UK raises permanent residency wait to 10 years, exempts many care workers

The United Kingdom announced new immigration rules that will double the standard waiting period for indefinite leave to remain to 10 years. The changes, which will take effect in 2026, tie eligibility to income levels. Workers earning more than £50,000 a year can still apply after five years, and those earning over £125,000 after three years. All other workers will follow the 10-year route.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told Parliament that the reforms aim to link settlement rights to the contributions immigrants make to the economy. > "Settlement should not be automatic. It should be earned," she said, adding that those who contribute most will settle fastest.

Care workers will be exempt from the longer wait. Those earning at least £25,000 a year and meeting visa conditions can apply after five years. Mahmood said the measure rewards care workers who answered the country's call during staffing shortages.

Refugee rules also change. Individuals arriving through government-approved routes can settle after five years, while others will face a standard 20-year wait, reduced to 10 years for those who work or study. Arrivals by “illegal methods,” such as small boats, could be required to wait up to 30 years.

Applicants will be disqualified if they have a criminal record, fail to meet English language standards, owe government debts, or have not made at least three years of National Insurance contributions. The government estimates that about 1.4 million people will receive settled status between 2026 and 2030, with half a million expected to settle later than under the previous system, saving billions of pounds in benefits.

The reforms follow a 12-week public consultation that attracted more than 200,000 responses and come amid broader political pressure to tighten immigration controls.