The United Kingdom (UK) has unveiled revised settlement rules that will extend the standard waiting period for permanent residence from five to 10 years for most migrants, while allowing top earners and some workers to qualify sooner.
The new settlement model was set out before parliament on
Monday, according to a Home Office statement.
Under the new rules, the right to live permanently in the UK
will no longer be granted to migrants almost automatically after five years.
Most migrants will now have to wait 10 years, while those
who breach immigration rules will face a maximum waiting period of 20 years.
Refugees who arrive on Home Office-approved routes will be
eligible for settlement after five years. Others will have to wait 20 years, a
period that can be reduced to 10 years for those work or study.
The highest earners will, however, be able to settle within
three years. Some workers, including those earning more than £50,271 and
certain public service workers such as doctors, nurses and teachers, will
qualify after five years.
“Those earning more than £50,271 and some public service
workers – like doctors, nurses and teachers – will be able to settle after 5
years. Others will settle at a new default of 10 years. Those who have breached
immigration rules will only be able to settle after at least 20 years,” the
statement reads.
A set of mandatory requirements will also apply to anyone
seeking settlement, regardless of when they arrived in the country.
Applicants will need to meet four conditions of a spotless
criminal record (up from the current threshold of a 12-month suspended
sentence), English spoken to a high standard (equivalent to A-Level English as
a foreign language), no debt owed to the taxpayer, and a record of sustained
national insurance contributions.
“People want to see an immigration system based on control,
contribution, and which rewards those who play by the rules,” British Prime
Minister Andy Burnham said.
“These proposals are based on that principle and recognise
the contribution made by overseas workers to our country.”
The new rules also impose an additional 10-year waiting
period on migrants who arrive by small boats, or other clandestine means –
meaning they could wait up to 30 years for settlement.
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