The UK doubled the settlement qualifying period. April implementation is close.

If you're in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa and counting down to Indefinite Leave to Remain, here's what you need to know right now.

The UK government has proposed increasing the standard qualifying period for permanent residence from five to ten years, with implementation planned for April 2026. The public consultation closed February 12. The direction is settled even if the final details aren't.

Here's what that means for you specifically. If you're in a lower-skilled role below RQF Level 6 which includes many health and care workers — you could face a 15-year baseline. If you earn over £125,140 annually, you could qualify in three years. If you're in between, your timeline depends on your income, English level, integration record, and immigration compliance history.

The consultation proposed that migrants already on a settlement pathway would be subject to the new rules, meaning if you came to the UK expecting to qualify after five years, you may now face double the wait. The government is considering transitional protections, but hasn't confirmed them yet.

If you came to the UK in the health or social care sector between 2022 and 2023, the settlement pathway after five years was part of what you signed up for. That deal is changing underneath you.

Get qualified immigration legal advice before April. Not after. The rules in force when you apply are the rules that govern your case.