British govt unveils new rules for obtaining permanent settlement

Key Points:

• The UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced new rules extending the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from 5 to 10 years, requiring migrants to "earn" settlement through criteria including no criminal record, English proficiency, no government debt, and at least three years of National Insurance contributions.
• The 5-year ILR route remains available only to those earning above £50,000 and certain professions like doctors, nurses, teachers, and care workers meeting specific criteria, while those earning less and not in these professions must wait 10 years.
• Student, graduate, and youth mobility visa periods will no longer count towards ILR eligibility, causing concern among Indian migrants and international students who expected settlement after five years under previous rules.
• Higher earners making over £125,000 can apply for settlement after three years, while individuals with immigration breaches or who accessed public funds recently face a 20-year wait; refugees arriving legally can settle after five years, but those arriving illegally must wait 30 years.
• The changes have sparked criticism from migrant representatives like INSA UK, who warn of significant financial, emotional, and professional uncertainty for thousands of migrants currently living and working in the UK.