The UK government has announced new immigration rules requiring migrants to live in the country for 10 years before applying for permanent settlement. This change will apply not only to new visa applicants but also to the 1.5 million foreign workers who have arrived since 2020. Concerns have been raised by Labour MPs regarding the uncertainty faced by current residents. The move aims to manage the increasing trend in citizenship applications amidst record-high net migration numbers reported at 906,000 in June 2023, as part of a broader strategy to reduce legal immigration.
On Monday the government announced immigrants would now typically have to live in the UK for 10 years before applying for the right to stay here indefinitely.
A government source said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper had for some time been concerned that under the current five-year process there is set to be a significant increase in settlement and citizenship applications.
Some Labour MPs have raised concerns about the possibility longer qualifying periods for settlement could apply to people already in the UK.
The announcement was part of a wider package of measures set out on Monday to cut legal migration.
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