Speak out against restrictions to settlement
The UK government has announced the biggest restrictions to settlement rights in decades. Under the proposals, most people will have to wait 10 years for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) - double what they were promised.
Set to apply retroactively, these changes are extraordinary. But they are not a done deal.
If you think these changes are unfair, participate in the consultation by 12 February 2026.
Why does ILR matter?
ILR means the difference between having the unrestricted right to live and work in the UK, and getting by on short-term visas that cost thousands of pounds to renew.
For thousands of migrant workers, it means the difference between being able to change jobs, and being tied to an employer, at high risk of exploitation.
Until they get ILR, most migrants cannot access public funds, putting them at high risk of poverty if things go wrong. There is no financial safety net if they get sick, lose their job, or need to care for a loved one.
Vish*, 26, AI Platform Engineer, migrated in 2022
“People speak about 'British values'. I believed in those values. I trusted that if I worked hard and followed the rules, I would be treated fairly. But today, people like me are becoming scapegoats of politics. My mental health has collapsed. I feel depressed, anxious, and lost about my future. I invested my youth, my savings, my energy, my career, and my dreams into this country. Now I am told it may no longer count.”
Anke*, 49, Care Assistant, migrated in 2022
“I sold everything I had to come work here in the UK with the promise to get residency in 5 years but now I am being spat out as a low wage minimum skilled imposter. This situation is truly stressful and my partner and I both feel hopeless and vulnerable. We are saving up for a house deposit but due to all these uncertainties about our right to work and stay in the United Kingdom, accompanied by additional visa costs, we are left in a very precarious situation. We simply have no certainty about our future.”
Ravi*, 29, Healthcare Support Worker, migrated in 2022
“I am a health care support worker who has contributed continuously to the UK for several years. These proposals will have severe and damaging effects on thousands of families, including mine. After years of service, it is heartbreaking to feel as though our lives, contributions, and families are being treated as an afterthought. We are not asking for special treatment — only for the government to honour the rules that were in place when we arrived and when we made major life decisions in good faith.”
Selma*, 33, migrated in 2021 on the Turkish ECAA Business route
“Securing my residency is essential for the continuity of my marketing business and my life in the UK. My concern is not only the additional 5 years but also the broader question of predictability in the immigration system. If the settlement period is increased now, there is no reassurance that it will not be extended again. This makes long-term planning extremely difficult for individuals who have structured their lives, businesses and financial commitments around the existing legal framework.”
What are the planned changes to settlement?
At present, most people must wait 5 years to settle. The new ‘earned settlement model’ changes this. It would double the qualifying period from 5 to 10 years, and introduce a set of criteria that would reduce - or radically increase - the waiting period on a case-by-case basis.
High earners and some public sector workers are sped along. Low-middle earners, refugees, anyone who has claimed public funds due to sickness, job loss or disability, are penalised with a much longer wait.
Migrant care workers have been singled out for an even longer wait of 15 years, ignoring their contribution to those in need following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Earned settlement calculation criteria
The time someone will have to wait to settle would be calculated based on:
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Income. High earners would have a shorter wait.
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English proficiency. People who speak English at level C1 or above may have a shorter wait.
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Volunteering. Those able to volunteer - and receive accreditation for doing so - would have their wait reduced.
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Occupation. Certain public service roles would be given a shorter wait, but most would not.
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Claiming benefits. People who have already claimed benefits, or who do so in the future, would be penalised by adding 5 to10 years to their wait.
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Route to the UK. People who arrive on small boats or on a visit visa would be penalised by the addition of up to 20 years, as would those who overstay a visa by 6 months.
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Migrant care workers and Skilled Workers in middle-skilled occupations have been singled out with a baseline qualifying period of 15 years.
If there are multiple factors that either extend or reduce the baseline qualifying period, the single factors with the greatest impact from each category will be picked and traded off against each other to produce the final qualifying period.
Read our guide to the proposed changes to settlement
Income and English language requirements
If these changes become law, all migrants looking to settle will have to:
- Pass an English language test at B2 (A-level equivalent), raised from the current B1 (GCSE equivalent).
- Have paid a certain amount of income tax. The government has proposed a minimum yearly income above £12,570 (the tax-free allowance) for 3-5 years, but this is subject to consultation.
Increased visa fees
Double the wait for settlement means double the fees. To extend a Skilled Worker Visa, it costs £590 - £885 for up to 3 years, or £1,160 - £1,751 for up to 5 years, depending on whether the job is on the immigration salary list. The cost to renew a dependent visa, which includes children, is £1,321.
Until they get ILR, most migrants (except Health and Care Worker visa holders) must also pay the mandatory annual Immigration Health Surcharge of £1,035 per person, each year. Over the course of a five-year wait to settlement, this totals £5,175. A ten-year wait would be £10,350.
It costs £3,029 per person to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) in the UK.
Read our guide to the proposed changes to settlementParticipate in the consultation
The government plans to bring in these new rules in April 2026, but they are not yet set in stone.
Respond to the consultation by 12 February 2026
Everyone can take part regardless of immigration status. Whether you are a British citizen concerned by the impact on your community or workplace, or a migrant worker, add your voice.
The survey is anonymous and will not impact your immigration status. You can only submit one response - your IP address will be collected to make sure.
More ways to object to the plans
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Use our tool to write to your MP. Ask them to voice your concerns in Parliament.
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Speak to the press. We are working with trustworthy journalists to raise awareness of the detriment these changes will have on individuals and communities.
We've got one chance to stand against these devastating plans.
Your voice matters.
*These are all real quotes from real people, but names have been changed for privacy. All photos are illustrative. If you are a journalist and would like to speak to any of these individuals, contact our press office.