Earned Settlement: Moving the goalposts and leaving migrants in limbo

Earned Settlement: Moving the goalposts and leaving migrants in limbo

The government has announced further details of its deeply unfair and punitive plans for the UK's immigration system, threatening to condemn hundreds of thousands of migrants to years, and potentially decades, of uncertainty.

The announcement on 2 November provides some clarity about the government's so-called "earned settlement" system. But rather than offering reassurance, it confirms an approach which treats migrants' rights and security as privileges to be earned, rather than recognising the lives, families and communities they have already built here.

What has changed?
Under the proposals, the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) would double from five to ten years for many migrants. Others could be forced to wait 20 or even 30 years before securing the right to remain permanently in the country they call home.

The government has outlined a system in which settlement would increasingly depend on income, employment and other conditions. Those earning higher salaries or working in certain public services could qualify sooner, while people on lower incomes, including many doing essential work, face being pushed further away from security and stability.

There are some concessions and proposed protections for particular groups, including some care workers who arrived before May 2025. These limited exceptions do nothing to address the fundamental injustice at the heart of the proposals.

For refugees, the plans are especially cruel. People who have fled persecution and danger could face decades of insecurity, with their route to safety determining how long they must wait before being allowed to settle.
All of which increases the risks of people being pushed into ever more precarious positions, and facing potential exploitation.

What don't we know yet?
Despite the government's announcements, significant questions remain unanswered. The detailed Immigration Rules have not yet been published, and there is no confirmed date for when the changes will come into force.

Most importantly, it remains unclear exactly how the changes will affect people already living in the UK. Many followed the rules, worked, paid taxes and built their lives around the expectation that they could apply for settlement after five years. They now face the possibility of having those expectations torn away from them.

Questions also remain about transitional protections, how the new requirements will operate in practice, and what happens to people who cannot meet them through no fault of their own.

These are not minor technical details. They are questions which will determine whether people can plan their futures, remain with their families and feel secure in their own homes.

Migrants are people, not commodities
At Migrant Voice, we reject the premise that a person's right to security and belonging should depend on how much they earn or whether the government considers their contribution sufficiently valuable.

Migrants are not simply economic units whose worth can be calculated through their salaries. They are our neighbours, colleagues, friends and family members. They contribute to our communities in countless ways, many of which cannot be measured on a payslip.

The government's approach risks creating a two-tier system in which wealth buys security while those on lower incomes are punished with prolonged uncertainty. It is an attack on fairness, dignity and the principle that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a stable life.

Moving the goalposts for people who have already made their homes here is a betrayal of trust. Keeping people in limbo for decades is not a fair immigration system. It is a deliberate political choice which will cause real harm.
The government must provide urgent clarity, guarantee meaningful protections for those already on a pathway to settlement, and abandon its punitive approach to migrants' rights.

We will continue to stand alongside other migrants, challenge these unjust proposals and ensure that the people whose lives are being turned upside down are heard.

Further information
Here we have gathered some links to further information and resources:

https://righttoremain.org.uk/earnedsettlement/

https://gmiau.org/news-and-blogs/earned-settlement-what-we-know

https://www.ein.org.uk/blog/earned-settlement-what-governments-new-settlement-rules-mean-you

https://righttoremain.org.uk/earned-settlement-radical-solidarity-hub-meeting-19-nov-2026/

https://freemovement.org.uk/statement-details-about-earned-settlement/

https://reunitefamiliesuk.co.uk/take-action/dont-make-families-wait-twice/

Would you like to get involved?
We are keen to hear from you. Let us know if you are affected by the changes.
Also let us know if you would like to join our community of community of advocates and activists to challenge these hostile anti-migrant changes, or simply support our work.
Contact us on [email protected]