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New UK immigration rules unsettle migrants
The UK plans major settlement rule changes, extending paths to permanent residency to 10 to 30 years.
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Pranavi Sharma - Fri, 21, Nov 2025
- 23:57 EST
- 5
Representative Image / Unsplash
The UK government plans to introduce sweeping immigration reforms that would lengthen the path to permanent settlement for many migrants. The proposal under consultation would extend the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from five years to 10 years for most applicants, with longer time frames for some categories.
Under the plan, migrants who have received state benefits for more than a year and asylum seekers under “core protection” would face a 20-year wait. Unauthorized arrivals could see that stretch to up to 30 years. The government says reforms will prioritize “character, integration, contribution and residence,” with clean criminal records, English proficiency, tax contributions and no outstanding debt required to qualify.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said settlement should reward “contribution, integration and residence” and is a “privilege, not a right.” High earners and some workers, including doctors and nurses, may access shorter paths ranging from three to five years.
Concerns grow
Critics argue the proposed changes could disproportionately affect low-income migrants and refugees. For many, the long timelines raise concerns about decades of uncertainty. Some fear that the rules may apply to people already living legally in the UK and working toward settlement.
Legal and migration firms are warning clients to closely monitor the transition. Zeal Immigration Consultancy wrote that “what was once a simple 5-year path to settlement may soon become a 10-year challenge.” It added that under the new model, “time alone will not guarantee ILR.”
In another post, the firm said the shift “could impact not just future applicants but even those already living and working in the UK.”
One Law Chambers, a UK-based firm, said implementation details such as exemptions and cut-off dates remain under discussion, noting a possible formal rollout by late 2025 or early 2026. The firm said a transitional policy is likely but warned the reforms signal “a tougher immigration pathway ahead.” More than 146,000 people have signed a petition asking the government to retain the five-year route for current visa holders.
Healthcare sector alarm
The Royal College of Nursing said nearly 50,000 international nursing staff may leave the country if the reforms are implemented. In a statement, Professor Nicola Ranger called the proposal “a betrayal” and warned it is “no way to repay them.”
“These proposals are not just immoral; they would be dangerous for our patients,” she said. Ranger added that if the government shows workers “they aren’t welcome here, they shouldn’t be surprised when they decide to leave.”
The consultation process is expected to begin later this week.
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