Has 5 years of permanent residence in the UK become 10 years? 2026 Policy Progress and Response

B1 to B2 are not just a little bit more difficult. B1 roughly means "being able to cope with daily life and familiar topics", while B2 requires you to be able to understand more abstract content and express yourself fluently on professional topics. For those who have passed the Life Skills exam and whose daily working environment is mainly Chinese, this span requires real preparation time, and a two-week assault is probably not enough.

3. Will those who have received ILR be refunded? what does parliament say

This is the question that is asked the most and is most likely to be amplified by rumors.

The government has made it clear that ’s approved permanent residence status will not be revoked. The real focus of the controversy lies in whether the old rules or the new rules apply to the group of people who "have not yet obtained it but are already on the way" - people whose work visas have reached the third year and spouses whose visas have reached the fourth year.

Both Houses of Parliament have expressed their opinions on this matter. In its March 2026 report, the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee asked the government to design clear transitional arrangements for people already in the UK and to provide special protection for vulnerable groups. The report of the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee on June 23, 2026 was even stronger: opposed extending the basic qualifying period to 10 years, and warned that retroactive application to those already on the qualifying route would be "manifestly unfair" and may even be unlawful.

The committee report is not legally binding, but it is a powerful political signal. Historically, for plans named by committees of both houses at the same time, concessions are often made in the final version - the possibility of transitional protection provisions is not low. This is not a guarantee, but it is not a fantasy either.

4. 4 things that UK permanent residence applicants should do now

1) Accurate the "earliest submission date" to the nearest day. During the window period when the rules may change, if it is submitted one day earlier or one day later, two sets of rules may apply. Stop using vague notations like "probably next spring." The starting date of the visa and the date of each entry and exit must be documented - using 永居计算器APP to calculate the 180-day rolling window and expiration date to the specific day is much more reliable than counting your own fingers.

2) B2 English Start preparing now. If your permanent residence application date may fall after March 26, 2027, prepare according to B2 and don’t gamble. If you take the exam in advance and your scores are within the validity period, the cost is much lower than being stuck at the last minute.

3) Don’t have problems with continuous residence and salary at this time. No matter how the rules are changed in the future, "whether you have lived in compliance with regulations in the past few years" will always be the basis for review. The upper limit of travel abroad for the five-year path is still no more than 180 days in any 12-month period; the salary during the period of work visa must continue to meet the standard, and salary cuts, unpaid leave, and long-term sick leave may cause trouble.

4) Save the "Proof of Contribution". No matter how the final version defines "earned", payslips, P60s, employer letters, tax records, and volunteer service certificates will not be saved in vain. It’s better to spend two hours creating a folder now than going through your mailbox from three years ago.

If your situation is special—you changed your visa type midway, had a short-term overdue period, or have been outside the country for a few days near the critical line—this type of question is not suitable to ask strangers in the group. You can spend £5 at justiscript.com to have a UK practicing lawyer provide a written response to a specific question within 24 hours, in either Chinese or English, which is less troublesome than guessing over and over again.

5. Regarding the new rules for permanent residence in the UK, don’t be taken away by these three statements.

🚫 "The new rules have taken effect, please submit them quickly" - they have not taken effect. Rule changes must be announced through Statement of Changes and written into the immigration rules. There will be clear text and date on GOV.UK.

🚫 "Internal news says that it will start on a certain day of a certain month" - any "information" that cannot give an official document number is treated as gossip.

🚫 "It's going to be 10 years anyway, so why not give up now" - Giving up the accumulated years of residence before the transitional arrangements are clear is the most expensive decision at this stage.

When policies are uncertain, what can stabilize people is never guessing, but doing their part firmly: calculating dates accurately, passing English exams, and storing materials well. When the rules come into effect, you will be the least panicked.

📌 This article is for reference only. Please consult a licensed attorney for specific questions. Please refer to GOV.UK’s latest announcement for all fees, dates and rules.

Data source: GOV.UK Immigration Rules Amendment and Explanatory Memorandum HC 1691 (March 5, 2026); House of Commons Home Affairs Committee "Earned Settlement" report (March 2026); House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee report on Settlement, Citizenship and Integration (June 23, 2026).