ILR calculator: when could you settle in the UK?

On 2 November 2026 the Home Office set out earned settlement: a 10-year baseline for indefinite leave to remain, shortened or lengthened by what someone earns and contributes. Answer a few questions to see which route you, or someone you sponsor, would likely be on.

How earned settlement works

Under the plans, the standard wait for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) doubles from five years to 10. Strong contributors can qualify sooner: five years for higher earners, eligible public service workers, and people with a British connection, and three years for those making an exceptional economic contribution. Others will wait longer, up to 20 years for adults with a qualifying immigration breach, such as overstaying, or recent use of public funds.

Pay does most of the work. There are three income tests: £12,571 a year in five of the previous seven years for the 10-year route, £50,271 in three of the previous five years for five years, and £125,141 in three of the previous four years for three years. Couples can combine income to meet the minimum, at £25,142 between them.

Before you rely on the result

The new rules aren't law yet. Detailed Immigration Rules, guidance, and start dates are still to be published, so the calculator gives an estimate based on what's been announced, not immigration advice. If a hire, an extension, or a family's plans depend on the answer, speak to an IAA-regulated immigration adviser first.

Frequently asked questions

When do the earned settlement changes start?

No start date has been confirmed. The government's response to the consultation (CP 1707), published alongside the Home Secretary's statement on 2 November 2026, says further guidance will follow before the changes are implemented, and the new Immigration Rules haven't been laid yet.

Do care workers keep the five-year route?

Care workers who entered or switched into the route before 12 May 2025 keep a five-year qualifying period, provided they meet a £25,000 salary requirement, the sponsorship and work conditions, and the new mandatory requirements. Other care workers move to the standard 10-year route.

Does time on a Student or Graduate visa count towards settlement?

Not under the plans. Time on temporary routes such as Student and Graduate will no longer count, and the long residence route is set to close.

What does earned settlement mean for sponsors?

A longer wait for ILR usually means a longer stretch on a sponsored visa, so more extensions and more Certificates of Sponsorship to plan for. It also changes the retention conversation: workers will want to know which route they're on and what would shorten it. Running the calculator together is a good place to start.

Keep reading

Planning for longer on a sponsored visa? Use the visa fees calculator to cost an extension and the Skilled Worker salary calculator to check a role still meets its threshold.