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Written question asked by Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Labour) on Monday, 15 December 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 2025 (named day). It was answered by Mike Tapp (Labour) on Thursday, 18 December 2025 on behalf of the Home Office.

Immigration: Children and Young People

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she plans to take to support young adults and children on the private life route who (a) are nearing the completion of their five-year qualifying period for settlement and (b) may be affected by a proposed extension to a ten-year settlement period.

Answer

The earned settlement model, proposed in A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, is currently subject to a public consultation, running until 12 February 2026. Details of the earned settlement scheme, including any transitional arrangements for those already in the UK, will be finalised following that consultation.

The consultation directly seeks views on retaining the current treatment of children and young adults who have grown up in the UK without an immigration status, allowing them to settle 5 years after regularising their status.

A Fairer Pathway to Settlement, as well as the May 2025 Immigration White Paper preceding it, have also both committed to retaining a five-year route to settlement for the spouses and children of British nationals.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
99806
Session
2024-26
Related items
Restoring Control over the Immigration System
Monday, 12 May 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Children Immigration Young people
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk