Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the Written Statement by the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union on 7 March 2019 (HCWS1392), and the Statement of changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 813), published on 22 October 2020, what assessment they have made of the impact of the earned settlement proposals on Turkish European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA) legacy holders; and what estimate they have made of the number of ECAA legacy holders affected by the earned settlement proposals.

As the HCWS 1392 indicated and the explanatory memorandum to HC 813 set out, following the end of the EU exit transition period and the repeal of EU-derived directly effective immigration rights, the UK is no longer obliged to provide preferential treatment to Turkish nationals on the basis of the European Communities Association Agreement (ECAA).

The earned settlement model, proposed in ‘A Fairer Pathway to Settlement’ (CP 1448), was consulted on between 20 November 2025 and 12 February 2026. We are now reviewing and analysing all responses received. This analysis will help inform the development of the final earned settlement model, including consideration of any potential exemptions or transitional measures for those already on a pathway to settlement.

Implementation of the earned settlement arrangements will be subject to economic and equality impact assessments, which we have committed to publish in due course.

In the meantime, Appendix ECAA: Extension of Stay and Appendix ECAA Settlement, which set out the rules described in HC 813, will continue to apply.