Politics
UK doubles settlement wait to 10 years but spares care workers
November 2, 2026 at 07:31 PM
Coverage
6 reports · 1 in Arabic, 5 in English · over 7 hours
TGThe Guardian
The Guardian view on a migration U-turn: it still leaves unfair changes intact | Editorial
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SNSky News Arabia
بريطانيا تضاعف مدة انتظار الإقامة الدائمة إلى 10 سنوات
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BNBBC News
What are the planned changes to immigration rules?
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TGThe Guardian
Shabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash
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BNBBC News
Chris Mason: Home secretary to face scrutiny over changes to rules for legal migrants
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BNBBC News
Shabana Mahmood to set out changes to settlement rules for legal migrants
(opens the publisher’s site)The UK government has announced an overhaul of settlement rules, doubling the standard wait to 10 years while dropping a planned 15-year delay for low-paid workers.
- Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has announced changes, due in 2027, linking permanent settlement to migrants' tax contributions, English proficiency and character.
- The proposed 15-year wait for workers in occupations below graduate level has been dropped; care workers earning over £25,000 who arrived before May 2025 can settle after five years.
- Workers earning over £125,000 can settle after three years, while those earning over £50,271 and skilled public service staff qualify after five years.
- Migrants who entered illegally, including small boat arrivals reliant on public funds, could wait up to 30 years before qualifying for settlement.
- The Conservatives accused Mahmood of an 'excruciating U-turn' and of ceding control of immigration policy to Rayner.
- Mahmood defended the changes as fair to newcomers and existing British workers amid record net migration.
- Labour figures including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner criticised the retrospective application of the reforms.