UK Immigration Reform: Foreign Workers to Face 15-Year Wait Before Acquiring British Citizenship Under New Proposal
In a bid to tighten immigration laws, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed significant changes to the path toward British citizenship. Under the new plan, the minimum period required to apply for a British passport after obtaining indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would increase from 12 months to five years. This adjustment means foreign workers would face a minimum 15-year wait before becoming eligible for British citizenship.
New Daily Prime previously reported that UK foreign workers must wait 10 years for settled status. Badenoch reinforced the stricter policy, stating that permanent residency should be reserved for those demonstrating long-term commitment to the UK. The proposed conditions for ILR applicants include:
- A 10-year residency requirement without claiming state benefits.
- A ban on applicants who have ever lived in social housing.
- A requirement for a clean criminal record.
- Proof of being a net contributor to the UK economy.
Under Badenoch’s first major immigration policy announcement as Tory leader, migrants on work visas who claim benefits will be barred from obtaining indefinite leave to remain. She emphasized that “the right to citizenship and permanent residency should only go to those who have demonstrated a real commitment to the UK.”
Currently, ILR grants individuals the right to live, work, and study in the UK. It is generally available after five years of continuous work, with some applicants qualifying in two or three years under specific visas. At present, British citizenship can be applied for 12 months after obtaining ILR. However, under the proposed changes, migrants would only be able to apply for British citizenship after holding ILR for 15 years, effectively tripling the current waiting period.
The Conservative Party is urging the government to adopt these changes retroactively from 2021, incorporating them into the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, set to be debated in Parliament next week.
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Migrants in the UK on visas, those living illegally, or asylum seekers are generally barred from accessing state-funded welfare and social housing under the “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF) policy. Some migrants can apply to have this restriction lifted, and according to the Migration Observatory, approximately 2,500 individuals successfully did so in 2021 and 2022.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp told the BBC that individuals seeking ILR must prove they are net contributors to the UK economy to qualify for citizenship under the new Conservative proposals. He stated: “If someone has consistently claimed benefits and not worked over a period of time, we don’t want to grant them indefinite leave to remain.”
Under this plan, applicants must prove that their salary and tax contributions outweigh their costs to the state.
Labour’s Response
Labour Minister Angela Eagle dismissed the proposal, stating, “After 14 years of shameful Tory failure, no one will take seriously anything they claim.”
As the debate intensifies, these proposed immigration reforms could significantly impact the long-term residency prospects of thousands of foreign workers and migrants in the UK. The coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Parliament adopts the policy changes.
