UK Government Plans To Overhaul Immigration Policy

In a watershed moment for Britain’s immigration framework, the UK government today launched the Earned Settlement Model, marking the most dramatic restructuring of the legal migration system in nearly 50 years. The move follows a series of decisive steps taken this week to clamp down on illegal migration and restore what the Home Secretary calls “fairness, contribution, and respect for British values.”

The new approach promises to fundamentally reshape who can stay in the UK long term — and under what conditions — shifting emphasis toward those who actively contribute to the nation’s economy and society.

UK Government: A New Era in Legal Migration Policy

Earlier this year, ministers announced that the standard qualifying period for permanent settlement would double from five to ten years. Under the newly unveiled Earned Settlement Model, that baseline will still apply — but with significant variations based on an individual’s economic contribution, integration into British society, and compliance with the law.

The changes are expected to affect nearly two million migrants who arrived in the UK from 2021 onward, pending consultations on transitional arrangements for borderline cases. Importantly, those who already hold settled status will remain unaffected.

Sharper Distinctions Based on Contribution

One of the most dramatic shifts is the timeline variation across different migrant categories:

• NHS doctors and nurses will retain a fast-track route: settlement after five years.

• High earners, entrepreneurs, and top global talent may settle in as little as three years, recognising their immediate economic impact.

• Migrants who consistently pay higher or additional rate taxes will enjoy reduced settlement periods.

• Those who demonstrate strong integration — including high-level English proficiency and regular community volunteering — may also qualify for further reductions.

By contrast, lower-paid workers, including the 616,000 migrants and dependants who came via the health and social care visa route between 2022 and 2024, will face a 15-year baseline. This route was closed earlier this year after evidence of widespread misuse.

UK Government: Stricter Standards for Access to Benefits and Public Funds

In a landmark policy shift, the UK government is considering limiting access to public funds and social housing only to British citizens, rather than those with settled status. This would mark one of the toughest eligibility regimes in Europe.

Meanwhile:

• Migrants reliant on benefits could face a 20-year wait for settlement.

• Illegal migrants and visa overstayers could be required to wait up to 30 years, removing the prospect of long-term security for those who breach the system.

Under current rules, settlement — typically available after five years — provides access to benefits. The Earned Settlement Model rewrites the logic entirely: settlement is no longer a gateway to public support, but a milestone earned through character, contribution, and integration.

Criminality Threshold to Be Tightened

A clean criminal record will become a foundational requirement for settlement. The government plans to refine the exact threshold, building on earlier reforms that lowered the deportation bar. This places the UK among the strictest countries in Europe on character-based immigration criteria.

Special Provisions and Protected Pathways

While the system grows tougher overall, some groups will retain more favourable routes:

• Immediate family members of UK citizens

• Hong Kong BN(O) residents

• Skilled frontline public service workers

Each of these groups will continue on a five-year pathway to settlement, acknowledging long-standing social ties and service contributions.

Impact on Refugees and Humanitarian Migrants

As part of reforms announced earlier in the week, legally recognised refugees will now face a 20-year settlement timeline, although they will continue to have access to public funds under stricter conditions.

This shift reflects the government’s attempt to ensure consistency across all migration categories while still meeting international humanitarian standards.

UK Government: Record Migration Levels Spur Reform

With 1.6 million migrants projected to become settlement-eligible by 2030 — a consequence of record arrivals under the previous administration — ministers say the new approach is essential to restore control, public confidence, and fairness.

Transitional arrangements for those already living in the UK will be published after consultation, but the government intends for all pending settlement applicants to transition into the Earned Settlement structure once it becomes law.

Home Secretary: “To Settle Here Is a Privilege — It Must Be Earned.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood emphasised that the overhaul is rooted in core British values:

“Migration will always be a vital part of Britain’s story. But the scale of arrivals in recent years has been unprecedented.
To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege. And it must be earned.
I am replacing a broken immigration system with one that prioritises contribution, integration and respect for the British sense of fair play.”