The Armed Forces Families Federation (AFF) is gathering evidence to submit to government as part of a consultation on whether settlement routes for serving personnel and their families should be shortened.
The consultation forms part of the government’s 2025 Immigration White Paper, which proposes changes that would lengthen the route to settlement for most migrants to the UK. The consultation closes on 12 February.
While there are currently no plans to increase the length of time required for Armed Forces personnel, the government is specifically seeking views on whether the existing settlement route for military personnel and their families should be reduced.
At present, personnel from Commonwealth and other foreign nations must serve a minimum of four years before becoming eligible for settlement on discharge. Those medically discharged before reaching that threshold are not eligible. To apply for British citizenship, individuals must also have lived in the UK for at least five years.
Family members face additional requirements. They must have spent five years in the UK with continuous leave to remain, but can only apply for settlement once the serving person has completed five years’ service.
AFF is seeking views from serving personnel and their immediate family members on whether these timeframes should remain as they are or be shortened. The organisation is inviting responses through an online survey, which is open until 12 noon on Friday 6 February.
