The UK Government's new Immigration White Paper, "Restoring Control over the Immigration System" [i, 24], published in May 2025, introduces significant changes across the immigration system, including a fundamental reform to the pathway to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain). The stated aim is to create a system that is "controlled, selective, and fair" [i, 22], where settlement is viewed as a "privilege that is earned, not a right" [i, 7, 139].
The White Paper highlights the government's determination to "reduce immigration significantly" to restore control [i, 3, 5, 21, 28, 37, 40, 150], linking access to visas directly to investment in homegrown skills [i, 7, 19, 22, 44, 46, 53, 58, 59, 63, 64, 151, 153] and ensuring migrants contribute to the UK [i, 32, 35, 139]. Settlement, as a prerequisite for British citizenship [i, 137] and offering lifelong benefits, is seen as a crucial step in this process that must reflect an individual's contribution and integration [i, 139, 142].
Increasing the Standard Qualifying Period
A major change is the extension of the standard time required to qualify for settlement. The White Paper explicitly states that the standard qualifying period for settlement will increase to ten years [i, 6, 39, 140, 152]. This is a departure from the previous system and is part of an expansion of the principle behind the Points-Based System [i, 39, 139, 140, 152].
The government believes that under the current system, the criteria for settlement – primarily based on the length of time spent in the UK and a knowledge of life test – do not adequately reflect the expectation that people should contribute to the economy and society before gaining settled status [i, 139].
Introducing 'Earned Settlement'
To link settlement more directly to contributions, the White Paper introduces the concept of 'Earned Settlement' [i, 39, 143, 160]. Through the expanded Points-Based System, individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the standard ten-year qualifying period based on points earned through contributions to the UK economy and society [i, 39, 140, 143, 152]. The specific details of how points will be earned and how this system will operate are not yet finalised, as the government plans to consult on these changes later this year [i, 140].
This model aims to incentivise individuals to make greater contributions and integrate more effectively, ensuring that those who gain settlement have demonstrated a commitment to the UK [i, 139].
Alignment with Citizenship and Other Reforms
The reforms to settlement are closely linked to planned changes to British citizenship. The White Paper states that reforms to citizenship will align with the earned settlement reforms, also building on the expansion of the Points-Based System [i, 39, 142, 143, 152]. Like settlement, citizenship is seen as a privilege, and the aim is not to offer it to those who have circumvented rules or not demonstrated contribution [i, 142]. The standard qualifying period for citizenship will also be increased, with an opportunity to qualify sooner based on greater contributions through the expanded Points-Based System [i, 143].
Other related changes include:
- A refresh of the Life in the UK test and how it operates [i, 143, 153].
- Consideration of measures to reduce financial barriers for young adults who have lived in the UK through childhood from accessing British nationality [i, 143, 153].
- Support for children who have been in the UK for some time and turn 18 without status, ensuring they are supported to regularise their status and settle [i, 141, 154]. This includes a clear pathway for children in care and care leavers [i, 141, 154].
- The introduction of a new bereaved parent route, allowing those in the UK on the route of a parent of a British or settled child who has tragically lost their child to settle immediately [i, 141, 154].
English Language Requirements for Settlement
As part of fostering integration [i, 128, 133, 151], the English language requirements for settlement are also being increased. The requirement for settlement across the majority of immigration routes will be increased from B1 to B2 (Independent User) level in accordance with the Common European Framework for Reference for Languages (CEFR) [i, 136, 139, 152]. The government also intends to introduce requirements to demonstrate progression in English language skills over time, requiring demonstration of A2 for any visa extension and B2 for settlement [i, 136, 152].
Exceptions and Safeguards
While the standard route is moving to 10 years, the White Paper confirms that a shorter pathway to settlement will continue to be offered for non-UK dependants of British citizens, set at five years, provided they remain compliant with their requirements [i, 140, 153]. Existing safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals, including settlement rights for victims of domestic violence and abuse, will also be retained [i, 140, 153].
Conclusion
The move to a 10-year standard qualifying period and the introduction of an 'Earned Settlement' model mark a significant shift in the UK's approach to long-term residency. By linking settlement more explicitly to an individual's contributions and integrating these changes with stricter English language requirements and citizenship rules, the government aims to create a system that aligns with its goal of lower, controlled, and selective migration, ensuring that those who make the UK their home have demonstrated a commitment to contributing to society [i, 7, 22, 35, 139, 151]. Businesses and global talent considering a long-term future in the UK will need to understand these new requirements and the value placed on active contribution beyond mere presence.
