LONDON: Britain’s Labour government on Monday confirmed plans to make many foreign workers already in the UK wait longer before they can apply to settle permanently.
However, interior minister Shabana Mahmood announced she was watering down a proposed tightening of rules for social care workers following anger from some ruling party lawmakers. The reforms come as Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s administration tries to weigh voter demand for lower immigration with the government’s objective of boosting economic growth.
Following a lengthy consultation, Mahmood confirmed that the qualifying period for the so-called Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for most workers will double from five to 10 years. High earners will be able to apply after three years while public service workers including doctors, nurses and teachers will still be eligible after five years.
ILR allows someone to live, work and study in Britain without any restrictions and is a key route towards getting UK citizenship. Mahmood said half a million people will “settle later” than five years due to her reforms which she said will “save billions” in benefits.
When Mahmood first announced her plans last year, lower-qualified migrants who arrived on health and social care visas faced a wait of up to 15 years for settlement.
Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2026
