Legally resident migrants in the UK could wait up to 20 years before securing permanent status under new government proposals.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) will be doubled from five to 10 years, affecting an estimated 1.6 million people who have arrived since 2021. Those who already hold settlement will not be impacted.
Mahmood told MPs that becoming part of the UK is “not a right but a privilege and one that must be earned,” as she unveiled the latest in a series of major immigration reforms.
Currently, most work and family visa holders can apply for settlement after five years. Under the new system, the default wait will be 10 years, but additional criteria could extend or shorten that period.
Legal migrants who claim benefits for under 12 months would need 15 years before qualifying, as would people on post-Brexit health and social care visas.
Also, those who rely on benefits for more than a year could face a 20-year wait, the longest requirement in Europe.
Mahmood said unprecedented migration levels, with net migration adding 2.6 million people to the UK population between 2021 and 2024, made reform necessary.
Settlement grants are forecast to rise sharply, with 1.6 million people expected to qualify between 2026 and 2030.
The new earned settlement system will require migrants to show economic contribution, social integration, and good character.
Applicants must meet tougher requirements, including A-level equivalent English, a clean criminal record, and earnings above £12,570 for at least three years.
Some groups will qualify faster: NHS doctors and nurses can settle after five years, while high earners and entrepreneurs could qualify in three.
However,Family members will no longer gain automatic status; children under 18 may settle with parents, but older dependants could face separate hurdles.
Fast-track routes for domestic abuse survivors, bereaved partners and resettled refugees will remain.
The reforms are expected to take effect from spring 2026, following a consultation ending 12 February. They come a day after Mahmood outlined plans to replace permanent refugee status with temporary protection subject to review every 30 months.
