The UK government has told Parliament that indefinite leave to remain (ILR) will no longer follow almost automatically after five years. Under what the Home Office calls an "earned settlement" model, how long a migrant waits will depend on what they contribute — their earnings, their job and their record — not just how long they have lived here.

For the many Zimbabweans in Britain on Health and Care Worker and Skilled Worker visas, it is the biggest change to the route to settlement in years.

How long settlement will take

3 years: people earning at least £125,141 (the Home Secretary's speech rounded this to "over £125,000"), and those who came on the highest talent schemes.

5 years: people earning at least £50,271, or working as doctors, nurses or teachers.

10 years: the new default for everyone else.

At least 20 years: people who have breached immigration rules.

The thresholds are set in line with the higher and additional income-tax rates. Separately, refugees and people who arrived by small boat or other clandestine entry face an extra 10 years, up to 30 in total. That penalty sits within the refugee and clandestine-entry rules; it is not a general rule for people who came on work visas.

Four conditions for everyone

All applicants must meet four mandatory conditions: a clean criminal record (stricter than today's rules), English at B2 level (equivalent to A-Level English as a foreign language), no debt owed to the taxpayer, and three years of National Insurance contributions. The Life in the UK test continues as a separate requirement.

Anyone who has claimed benefits will need five continuous years off them before applying. Couples will be able to combine income towards a £25,142 household threshold.

Care workers

Care workers who entered or switched onto the route before the May 2025 immigration white paper, met their visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 a year keep a five-year path. The Home Office estimates around a quarter of care workers do not meet those conditions; they will be offered a new five-year care visa that is not tied to their old employer. Similar transitional arrangements cover some health and education roles.

The government says 1,800 employers have lost their licence to sponsor foreign workers — something many Zimbabwean carers experienced first-hand. From 1 February 2027, care workers whose sponsor loses its licence will get 120 days to find a new job offer plus a further 60 days to resolve their status.

What does not change

People who already hold ILR keep it: the Home Office says settled status "will never be removed". Family members of British citizens, Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) and members of the armed forces keep their current pathways. Today's reform is about how long settlement takes, rather than how people get work visas in the first place.

The Home Office says the rules apply at the point of application — so people part-way through their five years will be assessed under the new system when they apply.

Why it matters

Many Zimbabwean families planned house purchases, schooling and fees around a five-year ILR date. The government estimates more than 500,000 people will now wait longer than five years, though ministers say no one will be forced to leave.

The government says further detail and guidance will be published before the changes are implemented.

Anyone whose plans are affected should seek advice from a regulated immigration adviser or solicitor.

Sources: GOV.UK press release, "Home Secretary unveils new rules for migrants settling in the UK", 2 Nov 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-unveils-new-rules-for-migrants-settling-in-the-uk · GOV.UK, Home Secretary earned settlement statement, 2 Nov 2026: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/home-secretary-earned-settlement-statement · Home Office, Earned Settlement consultation response (PDF): https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6ae89fddf4a6b3f59cf37580/FINAL_VERSION_-_Earned_Settlement_-_Consultation_Response.pdf

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