The UK government has unveiled a proposal that would allow high earners to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after three years, marking one of the most significant shifts in the country’s migration policy in decades. The plan is part of what Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has called the “biggest overhaul of legal migration in 50 years,” and is now open for public consultation.
Under the proposal, migrants who earn at least £125,000 in UK taxable income per year could be eligible for ILR after three years, considerably faster than the typical five-year route for most work-based visas and dramatically shorter than the proposed ten-year baseline that ministers want to introduce for many other categories.
A New Tier for High Earners
The proposal introduces an “earned settlement” model where income becomes a key factor in how quickly a person can qualify for permanent residency.
Key elements include:
- UK taxable income of £125,140+ for three straight tax years, or eligibility under Global Talent or Innovator Founder.
- Longer qualifying periods for most migrants under the proposed new baseline, which would set many routes at ten years before ILR eligibility.
- A five-year ILR route for people earning above £50,270, which is shorter than the ten-year baseline but not as fast as the three-year tier. Final income bands and settlement timelines will be confirmed after the consultation.
While presenting the plan, Mahmood emphasised that permanent settlement “is not a right, but a privilege,” framing the reform as a system that rewards contribution and integration.
How This Differs From Current ILR Rules
At present:
- Most skilled workers need five years of continuous residence to apply for ILR.
- Some routes (like Innovator Founder or Global Talent) may have a three-year route, but eligibility is based on innovation or exceptional talent, not income.
- There is no general income-linked settlement fast track across the system today.
The proposed reform effectively introduces a new economic-performance pathway, positioning high earners alongside the UK’s existing “exceptional talent” categories in terms of speed.
Why the Government Is Proposing These Changes
According to the Home Office consultation, around 1.3 million to 2.2 million people would have become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) by 2030 under current rules. The government says it plans to slow the path to settlement for lower-paid visa holders while accelerating it for top earners and select innovators. The document also proposes that large numbers who entered via the Health & Care visa route could face a 15-year baseline for ILR, and that benefit access or social-housing use by non-citizens may be tightened. The consultation will define the required income levels, transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, and the earliest start date for the new rules.
