United Kingdom Proposes Settlement Model Links Residency to Contribution

Key Point 

• The UK has proposed requiring migrants to live lawfully in the country for 10 years and meet strict integration criteria before qualifying for settlement 

Indefinite Leave to Remain Reform 

The UK Home Secretary has proposed a new contribution-based model for granting indefinite leave to remain, the right to settle permanently in the UK. The plan aims to reduce net migration, support integration and ease pressure on public services. 

Under the proposal, migrants must be lawfully resident in the UK for at least 10 years, double the current requirement, before they can apply for settlement. This period may be shortened for those who meet specific earnings or integration benchmarks. However, anyone who has been non-compliant with immigration rules could face longer wait times or have their application refused. 

To qualify for indefinite leave to remain, applicants would need to: 

• Be in sustained employment 
• Make National Insurance contributions 
• Avoid claiming benefits 
• Speak English to a high standard 
• Have a clean criminal record 
• Contribute to their local community 

A public consultation on the proposal will open by the end of the year. 

To learn more about ongoing debates concerning indefinite leave to remain, read this spotlight analysis. 

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