exemptions.
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- Submit & Pay 1–2 hours
How to apply when your time comes
Apply online through gov.uk. The fee is £3,226 per person, from 8 April 2026. You do not pay the immigration health surcharge for ILR itself. You need a pass in the Life in the UK testLife in the UK Test — The 24-question computer test on British history, traditions, and government required for most citizenship and settlement applications.Click for official info ↗ and proof of your English level. You give your biometrics and upload your documents. The standard decision takes about 6 months. Priority services cost extra and are faster where they are offered. Fees change each April, so check the current fee on gov.uk before you pay. The fee is not refunded if you are refused.
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- Follow Up Ongoing
What to do while you wait for the new rules
Keep your visa valid. Renew in time, because a gap can break your continuous residence. Keep paying National Insurance and keep your payslips and P60s. If you are close to applying, take the Life in the UK test and your English test early. And do not plan around your old 5-year date until the transitional protection details are published. The government has said some people already on the path to settlement will get protection, but the full details are not out yet.
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Be Careful
Don't make these mistakes
Assuming the 10-year wait is already law. The 10-year standard wait was announced on 2 November 2026, but it is not in the Immigration Rules yet. The new rules are expected in December 2026 and will be brought in during 2027. GOV.UK still says 5 years for most work routes. If you qualify now, apply under the rules as they stand.
Sitting a B1 English test for an application after 26 March 2027. From 26 March 2027, settlement applications on most routes need English at B2, not B1. That rule is already law. A B1 pass will not be enough for an application made on or after that date.
Letting your visa lapse while you wait. A gap in your permission can break your continuous residence and push your ILR date back. Renew in time, even while the new rules are still being written.
Paying the old ILR fee. The ILR fee is £3,226 per person from 8 April 2026. Older guides still show £2,885 or £3,029. Check the current fee on gov.uk before you pay, and remember it is not refunded if you are refused.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the 10-year ILR rule started?
No. The government announced it on 2 November 2026 in its response to the earned settlement consultation (CP 1707), but it is not law yet. The new rules are expected in a Statement of Changes in December 2026, and they will be brought in in stages during 2027. The 5-year route still applies to applications made today.
Who still gets ILR in 5 years or less under the new plan?
Under the announced plan, the 5-year path covers people who earned at least £50,271 in 3 of the last 5 years, people in listed public service jobs, and people with a British connection. The 3-year path covers people who earned at least £125,141 in 3 of the last 4 years. These are announced figures, not rules in force yet. The government has also promised transitional protection for some people already on the path to settlement, but the details are not published yet.
What English level do I need for ILR in 2027?
For applications made on or after 26 March 2027, you need English at B2 on most routes. That change is already law, laid on 5 March 2026. Before that date, B1 is enough. Under the earned settlement plan, B2 also becomes the usual standard, with some exemptions.
Will the new rules apply to me if I am already in the UK?
The Home Secretary has said applications are normally decided under the rules in force on the date of the decision, unless transitional provisions say otherwise. The government has promised targeted transitional protection for some people already here, but the full details are not out yet. Do not plan on your old 5-year date until those details are published.
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