The United Kingdom (UK) has introduced revised settlement rules that will increase the standard qualifying period for permanent residency from five to 10 years for most migrants, while allowing high earners and certain categories of workers to qualify earlier.
The new settlement framework was presented to parliament on Monday, according to a statement from the Home Office.
Under the revised policy, migrants will no longer automatically become eligible for permanent residency after five years in the UK.
Most applicants will now be required to wait 10 years, while those who violate immigration rules could face a waiting period of up to 20 years.
Refugees entering the country through routes approved by the Home Office will remain eligible for settlement after five years. However, those arriving through other routes will have to wait 20 years, although the period could be reduced to 10 years through work or study.
Meanwhile, the highest earners will be able to obtain settlement after just three years. Certain workers, including individuals earning more than £50,271 and public sector professionals such as doctors, nurses and teachers, will qualify after five years.
“Those earning more than £50,271 and some public service workers – like doctors, nurses and teachers – will be able to settle after 5 years. Others will settle at a new default of 10 years. Those who have breached immigration rules will only be able to settle after at least 20 years,” the statement reads.
New mandatory requirements for settlement
The revised framework will also introduce four compulsory conditions that all applicants must satisfy, regardless of when they entered the UK.
Applicants will be required to demonstrate a clean criminal record, replacing the existing threshold of a 12-month suspended sentence; a high standard of spoken English equivalent to A-Level English as a foreign language; no outstanding debts to the government; and evidence of consistent National Insurance contributions.
“People want to see an immigration system based on control, contribution, and which rewards those who play by the rules,” British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said.
“These proposals are based on that principle and recognise the contribution made by overseas workers to our country.”
The new policy will also introduce an additional 10-year waiting period for migrants who enter the UK through small boats or other clandestine routes, potentially extending their settlement eligibility period to 30 years.