BNO settlement grants rise as first 2021 arrivals qualify
22 May 2026
If you arrived in the UK on a BNO visa in 2021, you may now be eligible to apply for settlement.
The Home Office published quarterly immigration statistics on 21 May 2026, covering the year ending March 2026. The figures show 8,682 settlement grants on the BNO route during that period. The report links the rise to "the first cohorts who entered the UK on this route in 2021, becoming eligible to apply for settlement."
The BNO route opened on 31 January 2021. After five years of continuous residence, BNO visa holders can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). If you arrived in early 2021, your five-year qualifying period may now be complete or very close to completion.
If you think you are eligible, check your entry date, count your qualifying residence carefully, and review the settlement guidance on GOV.UK before applying.
Sources: