The Home Secretary has confirmed that changes to settlement (or ILR) will be implemented in Autumn 2026, and that these will apply retrospectively to those already in the UK.
In an interview with The Times on 1 March 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that the Government’s plans to double the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from 5 years to 10 years will be going ahead. We have covered these “earned settlement” proposals in more detail here.
The Home Secretary stated that the changes will take effect in Autumn 2026, and that these new rules will apply to those who are already in the UK and on the path to settlement – much as anticipated, and despite significant public backlash.
However, we don’t yet know whether there will be any transitional provisions. We also do not yet have final confirmation on the various possible methods for reducing the qualifying period (through high salary, work in the community, etc.), and whether these will be in the same form as set out in the original consultation statement or tweaked slightly.
It is also not clear whether we can expect these details to be published well in advance of the Autumn 2026 implementation, or if it will be another case of the Government announcing and then very quickly implementing changes to the Immigration Rules.
For those set to qualify for ILR under the current rules before Autumn 2026, this announcement is likely to be welcome news. We would urge people in that position to strongly consider applying for ILR as soon as they become eligible, as it is possible that – once the new rules are implemented – you will lose your eligibility and have to wait another 5 years.
If you have any questions about the proposed changes to ILR, or if you require any support with applying for ILR or British citizenship, please get in touch at [email protected]
