Some Migrants Could Face a Twenty Year Wait for Permanent Residency Under New UK Rules

Migrants who are legally living in the United Kingdom may soon have to wait far longer before they can settle permanently, as the government moves ahead with significant changes to the immigration system. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that the minimum qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain will be extended from five years to ten, a shift that could affect an estimated 1.6 million people who have arrived since 2021.

Mahmood said the government wants to ensure that settling in the UK is “not a right but a privilege, and one that must be earned.” Those who already hold settled status will not be affected, but for many others, the path to permanent residency is about to become more demanding and far longer.

Under current rules, most work and family visa holders can apply for settlement after five years. The new proposal doubles that period to ten years, with additional criteria that could shorten the wait for some or dramatically lengthen it for others.

Migrants who claim benefits for less than a year will face a fifteen year wait. Those who arrived under post Brexit health and social care visas will also need to wait fifteen years, up from five at present. Individuals who rely on benefits for more than twelve months could face the longest wait of all—twenty years before they can apply for permanent residency. This would be one of the longest settlement timelines anywhere in Europe.

Announcing the changes in Parliament, Mahmood said the high rate of arrivals in recent years made reforms necessary. Home Office figures show that net migration added 2.6 million people to the UK population between 2021 and 2024. Officials expect a surge in settlement applications over the next five years, with 1.6 million people forecast to reach eligibility between 2026 and 2030.

Indefinite Leave to Remain, often referred to simply as settlement, gives people the right to live in the UK permanently, work without restrictions and access public services. It is also a major step for those who wish to become British citizens.

The government plans to introduce what it calls an “earned settlement” system. Under this approach, applicants will need to show evidence of social integration, stable earnings, and strong character. They must meet tougher English language standards equivalent to A level proficiency, maintain a clean criminal record and earn at least £12,570 per year for three consecutive years.

There will be faster routes for people who make exceptional contributions. NHS doctors and nurses will still be able to settle after five years. High earners, entrepreneurs and those considered among the “brightest and best” may qualify after just three years.

Family members will not automatically qualify when the main applicant becomes eligible. Children under eighteen may settle with their parents, but adult dependants could face separate hurdles.

Routes for vulnerable groups, such as domestic abuse survivors, bereaved partners and resettled refugees, will remain unchanged.