UK plans stricter rules for migrants seeking permanent residency

The UK government is preparing to make it harder for migrants to secure permanent residency as part of a wider plan to reduce immigration. Under current rules, migrants can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years of living and working in the UK. The government now plans to increase that period to up to ten years for certain categories, according to a person familiar with the matter.

This change is expected to be part of a broader package of reforms being prepared by the Home Office. The proposed move was first reported by the Financial Times.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration is looking to tighten immigration controls following pressure from Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage. The party has gained support in recent polls and made gains in last week’s local elections.

In November 2023, Starmer said immigration needed to “come down significantly.” He criticised the previous Conservative government for what he described as a failure to manage the issue. The UK recorded a net migration of 906,000 people in the year ending June 2023, followed by 728,000 in the year to June 2024.

Indefinite leave to remain allows individuals to live in the UK without time restrictions. It also grants access to public services, including the NHS and welfare, and serves as a pathway to British citizenship.

The Home Office did not comment on specific changes but said in a statement that the upcoming reforms would “set out a comprehensive plan to restore order to our broken immigration system, linking immigration, skills and visa systems to grow our domestic workforce, end reliance on overseas labour and boost economic growth.”