New UK settlement rule to affect 1.5m migrants

The UK government has confirmed plans to double the required residency period for settlement from five to ten years.

The new policy will not only apply to new arrivals but also to many migrants already living in the United Kingdom.

Officials estimate the change could affect up to 1.5 million foreign workers who have arrived in the UK since 2020.

The Home Office plans to issue a policy paper confirming the extended timeline and its application to current residents.

A public consultation will open soon to gather views before the rule is implemented.

Concern over retrospective application

Until now, it was unclear whether existing migrants would face the new requirement.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper reportedly raised concerns over a potential surge in applications under the five-year rule.

Officials fear thousands may qualify for permanent residence by 2026 if current rules remain unchanged.

Labour Member of Parliaments, MP, and advocacy groups have voiced strong opposition to the rule’s retrospective nature.

Partial exemptions remain

The government says certain categories will remain under the five-year route.

Spouses and dependents of British citizens are exempt from the ten-year rule.

Migrants who can prove exceptional contributions to the UK economy or society may receive fast-track consideration.

However, the majority of skilled workers and general migrants will face the extended route.

The proposed change has triggered backlash from migrant communities across the country.

Many say they relocated under a clear understanding of a five-year settlement pathway.

Isa, a Nigerian tech worker living in Manchester, called the change a “betrayal” of trust.

He said the policy has thrown his family’s future into uncertainty after years of investment and planning.

“My wife and I moved here believing in a fair system,” he said on BBC Radio 5 Live.

The couple is now considering leaving the UK before completing ten years.

Legal groups call policy unjust

Advocacy organisations have condemned the government’s plan.

Enny Choudhury, co-legal director at the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, called the move “deeply cruel.”

“These are people who built their lives here,” she said. “Changing rules halfway is destabilising and unnecessary.”

Florence Eshalomi, MP, warned the change could push families into legal limbo and deepen distrust.

Migration analysts say the rule change may not drastically reduce legal migration.

The Migration Observatory said it may delay access to public benefits and citizenship, but not deter migration.

The extended visa period may, however, increase government revenue through renewals and processing fees.

The UK’s net migration reached a record 906,000 in 2023, prompting a broad policy overhaul.

Government defends strategy

Prime Minister Keir Starmer have defended the reform during press briefing on Monday May 12.

“Settlement is a privilege earned through contribution,” he said. “Work hard, pay in, help rebuild – then earn your place.”

Full policy details and a timeline for implementation will be published in the coming weeks.

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