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The British government has announced major changes to its system for granting permanent residency to immigrants, proposing to increase the qualifying period for most applicants from five years to 10 years.
London: The British government has announced major changes to its system for granting permanent residency to immigrants, proposing to increase the qualifying period for most applicants from five years to 10 years. Under the new system, the right to permanent residency in the United Kingdom will no longer be granted solely on the basis of completing a specified period of residence. Applicants’ income, employment, tax payments, English language proficiency and legal records will also be taken into consideration.
According to an official statement issued by the UK Home Office on November 2, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood presented the details of the new system to Parliament. The policy, known as Earned Settlement, is intended to make permanent residency, or Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), conditional on more than simply spending a certain number of years in the UK. The government says applicants will now need to demonstrate a positive contribution to the country and meet specific requirements to qualify for permanent residency.
According to the British government, the basic qualifying period for permanent residency for most immigrants is being increased from five years to 10 years. The change will apply to applicants who are not eligible for any special exemptions under the new policy, particularly workers earning less than £50,000 annually. The government has clarified that such individuals will be allowed to renew their temporary visas until they become eligible for permanent residency, provided they continue to meet the relevant immigration requirements. According to estimates by the UK Home Office, more than 500,000 people may have to wait longer than the current five-year period to qualify for permanent residency.
Under the new system, a relatively shorter route to permanent residency will remain available for high-income earners and workers employed in certain essential sectors. According to the government's press release, individuals earning more than £50,271 annually, as well as eligible workers including doctors, nurses and teachers, will be able to apply for permanent residency after five years. Similarly, a three-year route will remain available for some of the highest earners and individuals entering the UK through specific high-skilled visa programs. However, earning a high salary alone will not be sufficient. Applicants will also have to meet other essential legal and administrative requirements to qualify for permanent residency.
The government has also announced special arrangements for foreign care workers employed in the UK. According to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, care workers who entered the UK through the relevant route before May 2025, continued to meet their visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 annually will be allowed to qualify for permanent residency under the existing five-year route. Care workers who have been unable to meet the required conditions may, in certain circumstances, be given another opportunity to establish their eligibility through an additional five-year visa. According to the government, this transitional arrangement has also been introduced to protect workers who have faced difficulties due to irresponsible or exploitative employers.
The British government has also announced plans to significantly extend the route to permanent residency for individuals who enter the country illegally. Under the new policy, the five-year qualifying period will remain in place for eligible refugees arriving through safe and legal government routes. For other refugees, the basic qualifying period could be 20 years. Those who reach the UK in small boats or through other clandestine and illegal routes could face an additional 10-year extension. As a result, some individuals may have to wait as long as 30 years to qualify for permanent residency. The government has also clarified that some refugees may be able to qualify for permanent residency sooner by improving their eligibility through employment or education.
Applicants for permanent residency will be required to meet a higher standard of English proficiency, which the government has described as equivalent to A-level standard. Authorities will also assess applicants’ criminal records, outstanding debts owed to the British government and the continuity of their National Insurance contributions. According to the Home Secretary's parliamentary statement, a record of three years of National Insurance contributions will be among the basic requirements for applicants. For certain individuals who have violated immigration rules, the qualifying period for permanent residency could be extended to 20 years. Applicants who have received public benefits will also be required to demonstrate that they have not relied on such benefits continuously for the five years preceding their application.
The British government has clarified that individuals who have already obtained permanent residency, or settled status, will not have their status revoked. Similarly, existing routes will remain available for eligible family members of British citizens, holders of Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visas and certain categories of individuals associated with the armed forces. According to the government, eligibility for permanent residency under the new system will be determined according to the rules in force at the time of application, rather than necessarily those that existed when an individual first arrived in the UK.
Pakistani nationals working in the UK could also be affected by these changes, particularly those residing in the country on work visas and planning to apply for permanent residency in the future. However, the same qualifying period will not apply to every Pakistani national. The route to permanent residency may vary depending on the applicant's visa category, income, employment, date of arrival in the UK and eligibility for transitional protections. It is also important to distinguish between the government's announcement and the formal implementation of the relevant immigration rules. Applicants should consult the final rules and official guidance issued for their specific visa category. The British government maintains that the new system will prioritise individuals who make greater contributions to the British economy and public services, while making it more difficult for those who violate immigration rules to obtain permanent residency.
