The British government on Monday unveiled its new “earned settlement model,” significantly extending the time many foreign workers must wait before becoming eligible for permanent residency in the United Kingdom.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed that the qualifying period for “indefinite leave to remain” (ILR) – which grants the right to live, work, and study in the country indefinitely – will increase from five years to 10 years for the majority of workers. The Labour government indicated that high earners would be able to settle within three years, while those earning over £50,271 (approximately €60,200) and certain public service workers, including doctors, nurses, and teachers, would qualify after five years.
Mahmood also announced specific exemptions for care workers, following considerable backlash from unions and some within the ruling Labour Party regarding initial proposals to tighten settlement rules. “Those who earn £25,000 (roughly €29,900) a year working in the social sector care, which was the condition of their visa, will therefore be able to settle on their existing five-year pathway,” Mahmood informed parliament. She added that the revised policy acknowledges the service of those who had “worked hard and answered our call when we needed them.”
The announcement follows a consultation period during which the government received more than 200,000 responses. The government noted that concerns were raised about “fairness, complexity and the effect on people already in the UK,” but also that there was “support for a system that better recognises contribution, integration and compliance.” The guiding principle for the new policy, the government stated, is that “settlement should be earned rather than granted on the basis of time alone.”
Under the new framework, individuals found to have breached immigration rules will face a 20-year waiting period to settle. Furthermore, anyone who arrived by “small boat, or another clandestine means of entry, will face an additional 10-year waiting period – meaning they could wait up to 30 years for settlement,” the government stated. Refugees arriving via approved routes will still be able to apply for settlement after five years.
These new rules are reportedly set to take effect next year, though people who already possess settled status will not be affected.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham issued a statement asserting that the country had “lost control of immigration” in the wake of the Brexit vote to leave the European Union. He expressed his full backing for the Home Secretary, stating, “This Home Secretary is gripping this problem, and she has my full support in doing so.”
The policy changes come amidst increasing pressure on the government from Britain’s right-wing political factions, including Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, concerning immigration. Reform UK has pledged to abolish indefinite leave to remain if it comes to power, proposing instead a “five-year renewable work visa.”
