High earners in the UK could secure Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after three years under proposals unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the centerpiece of a wider migration reform that the government is calling the “biggest overhaul of legal migration in 50 years.”
The plan, now out for consultation, sets a three-year ILR route for visa-holders with UK taxable income of at least £125,000, faster than the current five-year norm and far shorter than a proposed 10-year baseline for most other routes.
In parallel, ministers are proposing a sliding scale of reduced qualifying periods for people earning below £125,000 (roughly £50k–£100k), meaning faster settlement than the 10‑year baseline for those earners, though not as short as three years. Exact bands and durations will be set following consultation.
Mahmood told MPs that permanent settlement “is not a right, but a privilege,” framing the change as a reward for contribution and integration.
Who will qualify for the fast track?
- Eligibility: UK taxable income of £125,000+ for three consecutive years, or qualifying status under Global Talent/Innovator Founder pathways with enhanced checks.
- Core conditions for ILR: clean criminal record; three years of National Insurance contributions; no debt to the state; English at least to A-level, with potential reductions for higher proficiency.
- Scope: Applies to people in the UK who have not yet received ILR; transitional details will follow consultation.
Policy reversal?
The news comes on the heels of a significant exodus of high-net-worth individuals and foreign executives from the UK, with some experts predicting the trend will accelerate due to a pending proposal to introduce an inheritance tax.
John Kiely, Partner and Head of Immigration at Howard Kennedy, said the three-year track for those earning at least £125,000 is “a welcome development” for senior executives in finance, law, and tech, but “is unlikely to drive a major shift in wealth migration.”
He noted that there remains “no dedicated route for investors,” and many founders and angel investors “don’t draw high pay income in early stages,” meaning they won’t benefit directly despite their economic impact.
The change, he added, “is not transformative in isolation,” but signals the UK wants to “retain and incentivise high-value talent” if followed by reforms that support investment and business creation.
Why now?
The Home Office estimates 1.3 million to 2.2 million people would have become eligible for ILR by 2030 under existing rules; ministers say they want to slow that progression for lower-paid routes while accelerating it for top earners and select innovators.
Large cohorts who entered the UK via the Health and Care visa during the pandemic would face a 15-year IRL route. The government is also consulting on limiting access to most benefits and social housing to British citizens.
Officials say they will use the consultation period to define income evidence for the three years and set transitional rules for people already in the UK without ILR.
The government has not set a definitive commencement date for the new three-year ILR track or the wider baseline changes, but typical Home Office consultations run 6–12 weeks.
