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The proposed 10-year qualifying period

The UK government has proposed extending the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from 5 years to 10 years. This would be the most significant change to the settlement system in decades. This guide explains what it means, who it affects, and how much more it could cost.

Checked 2 September 202611 min readWritten by the Rowan Editorial Team
Section
ILR & Settlement
Reading time
11 min
Last checked
2 September 2026
Source
The published Immigration Rules and GOV.UK guidance, linked throughout this guide.
Rowan does not
Look at your own case, tell you which route to choose, or say what the Home Office will decide. This guide shows the published rules and where to read them.

In short

  • The standard ILR qualifying period may increase from 5 years to 10 years.
  • High performers who accumulate enough points could still settle in 5 years.
  • The extra 5 years of visa renewals and health surcharge would cost roughly £7,000 to £8,000 more per person than the current system.
  • Transitional arrangements for current visa holders are not yet confirmed.
  • The change requires legislation and is not yet in force.

The proposed extension of the ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years would double the time most migrants need to spend in the UK before gaining permanent residence. This means more years of visa fees, IHS payments, and uncertainty. High performers may still qualify in 5 years through the points system. This guide analyses the proposal in detail.

What Is Being Proposed

Currently, most people on work or family visas can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after 5 continuous years in the UK. The 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed changing this to 10 years.

Under the proposed system:

  • Default path: 10 years of continuous lawful residence before qualifying for ILR
  • Accelerated path: 5 years for those who accumulate sufficient points under the new points-based ILR system
  • The 10-year long residence route (which currently allows ILR after 10 years of any lawful residence) would effectively become the standard route

The Financial Impact

The cost of staying in the UK for 10 years instead of 5 is substantial. Here is a rough comparison for a Skilled Worker visa holder:

Current System (5 Years)

  • Visa fees: £819 to £1,618 for the visa from outside the UK, depending on its length
  • Immigration Health Surcharge: 5 years at £1,035 a year = £5,175
  • ILR application: £3,226
  • Approximate total: £9,200 to £10,000

Proposed System (10 Years)

  • Visa fees: £819 to £1,618 for the first visa, then £943 to £1,865 for each extension from inside the UK. Covering 10 years takes at least one extension more than today, so roughly £3,500 to £3,700 in total
  • Immigration Health Surcharge: 10 years at £1,035 a year = £10,350
  • ILR application: £3,226, if the fee stayed the same
  • Approximate total: around £17,000

That is close to double the cost, and the difference is about £7,000 to £8,000 per person. For families it is multiplied: each dependant pays the health surcharge and the extension fees too, so a family of four could face close to £30,000 in extra fees over the additional 5 years.

For a full breakdown of current costs, see our UK visa fees guide.

Impact on Different Visa Routes

Skilled Worker Visa

Currently, Skilled Worker visa holders qualify for ILR after 5 years. Under the proposed system, only high earners and high performers would maintain the 5-year path. Others would wait 10 years and need additional visa extensions.

Spouse and Partner Visas

The current spouse visa route leads to ILR after 5 years (initial 2.5 years + extension of 2.5 years). If the 10-year rule applies to family visas, spouse visa holders would need at least two additional extensions, significantly increasing costs and uncertainty.

Global Talent and Other Routes

Some visa routes currently offer faster settlement (3 years for Global Talent). Whether these accelerated routes will continue under the new system is unknown.

Transitional Arrangements

One of the biggest unanswered questions is whether people currently in the UK will be protected by transitional arrangements. Three scenarios are possible:

  1. Full protection. Anyone who was on a visa before the new rules came into force continues under the old 5-year rules. This is the most generous scenario.
  2. Partial protection. People who are within a certain time of qualifying (for example, already 3+ years into their 5-year path) are protected. Others move to the new system.
  3. No protection. The new rules apply to everyone, including those already in the UK. Previous time in the UK counts towards the 10-year requirement but does not grant the 5-year path. This is the least generous scenario.

Until the government publishes the detailed rules and any transitional provisions, there is no way to know which approach will be taken. In the meantime the current 5-year rules are the ones in force, and what they ask for is set out in our ILR requirements guide.

The Practical Implications

Beyond the financial cost, a 10-year qualifying period has other practical consequences:

  • Longer uncertainty. 10 years is a long time to live without permanent status. Job changes, relationship changes, and life events can all complicate your visa situation.
  • Travel restrictions. Absence limits (typically 180 days per year) continue to apply for the full 10 years. This limits your ability to visit family, work abroad, or deal with emergencies in your home country.
  • No recourse to public funds. If your visa has an NRPF condition, this continues for 10 years instead of 5.
  • Dependant children. Children who arrive as dependants may reach adulthood before their parents settle, creating complex situations.
  • Employer obligations. Employers sponsoring Skilled Workers would need to maintain sponsorship for longer periods.

What You Can Do

  1. Know where you stand under the current ILR rules. They still ask for 5 years of qualifying residence on the main work and family routes, and an application can be made up to 28 days before the 5 years are complete.
  2. Build your points profile. Even if the 10-year rule applies, the points system may allow you to qualify in 5 years if you accumulate enough points.
  3. Plan financially. Budget for the possibility of additional visa extensions and IHS payments.
  4. Stay informed. Monitor government announcements for consultation dates and implementation timelines.
  5. Get professional advice. If you are unsure how the changes will affect you, consult an immigration solicitor who can assess your specific situation.

Next Steps

The 10-year qualifying period is a proposal, not a done deal. But the direction of travel is clear. Prepare for longer timelines, higher costs, and new requirements.

Related guides:

Questions and answers

Is the ILR qualifying period increasing to 10 years?

Not at present. The 2025 Immigration White Paper proposed extending the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from 5 years to 10 years. As of September 2026 that is still a proposal: it is not in the Immigration Rules, and the rules in force still set the standard period at 5 years on the main work and family routes. It would need a change to the rules, and a consultation was announced alongside the proposal.

Can I still get ILR in 5 years?

Under the proposed points-based system, applicants who accumulate enough points (through high earnings, strong English, community involvement, and other factors) may still qualify for ILR in 5 years. However, this would be the exception rather than the default. The standard path would be 10 years.

How much more will 10 years of visa fees cost?

If the proposal became law, the extra 5 years would mean more extension fees (£943 to £1,865 each on the Skilled Worker route from inside the UK) and 5 more years of the Immigration Health Surcharge at £1,035 a year. For one person that is roughly £7,000 to £8,000 more than the current 5-year path. Exact costs would depend on the visa route, the number of dependants, and the fees in force at the time.

Will people already in the UK be affected?

Transitional arrangements have not been confirmed. The government may protect people who are already on a path to ILR under the current 5-year rules, or it may apply the new rules to everyone. This is one of the most important outstanding questions and will likely be addressed during the consultation period.

Does the 10-year rule apply to all visa types?

The details are not yet confirmed. The White Paper focused on work routes, but it is unclear whether family routes (such as the spouse visa) will also move to 10 years. Some routes, like the Global Talent visa, currently allow settlement in 3 years. Whether these exceptions will continue is unknown.

This guide is general information about published immigration rules. It is not advice about an individual application under s.82 Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, and Rowan is not regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority. Immigration rules change several times a year. For advice on a particular situation, contact an adviser authorised by the Immigration Advice Authority or an immigration solicitor. Always check GOV.UK for the authoritative current rules.

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