Earned settlement: Home Office publishes consultation findings, 84% of individuals opposed changes

On 2 November 2026 the Home Office published reports from a public consultation and research among visa holders on planned reform of settlement in the UK, known as "earned settlement". These are findings from the consultation and research, not a decision on the final rules.

What is being proposed

The current system is based mainly on time spent in the UK and the "Life in the UK" test. The Immigration White Paper of May 2025 set out a model built on four pillars: character, integration (for example English proficiency and community engagement), contribution (for example tax and National Insurance contributions) and residence (for example time on specific visa routes). The documents refer to a standard qualifying period of 10 years, which could be shortened or lengthened.

Who responded

The consultation ran from late November 2025 to early February 2026. It received 204,667 online responses and 904 by email. The vast majority, 202,241 responses, came from individuals and 2,426 from organisations. Among individuals, 73% were current visa holders and 18% were British citizens. The analysis was carried out by IFF Research.

Key findings

• 84% of individuals and 79% of organisations disagreed with the changes. Among current visa holders, disagreement was 86%.
• 68% of individuals and 73% of organisations supported transitional arrangements for people already on a path to settlement.
• About half of respondents found the changes clear (51% of individuals, 45% of organisations). The most common concern was how the rules would apply to dependants and children.
• Half of individuals (50%) said a proposed one-year reduction for people with English at C1 level did not go far enough.
• 41% of individuals supported a shorter qualifying period for those earning above £50,270, while 38% disagreed.
• 49% of individuals and 46% of organisations agreed that giving back to the local community should count as a contribution, but concerns were raised about how it would be measured.
• 74% of individuals and 77% of organisations said vulnerable groups should be exempt from the changes. 78% of individuals and 73% of organisations supported exemptions from salary requirements for people on maternity leave or with a long-term illness or disability.

Views of organisations

Organisations were largely negative about the impact. 73% expected a greater administrative burden, and 62% said they would be less likely to sponsor visas in future.

Survey of visa holders

A separate report describes a survey of 4,728 current and former visa and protection route holders, carried out in February and March 2026. Awareness of settlement among those on routes to it was 98%. Of those who had considered settlement, 92% had applied or intended to. Among those uncertain or not intending to apply, 81% were considering alternatives, including leaving the UK (53%) or staying on another route (45%). The authors note that people who felt affected by the proposals may have been more likely to respond.

What this means for you

The publication does not change the rules for now. It does show what feedback the government received before decisions are made. People with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme are a separate category, and the reports do not indicate that they are affected. People on work, family or other routes to settlement should watch for Home Office announcements on the final rules and any transitional arrangements.