# Britain says many migrants will have to wait longer to win the right to stay

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/britain-says-many-migrants-will-have-to-wait-longer-to-win-the-right-to-stay/
- Published: 2026-11-02T17:22:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-02T18:57:15+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-party-people-european-union-shabana-mahmood-care-workers-b3077800.html
- Topics: Government, Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Many work-visa holders will wait ten years for settlement.
- Higher earners and some public-sector workers qualify sooner.
- Net migration fell to 204,000 in the year to June 2025.

## Summary

The UK government plans to double the standard wait for many work-visa holders to gain permanent settlement, from five to ten years. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says the changes, due in 2027, will link settlement more closely to income and contribution, amid sustained political pressure over immigration.

Higher earners and some public-sector workers will qualify sooner: those earning at least £50,000, including doctors, nurses and teachers, after five years; people earning over £125,000 after three. Care workers can still qualify after five years if they earn at least £25,000. Refugees who did not arrive through a safe, legal route may have to wait up to 20 years, or 30 years after arriving by small boat. Net migration fell from 649,000 in the year to June 2024 to 204,000 in the year to June 2025.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.