British permanent residence ILR new policy: 5 years changed to 10 years, will existing visa holders be retroactively
If you are waiting in line for permanent residence in the UK, the policy trends in the past six months may be the most sleep-deprived in the past decade. The "5-year channel" for British permanent residence (ILR / Indefinite Leave to Remain) is being rewritten as - the official plan is to directly extend the standard waiting period for most people from 5 years to 10 years. Today (June 18, 2026) we will explain clearly at once what has been determined, what has not been determined, and what you should do now.
UK permanent residence reform: What exactly has changed in earned settlement?
On November 20, 2025, the Ministry of the Interior released "A Fairer Pathway to Settlement" (a fairer permanent residence path) and officially launched the consultation called "earned settlement" (earned permanent residence) . The consultation ended on February 12, 2026, and more than 200,000 responses were received - which shows the extent of the controversy.
The core change is just one sentence: permanent residence is no longer "automatically qualified after five years of residence", but must be earned through "continuous good conduct, economic contribution and integration". The specific waiting period of is divided into several levels:
• Majority: Default threshold from 5 years → 10 years
• High earners (annual salary of approximately £50,270 and above): May retain 5 years channel
• Top high salary (approximately £125,140 and above)/Entrepreneur: permanent residence can be achieved in 3 years at the earliest
• Medical and low-wage nursing visa holders: the baseline may be extended to 15
• The current "10-year Long Residence long-term residence permanent residence path": planned to be cancelled
What ILR visa applicants are most worried about: Will it be traced back to me?
This is the most frequently asked question by the Chinese community. The bad news is - the government's proposal is indeed retroactive. According to the current caliber of , the reform is expected to affect "all people who are currently in the UK and have not yet obtained ILR", including those who have been on Skilled Worker and Spouse Visas for three or four years, and even permanent residence applications that have been submitted and are still being processed.
There are two pieces of good news: first, people who have already obtained ILR or settled status will not be affected by , and the permanent residence they obtain is safe. Second, the government has repeatedly stated that it will establish "transitional arrangements". But as of today, the transitional protection for "people who have been on the road for five years" has not been confirmed yet—the Minister of Immigration made it clear that the transitional provisions are "still under review." In other words, any of the "old man's old tricks" promises you hear now have not yet been written into law.
When will the new rules for permanent residence in the UK come into effect?
The timeline currently looks like this: After the consultation closed in February, the Home Office has been analyzing responses. In March 2026, the Home Secretary expressed the hope that it would be implemented "within this year" and revealed to the media that it would be autumn (autumn 2026) ; the Minister of Immigration also mentioned "autumn" in an interview in June. But please remember - As of June 18, 2026, the final Immigration Rules and transitional provisions have not yet been submitted to Parliament, and no new rules have officially taken effect.
The only thing that has been implemented first is the increase in the English threshold (higher English requirements) linked to permanent residence. Details of the remaining waiting periods and salary brackets are still subject to GOV.UK’s subsequent official announcement.
What to do now: 3 practical tips
1️⃣ If is qualified, please submit it as soon as possible. If you have met the current 5-year ILR conditions this year (residence, departure ≤180 days/12 months, Life in the UK Test, B1 English), don’t delay until autumn - completing the application before the new regulations take effect is the most stable risk-taking action at the moment.
2️⃣ calculates the number of consecutive days you have stayed. Regardless of whether the threshold is 5 years or 10 years, the cumulative number of days abroad and the continuity of legal status are hard indicators. You can use 永居计算器APP to calculate the number of days for each visa period and each time you leave the country, so as to avoid discovering the difference of a few days only at the last minute.
3️⃣ Don’t believe the gossip, follow the official news. The transitional protection of has not been written into the rules, and it has not been decided yet. For key points involving your vital interests, be sure to refer to the GOV.UK announcement. For complex cases, it is recommended to consult a licensed attorney.
This article is for reference only. The policy is still changing. Please consult a licensed immigration attorney for specific questions.
💬 Let’s talk about your situation: Which permanent residence path are you taking now, and how many to 5 years are left? If it is really changed to 10 years in the autumn and there is no transitional protection, will you choose to deliver it as soon as possible or wait and see? Tell us your plans in the comment section and give some information to others who are also waiting.
If you find it useful, please forward it to your friends who are also applying for permanent residence in the UK - every policy node in the past six months may change the number of years you can obtain permanent residence.