Earlier this week, we reported on what The Times had revealed about the government's intended immigration reforms, including the proposal to double the ILR qualifying period and apply new rules retrospectively.
On 5 March 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood delivered a keynote speech at the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) in London, confirming those positions directly and on the record.
Note: None of the settlement-related changes discussed in this article are law yet. They are the government's stated proposals, subject to consultation and legislation. The speech was published in full by the Home Office.
Settlement Period: Proposed Move From 5 Years to 10 Years
The Home Secretary confirmed the government's proposal to extend the default qualifying period for settlement from 5 years to 10 years. This is a consultation proposal, not yet enacted law. The government is currently reviewing responses.
However, the speech made clear this is the government's intended direction. Exceptions were mentioned in both directions. Those who may qualify at or before 5 years include public servants such as doctors and nurses, and those described as contributing the most to the nation's finances.
Others may be required to wait longer than 10 years. The Home Secretary also set out the conditions that must be met to qualify for settlement under the new framework: a clean criminal record, no debt to the taxpayer, a history of being in work and paying taxes, and meeting the new English language standard.
New English Language Requirement: Stated Intent, Expected March 2027
The Home Secretary stated that those seeking settlement will need to demonstrate English at A-Level standard (English as a foreign language), with this taking effect one year from the date of the speech.
This has not yet been enacted in law but was presented in the speech as the government's firm intention. She was explicit that this refers to language proficiency, not literary knowledge: "A working knowledge of Shakespeare and Chaucer is very welcome, but will not be a condition of settling in this country. Command of the English language itself, however, will be."
Retrospective Application to People Already in the UK
The Home Secretary stated her intention that new settlement rules will apply to people already in the UK who have not yet received settled status. This is not yet law but was presented as a firm government intent, subject to the wider rule changes being enacted.
The specific cohort referenced in the speech is workers who arrived on Health and Social Care visas between 2022 and 2024. The government estimates approximately 350,000 such workers and their dependants are due to qualify for settlement over the next 5 years.
The estimated lifetime cost to the taxpayer was stated as £10 billion, based on findings from the Migration Advisory Committee.
The Home Secretary said: "That means applying any rule changes to those who are in the UK today, but have not yet received settled status." Link to home office Press here
