The UK government has announced major new restrictions to its immigration system, including a plan to double the qualifying period for permanent residence.

The changes, outlined by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in Parliament, are expected to impact more than 2.6 million migrants who arrived since 2021.

Permanent residence wait extended

Under the proposed overhaul, the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — the right to live and work in the UK permanently — will be extended from five to 10 years. Mahmood said the new rules reflect the government’s belief that becoming part of the UK is “a privilege, not a right… and one that must be earned.”

The new requirement will apply to migrants who arrived after 2021, meaning more than two million people, including many Pakistanis, will face longer waits. Those who already hold ILR will not be affected.

Settlement is a key stage before British citizenship, granting access to public services and freedom to work without restrictions.

Legal migrants could wait up to 20 years

The reforms include additional criteria that could reduce or extend the waiting period:

Legal migrants who claim benefits for less than 12 months will face a 15-year wait.
People who arrived on post-Brexit health and social care visas will also face a 15-year requirement, up from five years.
Migrants reliant on benefits for more than 12 months will wait 20 years — the longest standard settlement period in Europe.

On the other hand, high-earning migrants can qualify sooner:

Those earning £125,140 for three years may settle in three years.
Those earning £50,270 can settle in five years.
English language proficiency, volunteer work, and community contribution can also shorten the wait.

Govt cites unprecedented migration levels

Mahmood said migration remains an important part of the UK’s story but noted that “the scale of arrivals in recent years has been unprecedented.” Home Office figures show net migration added 2.6 million people to the UK population from 2021 to 2024.

Also Read: UK makes tough changes to asylum, immigration policy

A surge in settlement applications is expected, with 1.6 million migrants projected to qualify for ILR between 2026 and 2030.

Ministers plan to introduce an “earned settlement” system requiring evidence of social integration, stable employment, economic contribution, clean criminal records, and A-level standard English.

Who will benefit from fast-track settlement?

Some groups will continue to enjoy accelerated or protected settlement pathways:

Doctors and nurses in the NHS will still be eligible after five years.
High-skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and high earners may qualify in as little as three years.
Children who arrived before age 18 may settle with their parents, though older dependants may face separate assessments.
Victims of domestic abuse, bereaved partners, and resettled refugees will retain existing protections.

However, under the new rules, family members will not automatically gain settlement when the main applicant qualifies.

Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of “copying and pasting” policies his party had previously introduced but that Labour had voted against. He said Conservatives would support the reforms but warned they may create loopholes unless paired with a migration cap.

Reform UK did not respond in the Commons, though the party has previously proposed abolishing ILR altogether, replacing it with renewable five-year visas for all migrants, including those already in the country.

Unions warn of serious impact on essential workers

Public service union Unison condemned the reforms, saying they would be “devastating to thousands of essential workers” and could endanger key public services.

General secretary Christina McAnea said many of the staff who stepped up during Covid now face 15-year waits for certainty about their futures. She warned the government not to overlook the crucial role of care workers, nursing assistants, and school support staff, without whom “care services would collapse.”

Broader immigration reforms

The measures follow a series of rapid announcements from Mahmood, including a sweeping overhaul of the UK’s asylum system. The Home Secretary recently proposed ending permanent refugee status, replacing it with temporary protections subject to review every 30 months.

The new settlement rules are expected to roll out from spring 2026, after the government’s consultation closes on 12 February.