Open consultation

Earned settlement

• From: Home Office, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Work and Pensions, HM Treasury and The Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP
• Published: 20 November 2025

Summary

The government is consulting on how the current settlement system should be reformed and how those reforms should be implemented.

This consultation closes at
11:59pm on 12 February 2026

Consultation description

Settlement refers to a person’s right to live in the UK permanently without any immigration restrictions. It is also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

The 2025 UK Immigration White Paper, Restoring Control over the Immigration System, introduced significant reforms to how migrants can settle in the UK.

Settlement will no longer be granted automatically after a fixed period. Instead, migrants will need to earn it by demonstrating sustained good conduct, contribution and integration.

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Documents

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement

Ref: ISBN 978-1-5286-6105-8, E03496668, CP 1448

PDF, 886 KB, 60 pages

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Ways to respond

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Published 20 November 2025