UK’s Tough New Immigration Plan: Why Migrants May Have to Wait Up to 30 Years for Settlement - All You Need to Know

London, November 21: The United Kingdom is preparing for its most sweeping immigration overhaul in nearly 50 years, proposing drastic changes that could significantly extend the waiting period for migrants to obtain permanent settlement. Under the new model outlined by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, certain categories of migrants may have to wait up to 20 years to apply for settlement, while those with irregular status or overstaying visas could face a staggering 30-year wait.

The Keir Starmer government argues that the reforms are meant to prioritise legal migrants who positively contribute to the economy while “easing pressure” on Britain’s strained public services. The new contribution-based model aims to reward high-skilled, high-earning and rule-abiding migrants, while placing stricter conditions on low-paid workers and those dependent on state benefits.

Who Will Be Affected by the New Rules?

Earlier this year, the government announced that the standard qualifying period for settlement would be doubled from 5 to 10 years, with possible reductions for those making an exceptional contribution to British society. These proposed changes could apply to nearly 2 million migrants who have arrived in the UK since 2021, pending a consultation to iron out transitional arrangements.

Migrants with existing settled status will not be affected. However, for those still on the path to permanent residency, the new rules, expected to take effect from April next year, would significantly alter their trajectory. For example, migrants reliant on state benefits could face a 20-year wait, four times the current requirement. Illegal migrants and visa overstayers would confront a strict 30-year period before being considered for long-term settlement. Thailand Boat Accident: 300 Feared Dead After Boats Carrying Migrants Capsizes Near Tarutao Island, Search and Rescue Operation Underway.

Preference for Wealth and Skills

The proposals openly prioritise the wealthy, highly skilled and economically productive. Doctors and nurses working in the National Health Service (NHS) will face one of the shortest wait times, just five years, reflecting their crucial role in supporting the UK healthcare system.

Meanwhile, high earners and entrepreneurs stand to gain the most. Under the fast-track settlement option, these individuals could obtain permanent residency after as little as three years, reinforcing the government’s view that attracting top international talent is vital to stimulating economic growth. Turkey: 5 Migrants Killed After Overloaded Boat Collides With Coast Guard Vessel Near Badavut Coast.

Conversely, low-paid workers, particularly the 616,000 people and their dependants who entered between 2022 and 2024 on health and social care visas, will be required to wait a baseline of 15 years. This route has already been shut down earlier this year, with the government citing large-scale misuse.

Citizenship Before Welfare: Major Change Ahead

A crucial shift in the policy is that migrants will no longer gain access to benefits and social housing upon settlement. Instead, such rights will only be available once they acquire British citizenship, making the pathway toward social welfare more restrictive than ever.

This proposal follows concerns that unprecedented migration levels could strain the UK’s welfare and housing systems. According to government data, nearly 1.6 million migrants are expected to become eligible for settlement by 2030, a number that includes a significant population of Indian migrants, who represent the UK’s largest skilled migrant group.

Government’s Argument: Fairness to British Citizens

The Starmer government insists these reforms will create a “fairer” immigration system, one that ensures migrants who settle in the UK have meaningfully contributed to the country. Mahmood emphasised that settlement should be a “privilege, not a right,” requiring applicants to meet strict standards such as a clean criminal record, high-level English proficiency, no outstanding debts and payment of social security taxes for at least three years.

These rules apply to those seeking Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), a key step toward obtaining UK citizenship. ILR removes restrictions on living, working and studying in Britain.

Political Backdrop and Criticism

The far-right Reform UK party has gone even further, calling for ILR to be abolished entirely and replaced with a system where immigrants reapply for visas every five years. Labour has rejected this proposal but faces pressure from rising anti-immigration sentiment, with Reform UK leading in several polls this year.

Human rights groups and migration experts have criticised the reforms as punitive, exclusionary and echoing far-right rhetoric. Critics argue that extending settlement timelines to decades risks creating a permanent underclass of migrants living in prolonged precarity.

On Monday, Mahmood also announced curbs on refugee protections and threatened visa bans for countries refusing to repatriate irregular migrants, many of whom arrive on small boats.

As the 12-week consultation begins, millions of migrants, particularly Indians, await clarity on how Britain’s most restrictive settlement system in Europe will shape their future.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 21, 2025 09:35 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).