UK Extends Settlement Wait for Nigerian Migrants to 10 Years

The British government has announced significant changes to its Earned Settlement framework, increasing the standard wait time for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five to ten years for most foreign workers, including thousands of Nigerian migrants. The new policy ties settlement eligibility to income levels, specific professions, and compliance records.

Current visa holders will be affected retroactively once the Home Office enacts the changes. Migrants who breach immigration rules or enter through undocumented routes may face wait times of 20 to 30 years.

Key points include that Skilled Worker visa holders must now maintain continuous sponsorship for a decade to qualify for permanent status, while those earning £50,271 or more can still access a five-year route. Care workers who entered the Health and Care visa route before May 2025 retain a five-year pathway, but those who joined after will follow the ten-year timeline.

The new rules apply strictly to economic work routes, with family members of British citizens continuing on the existing five-year pathway.