The UK government is asking for people’s views on proposed changes to the route to settlement for people seeking sanctuary. The consultation closes this Thursday 12th February 2026, so there is only a short time left to respond.
You can read the consultation and share your views here – click ‘respond online’:
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement
A guidance document that explains the questions in more detail and offers support on how to respond is available here:
https://reunitefamiliesuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Joint-Earned-Settlement-Consultation-guidance-collaboration-Final-version.pdf
Last Friday at the SASS drop-in, we were joined by representatives from Asylum Matters, who gave a talk on these proposals and explained what is currently known, what is still unclear, and how people can take part in the consultation.
In November, the Home Secretary announced proposed changes to the routes to settlement (also known as Indefinite Leave to Remain) and, eventually, citizenship in the UK. One proposal is called “earned settlement”. This could mean that, for many, the usual route to settlement would increase from five years to ten years, with extra conditions linked to things like work and integration.
The government is running a consultation to collect views from individuals, organisations, and communities. Consultations are one way the government gathers feedback on how policies might work in practice and what impacts they could have.
Asylum Matters encouraged people, especially those with lived experience or who support people affected by these policies, to share their views before the deadline.
Share your views here:
https://ukhomeoffice.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1yMmiaG7zqwPuM6