(London, November 20) Britain has launched its biggest immigration reform in 50 years. Illegal immigrants and those relying on social welfare will have to wait 20-30 years for permanent residency; the waiting period for high-income visa holders will be shortened to three years.
Home Secretary Mahmoud announced on Thursday (November 20) that visa holders earning over £125,000 (approximately S$214,000) annually can apply for permanent residency after three years, up from the current five years. Visa holders earning between £50,000 and £125,000 annually will have to wait five years under the current regulations. Both groups will be subject to stricter requirements regarding English language proficiency, criminal record, and debt-free status.
Mahmoud, whose parents are immigrants, said that immigration has always been an important part of British history, but the scale of immigration in recent years has caused instability.
The Labour government's reforms to immigration policy are partly due to rising support for the Reform Party, led by anti-immigration hardliner Nigel Farage, according to polls.
A press release from the UK Home Office stated that the reforms apply to nearly 2 million immigrants who have arrived in the UK since 2021, but do not affect those who have already obtained permanent residency and are living in the UK.
Further Reading
According to the press release, low-skilled workers entering on medical and care visas, as well as immigrants who have received benefits for less than 12 months, will have to wait 15 years; those receiving benefits for more than 12 months will have to wait 20 years, four times the current requirement and setting a new record for the longest wait in Europe. The waiting period for illegal immigrants and those who overstay their visas can be as long as 30 years.
Under the current system, immigrants can usually obtain permanent residency in the UK after living there for five years, subject to certain conditions. The UK government's fast-track residency program for high-income earners aims to prevent the loss of skilled workers from areas like the City of London.
