ILR rules 2026: current rules vs announced changes

Short version for planning. The full route-by-route table is on Settlement (ILR) – November 2026.

1. In force today

No Statement of Changes has put earned settlement into the Immigration Rules yet; the latest is HC 584 (3 Sep 2026) (GOV.UK collection). Skilled Worker ILR is usually available after 5 years (GOV.UK).

Still meet the salary requirement and still be needed by your sponsor (GOV.UK).
Pass the Life in the UK Test (GOV.UK).
Fee £3,226 per person (GOV.UK).
Graduate, Student and HPI time does not count on its own towards the 5-year work-route period.

2. Announced, not yet law (2 Nov 2026)

Announced, not yet law. The Home Office earned-settlement plans (news, consultation response, statement) would make 10 years the default, with faster paths for some. The Home Secretary said changes will start to be laid from the December Immigration Rules and be implemented during 2027.

3 years: earnings of £125,141 in three of the last four years, or the Highest Talent Group.
5 years: £50,271 in three of the last five years, or eligible public-service jobs (e.g. many doctors, nurses, teachers).
10 years (default): at least £12,571 a year in five of the last seven years (household £25,142 for couples).
20 years: qualifying immigration breaches or recent use of public funds.
Announced: Long Residence route to close; Student, Graduate and HPI time not to count towards settlement.
Announced: people extending on the pre-4 April 2024 Skilled Worker transitional salary terms could do so until 2035.

3. What this means for an Indian graduate

If you are not yet settled, plan for the current 5-year rules but keep evidence that would also meet the announced tests: payslips, P60s, National Insurance record, English level and a clean record. Nothing changes until the rules are laid and in force.

Keep every P60 and payslip; download your National Insurance record each April.
Keep a travel log of absences.
Salary planning: compare your offer with the £50,271 announced 5-year figure (announced, not yet law).
Watch the ILR page – we update it when the rules are laid.

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Sources

ILR – Skilled Worker — checked 9 Nov 2026
Life in the UK Test — checked 9 Nov 2026
Statements of changes — checked 9 Nov 2026
Earned settlement news (2 Nov 2026) — checked 9 Nov 2026
Earned settlement consultation outcome — checked 9 Nov 2026
Home Secretary statement — checked 9 Nov 2026