UK to double residency requirement for settlement, introduces fast-track for high earners
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that the period required to qualify for indefinite leave to remain will be increased from five to ten years, and that a fast-track route will be offered to migrants earning above a set threshold or working in public-service roles. The announcement followed a series of revisions to the settlement system.
Earlier, Mahmood had said care workers earning over £25,000 could apply for indefinite leave after five years, while other groups faced longer waits. The policy shift came after criticism from Labour MPs and internal cabinet dissent, prompting the Home Office to soften earlier proposals that would have extended settlement waiting periods for many migrant workers, including social-care staff.