Will ILR take 10 years instead of 5?

The government has proposed extending the qualifying period for ILR from 5 years to 10 years for some visa routes. As of 2026, this has not yet been implemented. The proposal is part of the 2025 Immigration White Paper and would primarily affect Skilled Worker visa holders.

When will the 10-year ILR rule come into effect?

No implementation date has been confirmed. The proposal is under consultation and any change would require amendments to the Immigration Rules. Monitor GOV.UK for announcements.

Will the 10-year rule apply to spouse visas?

The proposal appears to target work-based routes rather than family routes. Spouse visa holders are expected to continue qualifying for ILR after 5 years. However, final details have not been confirmed.

ILR 10-Year Proposal: What the Government Has Planned

The 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed extending the ILR qualifying period from 5 years to 10 years for certain visa routes, primarily work-based routes like the Skilled Worker visa. Family routes are expected to be unaffected. The proposal has not yet been implemented and remains under consultation.

What Has Been Proposed

The 2025 Immigration White Paper included a proposal to increase the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from 5 years to 10 years on certain visa routes. This would be the most significant change to the settlement system in decades.

The proposal is driven by the government's stated aim to ensure that permanent settlement is earned through a longer period of contribution to the UK economy. The full details are available in the White Paper on GOV.UK.

Who Would Be Affected

Those on the Skilled Worker visa and spouse visa routes would be most impacted.

Based on the proposal as published:

Likely affected: Skilled Worker visa holders, Senior or Specialist Worker visa holders, and potentially other work-based routes.
Likely unaffected: Spouse and family visa holders, refugees, and those on the Hong Kong BN(O) route.
Uncertain: Health and Care Worker visa holders, Global Talent visa holders, and those on the 10-year long residence route.

See our ILR changes 2026 guide for the latest confirmed changes.

Implications

If implemented, the 10-year rule would have major consequences:

More visa renewals: Workers would need to extend their Skilled Worker visa multiple times, each time paying fees and IHS.
Higher total costs: Additional extensions would cost thousands of pounds more in total.
Longer dependency on employer sponsorship: Workers would remain tied to sponsorship for 10 years instead of 5.
Delayed citizenship: Since citizenship requires ILR, the path to citizenship would also be extended.

Transitional Arrangements

If the rule is implemented, the government would likely introduce transitional arrangements for people already on a qualifying visa route. Possible approaches include:

Applying the new rule only to people who start their visa after the implementation date.
Phasing in the change gradually (for example, increasing from 5 to 7 to 10 years).
Allowing those already past the midpoint to continue under the old rules.

Until details are confirmed, this is speculative. Monitor the UKVI page on GOV.UK.

What You Can Do Now

Start preparing for the Life in the UK test and English language requirements early.

If you are approaching 5 years: Apply for ILR as soon as you are eligible under current rules. See our 28-day early application guide.
If you recently started: Monitor for announcements and plan your finances for a potentially longer route.
Consider alternative routes: Some routes may retain the 5-year qualifying period. See our ILR requirements guide.

The Existing 10-Year Route

Note that a 10-year route to ILR already exists under the long residence rule. This applies to people who have lived in the UK continuously for 10 years on any lawful basis. The proposed change would be different, as it would apply specifically to certain visa categories rather than being a general long-residence provision.