UK Immigration News Today: 2026 Rules & ILR Changes

For anyone building a life in the UK, the path to permanent residency just got longer and harder to navigate. The government has published sweeping reforms that reshape how migrants qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain — raising the baseline from five years to ten, and tying settlement to demonstrable contributions rather than time spent in the country. Here’s what you need to know about the changes taking effect from 2026.

Visitor advance permission required: From February 2026 ·
ILR potential extension: To 10 years proposed ·
7-year rule for children: Path to ILR ·
Earned Settlement reforms: Government proposals ·
New ILR rules: Autumn 2026 changes

This table compares current UK immigration rules against the proposed 2026 Earned Settlement framework.

What is the new rule for immigration in the UK?

From February 2026, visitors to the UK must obtain advance permission before travelling — a significant shift from the previous system where most visitors could enter without prior approval. This digital pre-departure check applies across visitor nationalities and marks one of the first concrete changes under the broader immigration reform package.

The requirement reflects a wider government drive to screen entrants earlier in the immigration process. Full enforcement of these digital checks began on 25 March 2026, with the Home Office implementing the changes through Statement of Changes HC 1691 (published 5 March 2026) DLA Piper.

Visitor advance permission from February 2026

• All visitors require electronic travel authorisation before arrival
• Digital pre-departure checks fully enforced from 25 February 2026
• Changes implemented via Statement of Changes HC 1691

What is the new immigration law in the UK in 2026?

The most significant shift in 2026 immigration law is the introduction of Earned Settlement — a model that replaces time-based qualification with a contributions-based framework. Rather than simply residing in the UK for a set period, applicants must now demonstrate economic input, English language proficiency at B2 level, tax contributions, and good character Jobbatical.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed in a Times interview on 1 March 2026 that the changes apply retrospectively to those already in the UK FSP Law. The retrospective application is particularly contentious, as it affects migrants who entered the 5-year route before the reforms were announced.

Earned Settlement reforms

• Baseline qualifying period for most routes doubled from 5 to 10 years
• Traditional 10-year long residence route abolished
• Settlement “earned” through contributions, integration, and compliance
• Consultation “A Fairer Pathway to Settlement” closed 12 February 2026

Impacts on NHS Employers

The NHS relies heavily on international recruitment, particularly through the Skilled Worker visa route. Under the 2026 changes, employers must ensure salary compliance on a per-pay-period basis from 7 April 2026 — a stricter requirement than the previous annual assessment DLA Piper. Additionally, Afghan citizens become ineligible for Skilled Worker visas from 26 March 2026, closing a route that had been used for certain NHS recruitment programmes.

Is ILR increasing to 10 years?

Yes — for most migrants, the baseline qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain has been extended from 5 years to 10 years under the Earned Settlement model. The traditional 10-year long residence route has been abolished entirely Jobbatical. This is not simply a numerical extension: the qualifying criteria now require demonstrable contributions across multiple domains.

What are the new rules for ILR autumn 2026?

• New baseline: 10 years continuous residence
• Earned through economic contribution, English (B2), tax payments, character
• No transitional provisions confirmed for pre-reform applicants
• Home Office projects 1.6 million ILR grants between 2026–2030 under the previous rules Migration Observatory

What is the 7 year rule for immigrants in the UK?

Children who have lived in the UK for seven continuous years may qualify for a pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain under the 7-year child rule — a provision distinct from the main Earned Settlement framework. This rule provides a route for minors who have established their lives in the UK educationally and socially, recognising the disproportionate impact of immigration status on children.

Under the proposed 2026 reforms, this pathway remains available but sits alongside the broader changes to adult settlement routes. Families with children approaching the seven-year threshold should monitor whether transitional provisions extend to this route.

ILR for a Child After 7 Years

• Child must demonstrate 7 years continuous residence
• Best interests of the child considered in decisions
• Pathway distinct from Earned Settlement adult routes
• Reforms may affect processing times but not eligibility criteria directly

What countries send the most immigrants?

The composition of UK immigration has shifted significantly over the past decade, with post-2021 arrival numbers driving much of the reform rationale. Home Secretary Mahmood cited “historically large numbers” arriving since 2021 as justification for the Earned Settlement changes Howes Percival.

Migration Observatory data indicates the changes aim to manage a projected 1.6 million ILR grants between 2026 and 2030 under the previous rules — a volume the government argues necessitates reform to avoid settlement spikes Migration Observatory.

Top immigrant sources

• India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Philippines historically top sending countries
• EU migration dropped post-Brexit as a source category
• Health and Care Worker route now draws heavily from specific South Asian nations
• Skilled Worker route expanded to cover tech, finance, and NHS staffing gaps

Projections to 2026

• Migration Observatory projects 1.6 million ILR grants 2026–2030 under old rules
• New rules expected to reduce grant volume by extending qualifying periods
• Visa brake for Afghan citizens effective 26 March 2026 affects one recruitment pathway

The pattern is clear: the government is layering consent, consultation, and legislation through early 2026 before the substantive ILR changes land in Autumn 2026.

Key Timeline

This timeline tracks the reform trajectory from consultation publication through to the substantive ILR changes.

Expert Perspectives

“The changes will take effect in Autumn 2026, and these new rules will apply to those who are already in the UK.”

— Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary FSP Law

“Reforms necessary because of the ‘historically large numbers’ who had arrived since 2021.”

— Shabana Mahmood, Home Secretary Howes Percival

“Settlement is now ‘earned’ through demonstrated contributions and integration rather than mere time spent in the UK.”

— Jobbatical HR Guide (Immigration Analyst) Jobbatical

For those already on the 5-year route, the retrospective application of Autumn 2026 changes creates genuine uncertainty. Without confirmed transitional provisions, migrants may face having their settlement pathway extended — a consequence that could affect tens of thousands of residents who planned their lives around the previous rules FSP Law.

Related reading: UK retirement age changes

The potential shift to a 10-year ILR pathway for skilled worker visas finds detailed explanation in UK ILR new rules guide, reflecting Home Office reform priorities.

Frequently asked questions