UK Raises Permanent Residency Wait to 10 Years for Most Migrants, Nigerians Affected by New Settlement Rules

The United Kingdom has announced a major overhaul of its immigration settlement system, increasing the standard qualifying period for most migrants seeking permanent residency from five years to 10 years under a new policy known as Earned Settlement. The Home Office announced the changes on November 2, 2026, with Nigerians and other foreign nationals among those potentially affected.

The new policy changes the pathway to indefinite leave to remain (ILR), the immigration status that allows eligible foreign nationals to live permanently in the UK without the time restrictions attached to temporary visas. Under the revised framework, settlement will depend on applicants meeting specified requirements relating to their conduct, integration and economic contributions.

Under the new framework, 10 years will be the standard qualifying period for most migrants, replacing the previous five-year pathway available under several work-related immigration routes. However, the policy provides shorter qualifying periods for certain categories of applicants, depending on their earnings, occupations and other eligibility conditions.

The government said highly paid migrants earning more than £125,140 annually could qualify for settlement after three years. Those earning more than £50,271, alongside eligible public service professionals such as doctors, nurses and teachers, could qualify after five years, subject to meeting the applicable requirements.

Care workers have also been granted a specific pathway under the revised policy. Eligible care workers who have complied with their visa conditions and earn at least £25,000 annually will be able to apply for settlement after five years. The government said the provision recognises their contribution to the UK, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Applicants will also face four mandatory conditions before they can obtain permanent residency. These include maintaining a clean criminal record, demonstrating a high standard of English equivalent to A-Level proficiency for English as a foreign language, having no outstanding debt owed to the government and showing a record of sustained National Insurance contributions.

Migrants who have breached immigration rules could face substantially longer waiting periods. Under the announced framework, some applicants in this category will have to wait at least 20 years before qualifying for settlement. People who entered the UK through small boats or other clandestine routes could face waiting periods of up to 30 years under the separate provisions governing protection and settlement.

The policy also establishes different settlement timelines for refugees. Refugees arriving through Home Office-approved routes will be eligible to settle after five years, while those covered by other protection arrangements could face a 20-year qualifying period, reduced to 10 years for those who work or study.

The Home Office estimated that more than 500,000 people would have to wait longer than five years to obtain permanent residency under the reforms. The government said the changes were intended to make settlement dependent on migrants’ contributions and conduct while reducing the projected cost of welfare support. It added that affected migrants would not automatically be required to leave the country and could apply for eligible visas to continue their stay.

The government also confirmed that people who already hold settled status will not lose it as a result of the reforms. Family members of British citizens, Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) and members of the armed forces will retain their existing settlement pathways under the announced policy.

The announcement marks a significant change in the UK’s approach to permanent immigration, replacing the previous standard five-year qualifying period with a system that rewards specified economic contributions and compliance with immigration requirements. For Nigerians planning to work and establish permanent residence in Britain, eligibility will depend on the immigration route they use and whether they meet the conditions attached to the new settlement framework.