London – Sept. 14, 2025 — Migrants already resident in the United Kingdom will have to wait longer to settle permanently as the government introduces new immigration rules.
According to the new policy, migrants will usually have to stay in the UK for 10 years before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) – twice as long as the five-year minimum previously required.
citizenship applications coming forward considering high levels of immigration over the last five years.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the new rules, asserting: Settlement now becomes a privilege, soThis would potentially affect not only new visa seekers but also the approximately 1.5 million foreign workers currently residing in Britain.
A policy paper on the horizon tells us both groups will have to wait 10 years. What is the matter? Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is worried that the five-year path could result in a flood of settlement and mething you earn, not a right — easier if you contribute, if you work, pay in and help rebuild our country.” The policy is one part of a larger package of moves to reduce legal migration, after net migration soared to a high of 906,000 in June 2023 and 728,000 last year. Exceptions to the Rule.
British citizen dependents will still be eligible for settlement after five years. Migrants who can demonstrate significant contributions to UK economy and society may be eligible for settlement in a shorter time frame. Concerns and Reactions. Labour MPs have also warned that extending the qualifying period would add to the uncertainty of those already settled in the UK.
Florence Eshalomi, chair of the Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee, said the ambiguity had left many of her constituents “understandably worried” while some have even been considering leaving the UK.
In response, Cooper promised MPs that further information and a public consultation would be forthcoming at some point later this year. Conclusion.
The latest 10-year settlement rule is one of the biggest changes to UK immigration policy in years.
Although the government claims it is necessary to ensure settlement is a “privilege earned,” critics worry that doing so will leave thousands of migrants unsure about their future.
As the consultation period begins, migrants and their families will look closely at how these rules are enforced - and what exceptions might apply.