Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has revealed plans to extend the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from the current five years to 10 years. The policy would apply to an estimated 2.6 million migrants who have arrived since 2021. Individuals who already hold settled status will not be affected.

Mahmood emphasised that joining the UK permanently is “a privilege, not a right — and one that must be earned.”

The proposal is part of a broader series of reforms to the immigration system introduced over the past week.

Indefinite Leave to Remain, which allows a person to live, work, and access services in the UK without restriction, is also a critical step toward British citizenship. At present, most workers and family visa holders qualify after five years.

Key Proposed Changes

The standard residency requirement increases to 10 years.

Legal migrants who claim benefits for under 12 months will wait 15 years.

Those who arrived on post-Brexit health and social care visas will also need 15 years instead of the current five.

Migrants who have relied on benefits for more than 12 months could face a 20-year wait — the longest in Europe.


In Parliament, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused Labour of adopting policies similar to those they previously opposed. Although his party welcomed the move, he warned it could create loopholes and called for a migration cap.
Reform UK did not respond during the Commons session but has previously stated it intends to abolish ILR altogether in favour of renewable five-year visas.

According to Home Office data, net migration added 2.6 million people to the UK population between 2021 and 2024. As a result, settlement applications are expected to rise sharply, with projections showing 1.6 million people may obtain ILR between 2026 and 2030.

“Earned Settlement” System

The government plans to require migrants to demonstrate:

• Social integration
• Economic contribution
• Good character


Applicants would need to meet tougher criteria, including:

• A minimum A-level equivalent English proficiency
• A clean criminal record
• Earnings above £12,570 for at least three years


Some groups will still have access to faster settlement routes:

• NHS doctors and nurses may settle after five years
• High-earning professionals, entrepreneurs, and “exceptional talent” applicants could qualify after three years


Family members will no longer gain settlement automatically when the main applicant does. Children who arrived before age 18 may settle with their parents, while adult dependants may face separate conditions.

Existing fast-track provisions for domestic abuse victims, bereaved partners, and resettled refugees will remain unchanged.

Union Concerns:

Public service union Unison warned that the reforms could severely impact essential workers and put vital services at risk.
General Secretary Christina McAnea criticised the extended timelines, saying many of these workers — including those who were crucial during the pandemic — would be left without long-term certainty. She urged the government not to overlook the contributions of overseas care workers, nursing assistants, and school support staff, noting that their absence would cause services to “collapse.”

These changes expand upon commitments made in the government’s May white paper and are expected to be implemented from spring 2026, following a consultation that closes on 12 February.

Earlier this week, Mahmood also announced major reforms to the UK’s asylum system, including ending permanent refugee status and replacing it with temporary status reviewed every 30 months.