UK announces new immigration rules

LONDON: UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced major changes to the country's immigration rules, introducing new qualifying periods for migrants seeking permanent settlement.

Under the revised rules, social care workers earning £25,000 annually will be eligible to apply for permanent settlement after five years. Previously, workers in this category were required to live in the UK for 15 years before qualifying.

Mahmood said individuals who arrived in the UK before May 2025 would also be eligible for the five-year settlement route.

For other lower-paid workers, the qualifying period for permanent settlement has been extended to 10 years. Meanwhile, individuals earning more than £50,000 annually, along with workers in the health and education sectors, will be able to apply after five years.

Applicants could be denied permanent residency if they have a criminal record, cannot speak English, have outstanding debts or have failed to pay National Insurance contributions.

The Home Secretary said people who entered the UK through legal routes and were granted asylum could seek permanent settlement after five years. However, those who entered the country illegally would have to wait 20 years before applying.

The same 20-year requirement would apply to individuals who study or work in the UK, while those who do neither could face a waiting period of up to 30 years.

Mahmood said the right to remain in Britain would no longer be automatic and would instead have to be earned through individual contributions and efforts.

According to British media reports, permanent settlement allows eligible individuals to remain in the UK indefinitely, work and study without immigration restrictions, access certain public benefits if eligible, and apply for British citizenship.

The Home Secretary has expressed concerns about the number of people becoming eligible for permanent residency following high net migration figures under the previous government. Her proposals have also faced criticism within the Labour Party, particularly over their potential impact on migrants already living in the country.

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner and several other Labour MPs reportedly criticised the proposed changes, describing them as inconsistent with British values. Mahmood, however, has defended the reforms, saying they aim to reduce the financial burden on the public.

According to Home Office figures, the UK's population grew by 2.6 million between 2021 and 2024. The department has also projected that another 1.6 million people could settle in the country between 2026 and 2030.