Indefinite leave to remain
There is a great deal of alarming and inaccurate information about settlement at the moment. Here is the position as it actually stands.
Confirmed, and not confirmed
Other elements of the proposal — a shorter route for higher earners, a longer one for lower-paid roles, extensions linked to use of public funds or immigration breaches — are equally unconfirmed.
What you can control
Given the uncertainty, the sensible response is to make sure nothing in your own history creates a problem. Four things, all within your control.
The requirements as they stand
Where applications go wrong
Most of these are found in an hour of review and are fixable if found early. None of them is fixable at the point of refusal.
What we do
Review your history before you apply — absences, gaps, evidence — and tell you whether you qualify and when. Prepare the application. And where there is a problem in the history, advise on whether it can be addressed, whether to apply anyway with an explanation, or whether to wait.
What it costs
A fixed fee, quoted before we begin. Where the history is complex — gaps, extensive absences, a previous refusal — we say so and quote separately, because that is a different piece of work from a straightforward application.
A pre-application review on its own is available as a fixed fee, and for anyone with an unusual history it is the most useful hour they will spend.
Questions
Questions people ask us
Is settlement now ten years instead of five?
No. Five years remains the qualifying period on the usual routes. The ten-year baseline has been proposed and consulted on — the consultation closed on 12 February 2026 — but it has not been enacted and no implementation date has been confirmed.
I am three years into a five-year route. Will I be protected?
Nobody can tell you that yet. Transitional arrangements remain subject to the consultation outcome. What you can do is ensure your own history is clean: absences within limits, no gaps, applications in good time.
How many days can I spend outside the UK?
The limits are specific to your route and are counted across rolling periods rather than calendar years, which is where people go wrong. If you travel regularly for work, have it counted properly before you apply.
I had a short gap in my visa three years ago. Does that matter?
It may. Even short gaps can break continuous residence, and this is one of the most common reasons settlement applications are refused. It is worth establishing the position before applying rather than after.
What is changing with the English requirement?
From 26 March 2027 it rises from B1 to B2 across several routes. If you will need it, start preparing well ahead — it is a meaningful step up.
Should I apply now in case the rules change?
Only if you already qualify. Applying before you meet the residence requirement wastes the fee and creates a refusal on your record. If you are close, the sensible step is to have the position checked and apply at the earliest point you actually qualify.
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