Overview

• Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the overhaul at Labour’s conference in Liverpool, doubling the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from five to ten years.
• Applicants must show sustained employment, national insurance contributions, no reliance on benefits, higher-standard English, a clean criminal record, and meaningful community contribution such as volunteering.
• Mahmood said some migrants could qualify earlier for settlement if they are contributing strongly, while others could be required to wait longer if they are not.
• Reporting highlights significant effects for Indian nationals who form the largest non-UK workforce in Britain, with 81,463 work visas issued to Indians in 2024 and 975,100 on UK payrolls last December.
• A decade in temporary status is expected to raise costs and uncertainty through repeated visa renewals and the Immigration Health Surcharge, according to coverage.