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.

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.

Live policy · Created 6 March 2026

Earned settlement rules are actively changing as the government finalises its policy. This article reflects what was known at the time of publication. Check the official GOV.UK consultation page for the latest. The public consultation closed on 12 February 2026. If the period is extended, the GOV.UK page will reflect this.

What changed in March 2026

Implementation pushed to Autumn 2026. (Confirmed 5 March 2026) In a major speech on immigration, the Home Secretary confirmed the new rules will come into force in Autumn 2026, not April 2026 as previously indicated. The delay is due to Parliamentary scrutiny requirements.

Retrospective application confirmed. (Confirmed 5 March 2026) In the same IPPR speech, the Home Secretary confirmed that earned settlement changes will apply retrospectively to people already in the UK on existing visas — including those partway through existing qualifying routes.

B2 English formally laid before Parliament. (HC 1691, 5 March 2026) The English language requirement increase from B1 to B2 has been formally laid before Parliament via written ministerial statement HCWS1379. It takes effect on 26 March 2027.

Home Affairs Committee report published. (13 March 2026) The Commons Home Affairs Committee published its scrutiny report with two headline findings: children who grow up in the UK should receive settled status at 18 without having to earn it, and the Home Office is not in a position to implement changes at the scale proposed.

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 Autumn 2026 implementation date. The government has confirmed the new system will come into force in Autumn 2026. The originally indicated April 2026 date was not feasible given Parliamentary scrutiny requirements.

Retrospective application. The Home Secretary has confirmed the changes will apply retrospectively to people already in the UK who have not yet secured settled status.

What is still uncertain

Several significant questions remain open following the consultation.

Transitional arrangements. Retrospective application is confirmed — the new rules will apply to people already in the UK. However, the specific transitional provisions (how part-completed qualifying periods will be treated) have not yet been published.

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 Home Affairs Committee has recommended that children who grow up in the UK should receive settled status at 18 without having to earn it. The government has not yet responded to this recommendation.

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.

For a concise summary of all March 2026 developments, see the March 2026 news brief.

This article reflects the position as of 17 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.