Following on from the Immigration White Paper announcement earlier this year (May 2025), there have been further updates around the ‘earned settlement’ covering lots of immigration routes. Whilst the news does not specifically mention HM Armed Forces and their dependants, the associated documents and online consultation do.
The statement released has the following information for HM Forces serving personnel and their family members:
“HM Armed Forces
The Armed Forces Covenant is a national commitment that those who serve or have served in HM Armed Forces should not face disadvantage due to their service. The government recognises the sacrifices made by service personnel and their families — including the loss of civilian freedoms — in defence of the UK. The government is committed to upholding the Covenant by ensuring fair treatment for all who serve or have served, including non-UK personnel. The consultation will seek views on the treatment of armed forces members under the earned settlement system, but we are not proposing that HM Armed Forces and their family members should have a different pathway to settlement than they do today.”
You can read more about the public consultation here: Earned settlement – GOV.UK. The consultation is open to anyone who wishes to share their views, including individuals, organisations, and other stakeholders who may be affected by or have an interest in the proposed changes. The consultation closes on the 12th February 2026.
If you would like to respond to the consultation, scroll down towards the bottom of the consultation page and click ‘respond online’ as shown in the image below:
Please use this opportunity to ensure your voices are heard.