The UK government unveiled a sweeping overhaul of immigration rules that could leave some migrants waiting as long as 30 years before they are allowed to settle permanently in Britain. Home secretary Shabana Mahmood said the aim was to restore public confidence in the system by ensuring settlement is a “privilege” earned through contribution and integration.Under the proposals, anyone who first arrived illegally, such as by small boat or by overstaying a visa, will face the toughest penalties. “It is proposed that an increase in the qualifying period should apply where the applicant originally entered the UK illegally, or where the applicant originally entered as a visitor. This would mean, for example, that a person who entered the UK illegally could have a route to settlement as high as 30 years.”The reforms would apply to nearly two million people who came to the UK after 2021, according to the Daily Mail. For most legal migrants, the standard qualifying time for Indefinite Leave to Remain will rise from five to ten years. Those in lower skilled jobs, such as care assistants or roles that do not require a degree, will face a 15 year baseline. If they have claimed benefits for more than a year, the wait could stretch to 25 years. Migrants who claimed welfare support for less than twelve months would see an additional five year delay.The package introduces further conditions. Applicants will need a clean criminal record, at least three years of National Insurance payments, no outstanding debt to the government for visas or NHS (National Health Service) costs, and English language skills equivalent to A level.Some groups will qualify faster. Doctors and nurses in the NHS will still be able to settle after five years. Higher rate taxpayers will receive a five year discount, and those paying the top 45 per cent bracket will be able to qualify in as little as three years.Mahmood said migration levels in recent years had been “unprecedented” and warned that the issue risked fuelling division. “To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege. And it must be earned,” she told MPs. The changes will not affect EU citizens with existing settled status, family members of British nationals or people covered by special routes such as those from Hong Kong.
