Background
In May 2025, the Government published their White Paper Restoring Control over the Immigration System. In this paper, the government introduced the concept of ‘Earned Settlement’ and ‘Earned Citizenship’ citing that ‘settlement in the UK is a privilege and not a right’ and that ‘people should contribute to the economy and society before gaining settled status in our country’.
On 20th November 2025 the Government published their statement entitled ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: statement and accompanying consultation on earned settlement’ which sets out in more detail how the earned settlement system will operate. The statement is also accompanied by a consultation for parts of the proposal. The consultation closed on 11:59pm on 12 February 2026.
The proposal
The main principle of the earned settlement system is that individuals will need to ‘demonstrate sustained commitment through work, community involvement, or other meaningful contributions before being granted permanent status’.
The system includes baseline qualifying periods for settlement which can increase or reduce if certain conditions are met (‘time adjustment model’). This system is built around four pillars:
Character
Integration
Contribution
Residence
The proposed baselines are:
- 10 year route to settlement for all migrants and resettled refugees
- 15 year route to settlement for skilled worker in a role below RQF level 6 (equivalent to a bachelor’s degree)
- 20 year route to settlement for refugees
The statement states that exceptions will exist for certain groups of individuals.
Dependents of British Citizens and those with permission to stay under the British National Overseas route will be able to settle after 5 years if they meet the mandatory requirements and none of the considerations to increase the baseline apply to them.
The Government is also seeking views on implementing a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) at settlement.
Individuals will have to meet mandatory requirements, based on the four pillars. This part of the statement is not under consultation. These requirements are:
Suitability
Individuals must meet requirements relating to criminality, previous breaches of immigration rules and should not have litigation, NHS, tax or other government debt.
This is already a requirement under the current system.
Integration
Individuals will need to meet English language requirements at B2 level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and must have passed the Life in the UK test.
Under the current system, applicants have to meet language requirements at B1 level which only includes a Speaking and a Listening component, whilst B2 also includes writing.
Under the current system certain groups are exempt from meeting this requirement (refugees, victims of domestic abuse, bereaved partners).
Contribution
Individuals will need to have annual earnings of at least £12,570 for a period of three to five years, subject to consultation.
While some settlement routes already include financial requirements, others allow reliance on household income, such as the partner route for British citizens, or have no financial requirement at all, including long residence, refugee settlement, settlement as a victim of domestic abuse or bereaved partner, and the British National (Overseas) route.
Individuals will be able to shorten their baseline qualifying period through specified conditions based again on the four pillars. Only one condition can apply in each case, the one which causes the largest reduction. This part of the statement is under consultation and is subject to change depending on the consultation responses and Government’s decision.
These conditions favour high earners with those with a taxable income of £125,140 or £50,270 for 3 years immediately prior to applying for settlement being eligible for 7 years or 5 years reduction respectively. Individuals employed in specific public service occupation for 5 years can get a reduction of 5 years and those on the Global Talent or Innovator Founder route get a reduction of 7 years.
Other conditions include a reduction of 1 year for those who obtain a C1 under the Level under the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages and 3-5 years reduction for those who have worked in the community (i.e. volunteering).
However, certain adverse behaviour can prolong the baseline qualifying period to settlement. Only one penalty can apply in each case, the one which causes the largest increase.
These conditions penalise those who have accessed public funds with those in receipt of public funds for less than 12 months getting a 5 year increase and for those in receipt for over 12 months getting an increase of 10 years. Further, individuals are penalised for illegal entry or entry as a visitor and for overstaying (remaining in the UK without permission to stay) for 6 months or more which cause a 20 year increase.
Vulnerable groups
A key concern in the consultation is the inclusion of vulnerable groups, including victims of domestic abuse. Whilst the consultation states that pathways to settlement will continue for these groups it also asks views on ‘how an earned settlement system may be tailored for these groups; The questionnaire specifically asks whether vulnerable groups, including victims of domestic abuse, should retain their current arrangements and be exempt from the proposed changes.
Settlement and public funds
Currently, a grant of settlement comes with no immigration restrictions, which includes unrestricted access to public funds.
The government is now consulting on extending the settlement qualifying period beyond 10 years – potentially to 15 years – for migrants sponsored into roles below RQF Level 6, on the basis that some lower‑paid workers are less likely to make a long‑term net fiscal contribution. It is also considering allowing settlement to be granted with a ‘No Recourse to Public Funds’ (NRPF) condition, shifting access to most benefits from settlement to citizenship.
Comment
We are concerned that the proposed prolonged route to settlement, combined with the requirement for an individual financial contribution as a condition of settlement, will disproportionately affect women, particularly those experiencing domestic abuse.
Statistics show that among certain migrant populations, women are significantly less likely to be in paid employment, with caring for the family home often cited as the primary reason. As a result, many women are unlikely to meet the mandatory financial contribution threshold of £12,570 required for settlement. This creates a risk of women remaining on limited leave to remain on a rolling basis, without a realistic pathway to permanent status.
Of particular concern are women whose immigration status is dependent on their partner. Extending this dependency for prolonged periods entrenches existing power imbalances and heightens vulnerability. It is well established, and acknowledged by the Home Office, that perpetrators frequently exploit immigration dependency as a means of coercion and control – an accepted form of domestic abuse. Prolonging such dependency, without a clear and accessible route to settlement and independence, risks exacerbating harm and may have serious and lasting consequences.
We further note that financial abuse, including preventing access to employment, is a common tactic used to maintain dependency. Policies that tie settlement to individual earnings risk reinforcing these dynamics, rather than mitigating them.
These concerns are particularly acute for migrant women who do not currently have access to immediate settlement as victims of domestic abuse. However, we note with concern the inclusion of victims of domestic abuse with a pathway to immediate settlement, within the scope of the consultation. Significant progress was achieved through sustained advocacy to establish protections allowing immediate settlement for victims. Subjecting these safeguards to renewed public debate risks undermining established protections and weakening vital support mechanisms.
Finally, the proposal to impose a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition on individuals who have obtained settlement is a cause for serious concern. The adverse impacts of the NRPF condition are well documented by leading academics, national organisations, and locally through research conducted by RMC and SIFA Fireside. The welfare benefits system already operates as a safety net with established eligibility criteria to ensure support is targeted at those most in need. Securing settlement in the UK is particularly critical for women who are victims of domestic abuse, as it provides permanent independent status and unrestricted access to public funds during the recovery period.
The imposition of an NRPF condition post‑settlement risks forcing women to return to abusive relationships to avoid destitution or homelessness, or pushing them into poverty with limited access to essential support services.
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