Keep the 5-Year ILR pathway for existing ECAA visa holders

We ask the UK Government to keep the 5-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain for former ECAA (Turkish Businessperson) visa holders. Extending it to 10 years breaks previous commitments and unfairly affects those who built lives and businesses in the UK.

Former ECAA visa holders came to the UK legally under the Ankara Agreement, investing, paying taxes, creating jobs, and contributing to the economy. After Brexit, we were promised fair treatment under the same terms. Extending ILR eligibility from 5 to 10 years breaks that promise, creates uncertainty, and punishes qualified people who have built their homes, families, and businesses in the UK in good faith. We call on the Government to honour its commitment and maintain the 5-year route to ILR.

Settlement in the UK is a prerequisite for becoming a British citizen and brings lifelong benefits. It marks an important step in integrating and contributing to local communities and the wider country. It is a privilege and not a right.

Currently, individuals qualify for settlement primarily on the basis of the length of time they have spent in the UK alongside a knowledge of life test which is used to verify knowledge of British customs, history, traditions, laws and political system.

These criteria alone do not reflect our strong belief that people should contribute to the economy and society before gaining settled status in the UK. Moreover, they fail to promote integration, which limits the wider benefit from long term migration into the UK and increases pressure on public services.

We plan to fundamentally reform the settlement rules for the first time in over 50 years. The Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025, set out that the default qualifying period for settlement would be increased from five to ten years.

Following that, in November 2025, we published ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ and launched a consultation alongside it. The Command Paper set out new mandatory requirements for settlement and proposed reductions and penalties.

Due to the unprecedented level of migration to the UK in recent years, settlement grants are expected to increase considerably over the next five years. Around 1.6 million people are forecast to settle between 2026 and 2030.

Importantly, individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement based on contributions to the UK economy and society.