UK Permanent Residence: Residence Period May Be Increased to 10 Years

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The UK government has proposed a new contribution-based settlement model. The minimum residency period is planned to be increased from five to ten years, with extra conditions added for applicants. Many other tougher measures will also be opened for public consultation by the end of 2025.

The UK Home Office explained that granting permanent residence (Indefinite Leave to Remain) will depend on migrants’ contribution to the country. This includes employment and National Insurance contributions, refraining from claiming benefits, a high level of English language proficiency, a clean criminal record, and participation in local communities (e.g., via volunteering). Any violation of these conditions may lead to a delay or refusal of settlement. A pathway to reduce the waiting period for foreigners who meet high thresholds of income or integration is also under consideration.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated at a Labour Party conference that applicants will need to prove their value to society through additional requirements. Reuters reports that the heightened focus on this issue is linked to the rising popularity of the Reform UK party, which is promoting a hard-line anti-immigration agenda.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer accused Reform UK of pushing a “racist policy” of mass deportations that would, in his words, “tear the country apart.”

Immigration remains a key issue for British voters: controlling migrant inflow was a major factor in the 2016 Brexit vote. Yet after Brexit net migration reached record highs.

The reform proposals were published in spring 2025 and cover a wide range of immigration policy directions. They include reducing the list of professions for which employers can sponsor foreign workers, abolishing exemptions for the social care sector, requiring universities to pay additional fees for foreign students, tightening licensing for educational institutions, and reducing the length of the Graduate visa from two years to 18 months.

One item concerns English language proficiency, as recently reminded by the UK Home Office. According to new rules, Skilled Worker visa applicants will need level B2 English instead of the previous B1, and for family visas (spouses, partners, adult dependents) English proficiency will be mandatory already at entry. The system foresees gradual progression: A1 at entry, A2 on extension, and B2 at settlement.
ukstartupmagazine.co.uk

Special attention is given to refugees. Previously they could apply for permanent residence after five years; now this route is planned to be changed: no automatic path, each case meeting new criteria. Family-reunification programs for this category are also under discussion.
Reuters

Public opinion remains divided. According to a YouGov survey, 44 % support tougher rules and cancellation of the current permanent residence status, 43 % oppose it, while 58 % object to revoking rights of those already holding indefinite leave. This suggests that despite growing support for stricter immigration policy, sensitivity remains high about protecting existing rights.

The government’s proposals will be subject to public consultation by the end of 2025. Afterward the new system’s parameters will be adjusted based on feedback. Meanwhile the UK, like many other countries, is moving toward tighter migrant rules — most notably in the USA where mass deportation schemes are being developed. Europe too is advancing popular methods of restrictions and expedited deportations.

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