Britain is preparing to impose stricter conditions on migrants applying for permanent residency, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set to unveil new rules on Monday.
Under the plan, migrants seeking to settle in the UK will be required to hold a job, avoid claiming benefits, contribute to community service, and maintain a clean criminal record.
Currently, migrants are eligible for permanent residency after living legally in the UK for ten years under any visa type, or after five years if they have family ties in the country. Those granted residency gain the right to live, work, study, receive benefits, and eventually apply for British citizenship.
The Labour government’s new approach represents a major shift. In a statement released ahead of the Labour Party’s annual conference, Mahmood confirmed the rules would also demand stronger English-language skills and an active contribution to the UK’s social system. She is expected to present the changes at the conference, with a public consultation scheduled for later this year.
The announcement follows a pledge by the Reform Party, which is currently leading in opinion polls, to abolish the right to permanent residency entirely. Under Reform’s proposal, migrants would be forced to reapply for visas every five years. Labour officials said their plan strikes a balance by safeguarding workers’ rights while ensuring integration and responsibility.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer criticized Reform’s proposal as divisive and discriminatory, warning it would “tear the country apart.” He argued that Labour’s approach sets a clear distinction between a responsible immigration policy and what he described as extremist rhetoric from Reform leader Nigel Farage.
In her first speech as Home Secretary, Mahmood is expected to stress that addressing migration fairly and firmly is vital to maintaining public trust. She will warn party members that failing to confront the issue risks pushing voters towards Reform’s hardline promises.
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