Earned Settlement in 2026: What's Confirmed, What Isn't, and What to Do Now

The government's earned settlement consultation closed on 12 February 2026. We now know more than we did when the proposals were first published in November 2025. But the final rules have not been confirmed.

This article is a clear-eyed snapshot of where things stand as of March 2026: what is locked in by the government's published policy, and what is still outstanding.

Visual — March 2026 status

What the government has and has not confirmed.

✓

Confirmed

• ·10-year baseline for most routes
• ·Four-pillar framework
• ·B2 English language requirement
• ·April 2026 implementation target

?

Still uncertain

• ·Transitional rules for people mid-route
• ·Exact earnings thresholds per tier
• ·Protections for vulnerable groups
• ·Children's rules

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What is confirmed

The following are set out in the government's published policy document and have not been subject to substantive revision.

A 10-year baseline for most migrants. The standard qualifying period doubles from five to ten years for most work and family visa routes.

The four-pillar framework. Settlement will be assessed against Character, Integration, Contribution, and Residence. These pillars are confirmed as the structure of the new system.

B2 English language requirement. The minimum language requirement increases from B1 to B2.

An April 2026 target for implementation. The government has indicated it intends the new system to come into force in April 2026. This date is subject to the parliamentary process and the finalisation of regulations.

What is still uncertain

Several significant questions remain open following the consultation.

Transitional arrangements. If you are currently partway through a qualifying period under the existing five-year rules, it is not yet confirmed how the new system will apply to you. This is the most consequential outstanding question for people already on qualifying visas.

Exact earnings thresholds for each tier. The tier structure — including the £125,140 and £12,570 income thresholds — is proposed but not yet written into law.

Protections for vulnerable groups. The consultation sought views on exceptions for people in particularly difficult circumstances. How these will be defined has not been finalised.

Children's rules. The rules for children who arrive young and grow up in the UK remain unclear as of early 2026.

What to do now

Three practical steps while the final rules are pending.

Track your absences. The 180-day rolling absence rule applies under both the current system and earned settlement. Your absence record forms part of the Residence pillar. Keeping an accurate record now means you will not have to reconstruct it later. Try the free ILR calculator →

Keep your HMRC records. The Contribution pillar will require evidence of taxable income. Your P60 — issued by your employer at the end of each tax year — is the primary document. If you are self-employed, your self-assessment tax return serves the same purpose. Both are accessible through your HMRC personal tax account. Do not discard these documents.

Watch the GOV.UK page. When final rules are published, they will appear on the earned settlement consultation page. That is the authoritative source.

Immi tracks the absence rules that apply now. Those rules carry over under earned settlement as part of the Residence pillar. We will update the app when final regulations are confirmed. You can read the full series from the beginning in part one and find out which tier applies to you in part two.

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This article reflects the position as of 6 March 2026. Earned settlement rules are subject to change as the government finalises its policy. This guide is for general information only. It is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, consult a qualified immigration solicitor.