The United Kingdom (UK) has introduced tougher immigration rules, doubling the waiting period for most foreign workers to qualify for permanent residency from five to 10 years.
Under the new policy, refugees arriving in the UK through small boats could face a wait of up to 30 years before becoming eligible for permanent settlement.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the revised rules in Parliament on Monday. However, she confirmed that hundreds of thousands of care workers would be exempt from the tougher requirements following criticism from within the ruling Labour Party.
Higher earners can apply earlier
Under the revised policy, people earning more than £50,000 a year will remain eligible to apply for permanent residency after five years. Those earning over £125,000 could qualify after just three years.
Meanwhile, most other foreign workers will have to complete 10 years before applying.
Applicants will also need to meet stricter conditions, including a clean criminal record, a high standard of English, cleared outstanding government debts, and at least three years of National Insurance contributions.
The immigration rules will begin taking effect in January 2027,
Mahmood said the changes would delay settlement for around half a million people and help the government save billions of pounds in benefit payments.
The government estimates that up to 1.4 million people could receive settled status in the UK between 2026 and 2030.
