Shabana Mahmood Extends UK Settlement Wait to 10 Years

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will announce new migration rules on Monday that extend the waiting period for legal migrants to obtain settlement, or indefinite leave to remain, in the United Kingdom. The standard qualifying period will double from five to 10 years, while some workers in occupations below graduate level, including care workers, may face a 15-year wait.

Mahmood stated that becoming a permanent part of the country is "not a right but a privilege – and one that must be earned." She suggested the waiting period could be reduced for migrants with higher incomes or those who demonstrate community contribution through a points-based system.

To prevent worsening social care staff shortages, the government may grant exemptions to care workers already in the UK. This follows the issuance of approximately 200,000 health and care worker visas over the last five years.

The plan has faced criticism from advocacy groups and government officials. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described the 15-year wait as "un-British," while other opponents argued the policies risk repeating the injustices of the Windrush scandal and could drive essential health and social care workers to leave the country.