Context:

The UK government announced a change in immigration policy, extending the qualifying period for permanent settlement from five to ten years for migrants already in the country, as well as new visa applicants. This policy aims to manage the expected increase in settlement and citizenship applications due to high immigration rates in recent years. While dependents of British citizens will still qualify after five years, and those contributing significantly to the UK may have shorter paths, the overall shift is part of a broader effort to curb legal migration. Concerns have been raised by Labour MPs regarding the impact on migrants' settled status, prompting the government to promise further details and a public consultation. The Migration Observatory notes that this change will make the UK's immigration system more restrictive compared to other high-income countries and may increase visa-fee revenue for the Home Office, while limiting migrants’ access to rights associated with permanent settlement.

Dive Deeper:

• The UK government has doubled the residency requirement for migrants seeking permanent settlement from five to ten years, applying this change to both current residents and new applicants, with a public consultation planned to gather feedback.

• Concerns about an impending surge in settlement and citizenship applications have prompted Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to implement these changes, reflecting a response to significant immigration increases in the early 2020s.

• Exceptions to the new rule include a continued five-year qualification period for non-UK dependents of British citizens, and potentially shorter qualification periods for individuals who have made notable contributions to the UK economy and society.

• The policy change is part of a broader strategy to reduce legal migration, as net migration numbers reached a record high of 906,000 in June 2023, following a previous high of 728,000 the year before.

• The announcement has caused anxiety among migrants already in the UK, with some considering leaving due to uncertainties about their settled status, leading to calls for clarity from Labour MPs and promises from the government to provide further information.

• The Migration Observatory highlights that a 10-year path to settlement would position the UK as more restrictive compared to most high-income countries, although similar to policies in Switzerland and Japan, and is expected to generate more visa-fee revenue.

• Migrants on temporary visas will face longer periods without the rights associated with permanent settlement, such as the ability to live, work, study, and apply for benefits indefinitely, which can also be a pathway to British citizenship.