# What are the planned changes to immigration rules?

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/what-are-the-planned-changes-to-immigration-rules/
- Published: 2026-11-03T12:56:34+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T23:06:27+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Politics (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c6ly052pdx4no?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Politics, UK, World

## Key points

- Standard settlement wait rises from five to 10 years.
- Some workers and high earners can qualify sooner.
- Refugee routes range from five to 30 years.

## Summary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has confirmed plans to make settlement in the UK harder to obtain, arguing that migrants should earn the right to stay permanently through their contribution. The standard qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain will rise from five to 10 years, and the changes will apply to migrants already in the UK who have not yet been granted settlement.

Some groups will qualify sooner: certain higher earners, eligible care workers and public service workers can use a five-year route, while some highly paid or highly skilled migrants can qualify after three years. Applicants will generally need to meet earnings and other conditions; people who have claimed certain benefits or broken immigration rules may face at least 20 years, and adults with criminal records will be refused settlement. Refugees will have separate routes, ranging from five years for those arriving through official schemes to 30 years for some who arrived by illegal routes and do not work or study.

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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.