Writing
Independent guides for UK visa holders.
Earned Settlement
UK Earned Settlement: What the March 2026 Developments Mean for You
The Home Secretary confirmed autumn implementation and retrospective application. The Home Affairs Committee published its report. Here is what changed and what it means.
2026-03-17 · 3 min read
✓ Confirmed
10-year baseline
Four-pillar framework
April 2026 target
? Uncertain
Transitional rules
Exact thresholds
Children's rules
Earned Settlement
Earned Settlement in 2026: What's Confirmed, What Isn't, and What to Do Now
The earned settlement consultation closed on 12 February 2026. Implementation is confirmed for Autumn 2026. Here is an honest breakdown of what is locked in, what is still uncertain, and what you should do now.
2026-03-06 · 5 min read
Qualifying period — by tier
3 yrs5 yrs10 yrs15 yrs20 yrsEarned Settlement
Earned Settlement: Which Tier Are You In?
Under earned settlement, your qualifying period depends on your salary, role, and immigration history. Here's how to work out which tier applies to you — and what HMRC records you'll need.
2026-03-05 · 5 min read
ILR qualifying period
5 yrsCurrent10 yrsEarned settlementBaseline doubles from 5 to 10 years.
Earned Settlement
Earned Settlement: What It Is and Why It Changes Everything
The UK government is replacing automatic ILR with an earned settlement model. The baseline qualifying period doubles from 5 to 10 years. Here's what the system actually means.
2026-03-04 · 6 min read
Leave Friday. Return Saturday.
ThuFripartialSatpartialSun0 days absent. Departure and return are partial days.
Day Counting
The Day of Return Myth: How to Actually Count Your Travel Days for ILR
Most people count the day they leave and the day they return as absence days. They're wrong. Thousands of people are overcounting their ILR absences.
2026-02-26 · 4 min read
Rolling 12-month window
91d92d91 + 92 = 183 days in one window. Continuous residence broken.
Absence Rules
The 180-Day Rule: Why We Built a Better ILR Tracker (Independent Guide)
Most people think the 180-day absence limit resets every January. It doesn't. Here's how the rolling window works and why it catches more people than it should.
2026-02-25 · 6 min read