UK Settlement (ILR) Becomes Battleground for All Political Parties in 2025

Labour Government Announce Shift Towards a 10-Year Qualifying Period for UK Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

The Labour government has announced a consultation on a new “contribution-based” settlement model. As part of the plans, the government proposed tougher tests on English, earnings, and civic conduct, and signalling a shift towards 10 years as the default qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) replacing the 5 year route to ILR for overseas workers in the UK.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that settlement would demand a “high standard of English” and evidence you’re “contributing to Britain”. She called the plans “firm but fair”. 

Who Will the Government’s ILR Changes Affect?

Early indications suggest that, though the consultation is incomplete, Family visas are expected to be exempt from the move to a 10 year qualifying period. Global Talent visa and Innovator Founder visa routes are also likely to remain unaffected by the change. Note that expected exemptions may change after the consultation.

It is expected that the 10 year qualifying period will also apply retrospectively to people already in the UK on Skilled Worker visas, so if you are eligible for settlement soon then that timeline could increase in the future. It is recommended to seek advice on your options.

Nigel Farage Plans to Abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain if Reform Gain Power

Nigel Farage has proposed to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain entirely. His plans would include backdating the reform to also apply to already settled migrants. Under the plans, settled migrants must reapply for renewable visas every five years. Additionally, the “renewable visas” would have tougher salary requirements (potentially around £60,000 a year), stricter rules on bringing dependents and tougher English tests. 

Other parties, while strengthening their own immigration positions in recent months, moved to condemn Farage’s plans to destabilise hundreds of thousands of legal residents already in the UK. 

Together with new policies established by the government, Reform’s plans have likely contributed to a significant increase in enquiries for British Citizenship. IAS experienced a nearly 60% increase in enquiries for British Citizenship in recent weeks. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer used his conference speech to draw a sharp line with Reform UK, branding Nigel Farage’s new pledge to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) “racist” and “immoral.”

What do the Conservative Party Propose as a Settlement Solution?

Kemi Badenoch and the Conservative Party may have fallen to third-wheel status at times as Farage vs Starmer dominates the headlines in a key battle running riot at Westminster. However, Badenoch has plotted her own set of plans from the Conservative leadership, which at first looked set to draw an almost exact line between Labour and Reform plans, but in recent times has moved further right. She said:

“Under my leadership, Conservatives will deport those who arrive here illegally.”

Badenoch has hammered Labour for scrapping the Rwanda plan and promised that a future Conservative government would bar settlement for those who claim benefits or have a criminal record. The Conservative Party drew up a draft bill that has met resistance from the Labour government, demanding answers on their plans. The plans could affect those already settled in the UK under ILR, who could face deportation if they claim benefits, commit a crime, or earn under £38,700 at any time while on ILR.

Some Conservatives want to end the UK’s association with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) if it feels the UK is prevented from setting their own visa laws. Badenoch is considering withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as she hopes to ban migrants from using the convention to battle deportation. 

Chris Philp, the Conservative Party Shadow Home Secretary said it was to stop “ever more expansive interpretations of the ECHR that defy common sense”.

Badenoch’s plans include pushing for longer waits before ILR, planning a 10 year settlement period. On paper, the plan to make the standard settlement period 10 years is the same as the Labour government’s plans, however, the Conservatives have also proposed a further 5 year wait for Citizenship after Indefinite Leave to Remain approval. They also propose tougher bars on lower-skilled migrants, which could see ILR become much more of a challenge. 

Have We Seen This Policy-Action Pattern Before?

The policy-action surrounding immigration follows recent protests of varying seriousness, as well as political comments from the likes of Nigel Farage and Donald Trump. Immigration has always been a point of difference and division in society. It seems though that the far right is pulling the left further to the centre – reflecting public opinion on immigration.

Where once a hard-line on immigration may have been met with calls of “racism” from the left, an immigration system that needs fixing seems to be more universally acknowledged. This time, it has taken a more radical position on UK settlement from Nigel Farage for Keir Starmer to call the plans “racist” and “immoral.”

Perhaps comments from Nigel Farage and Donald Trump have brought immigration further to the fore. Donald Trump said in September that Europe is “being invaded by a force of illegal aliens like nobody’s ever seen before”. Such comments might have at least played their part in the government’s recent policy-changes. That is, if a pattern is emerging. 

When Nigel Farage went viral on the small boat problem, the British government responded by banning citizenship for immigrants who arrived on small boats or illegally via dangerous means. It was one of multiple policies that showed Labour were prepared to push tougher policies over the line. Now those who arrive by boat or on the back of a lorry will only be given permission to stay in the UK temporarily, and their route to settlement and citizenship has been removed affecting hundreds of thousands of migrants.

The government responded to comments from Nigel Farage that “migrants have more rights than Brits” by only allowing refugees to bring dependents only if they met the same conditions (including a £29,000 salary requirement) as British citizens and settlers who brought family from overseas. A further policy update is forecast for 2026. 

That policy was forced through at breakneck speed in August, the same month as Farage’s comments. Although it may be a coincidence that the policies seem to follow news exposure and political comments, it is clear that sentiment on immigration (even from the Labor government) is shifting to the center or center-right.

What are the Changes the Labour Government Has Made to Settlement, and the Routes to UK Settlement. 

• On 10 February 2025, the government made changes to the “good character requirement” for British citizenship, effectively making it impossible, if not rare, for people who arrived illegally via dangerous means to apply for citizenship.
• On 22 July 2025, the Skilled Worker route moved up to RQF 6 (degree-level) for new immigrants, meaning you could not be offered a job below this level unless it was on the Immigration Salary List (soon to fully transition to the Temporary Shortage List (TSL) created for a limited set of medium-skill roles). If it is, you cannot bring dependents to the UK.
• Meeting the salary and role requirements under the Skilled Worker visa route is now more challenging for new applicants and those extending their permission, making the possibility of returning home and not reaching the 5-year continuous residence rule a more realistic prospect for many. The income requirement was again adjusted from £38,700 to £41,700, or the going rate for the job you do. 
• Overseas recruitment of social workers and care workers has closed, meaning healthcare providers would have to employ for those roles from those already in the UK. Overseas workers from these fields must apply under the Skilled Worker route with a Bachelor’s degree or above (RQF 6+)
• The EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) was eased, however (a rare concession as most rules have tightened) in July 2025, allowing many pre-settled residents from Brexit Britain to qualify for settled status with 30 months’ residence within 60 months. It also sought to roll out automation to upgrade eligible cases. 
• After months of legislative wrangling, Labour’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill is moving through Parliament to repeal the Rwanda Act and parts of the Illegal Migration Act – pivoting the focus to returns and enforcement at home rather than offshore processing.
• Contribution-based settlement (consultation announced 29 Sept 2025). Labour announced its policy to make 10 years the default path to settlement with potential acceleration via earnings/NI, English, volunteering/community contribution, no benefits, and no criminality. The government frames it as rewarding those who “put in”, and restoring public confidence.
• The UK government announced plans for a Digital ID Scheme intended to allow easier right to work and right to rent checks in the UK, as well as ensure immigrants are not accessing certain UK benefits.
• The government’s one-in, one-out agreement with France was introduced amid viral videos and data showing that the policy was not achieving its objective of reducing small boat arrivals. The policy is intended to deter small boat crossings. 

The Lib-Dems Meet in the Middle-Left on Immigration

The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, have attacked hard income thresholds for families which have risen in recent times to £29,000 from £18,600 earlier in 2024 calling the change “devastating”. They have also urged an end to the asylum backlog and warned ministers of the challenges social care faces after the government tightened their route to the UK by removing the visa social care and care worker visa route. Concerned about the affects the the British healthcare system, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Don’t leave our loved ones in the lurch”.

Meanwhile, Ed Davey has hardened rhetoric on Channel crossings, promising to “stop the boats” through competent processing and returns. The Liberal Democrats have opposed the collective punishment of settled or long-term residents.

The Settlement Process in the UK – What Does it Actually Look Like? And What Could Become of It?

Next we look at the settlement process in the UK and answer some of the key questions people are asking about an immigrant’s rights in the UK.

• How long does it take for an immigrant to gain settlement in the UK?
• What are the actual costs of settlement in the UK, and how could that change under various governments?
• Coming to the UK via illegal and dangerous means no longer leads to settlement – how will the policy affect immigration numbers?

What are the Types of Settlement in the UK?

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) 3 Year Route

If an immigrant comes to the UK on one of the following visas, they could be eligible to a settlement fast-track:

• Global Talent for “exceptional individuals” to come to the UK
• Innovator Founder for business owners coming to the UK with an innovative, viable and scalable business idea.

The idea of the 3 year route to settlement is to encourage a direct and important impact to the UK economy or way of life. The three-year route is only to those who can demonstrate that they have had a positive impact, such as creating 10 jobs or more. If not, they may only qualify for ILR after 5 years.

No change to this route has been discussed directly, so it is not clear if this timeline will be affected. However, it is clear that the Innovator Founder and Global Talent routes are becoming more popular with employers and employees since the ILR changes and Skilled Worker visa changes were effective. 

Family Visa Route to ILR After 5 Years

Family visas are for UK citizens or those with settled status to sponsor a close dependent from overseas (either a spouse or child). The Indefinite Leave to Remain qualification period is 5 years. 

The government’s latest policy so far seems to indicate that the Family visa (Appendix FM) route will be untouched by the changes and remain at 5 years, with the 10 year route to settlement applying to workers and their dependents instead. This also seems to be the plan for the Conservative Party under Kemi Badenoch, however it is unclear if there will be any distinction from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. 

Note that a Family visa is not the same as a Dependent visa which is the route that non-settled or non-British people would take to bring family to the UK. The Dependent visa route is expected to mirror that of the main applicant – and be under the 10 year route to settlement under Labour’s plans. 

Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) via Work Routes (Currently 5 Years)

Subject to route-specific rules, salary thresholds, and residence periods, Indefinite Leave to Remain can be applied for after 5 years continuous residence in the UK on worker routes that include:

• Skilled Worker
• Minister of Religion
• International Sportsperson
• Scale-up visa

It is precisely this route that is the subject of much change under all government and party proposals. Under the government’s proposals the usual 5 year route would become 10 years with the possibility of a reduced residency period for highly-positive contributions to the UK. 

The Conservative Party are presenting a similar vision for skilled workers, with the 10 year route also becoming part of their policy. However, citizenship would be pushed back to 15 years meaning workers moving to ILR will have to “maintain ILR” for longer. Maintaining ILR means demonstrating that the UK is your home and you do not have significant absences. When you come to apply for citizenship you must prove beyond reasonable doubt that you are of “good character” and you have not been absent from the UK for too long, which can cause your ILR to be revoked.

Long Residence (10-Year) Route

Under current UK immigration law, the 10 year long residence rule is for holders of various eligible UK visas that can be used in combination to demonstrate 10 years of lawful and continuous residence in the UK. 

It is unclear whether this rule will remain the same or if that pathway will also be extended under the new rules but under the government’s current plans, this route is expected to stay in effect as is. 

EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS)

Settled status for eligible EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and family members (distinct from ILR in law but similar in effect) is a scheme that was introduced with a post-Brexit cut-off date. The cut-off date has now passed, meaning that only Europeans with pre-settled status before the cut-off can settle in the UK under the EUSS. 

While ILR requires 5 or 10 years continuous residence, the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) requires that you must have spent 30 out of 60 months in the UK to qualify after pre-settled status.

The Cost of the Route to ILR and British Citizenship After Obtaining a Family Visa

The Cost of the Route to ILR and British Citizenship Over 15 years (or Less) After Obtaining a Skilled Worker Visa

*We cannot predict future fees for visas, settlement and citizenship therefore these figures are estimated from the scheduled (or current increase) that will be in effect if a change of government happens. It is likely we will see increases to fees which tend to happen fairly often. The last increase to citizenship and settlement fees came in 2025.

Rising Costs for Employers Hiring from Overseas

New schemes may not only deter Skilled Workers, but could deter employers in the UK, with rising costs. Below the table shows how much it costs to for businesses to hire overseas employees currently and under various party policies for 15 years or until ILR and citizenship – whichever comes first.

“Coming illegally no longer leads to settlement” — How Does that Affect Numbers?

The government’s ban on settlement and citizenship for anyone coming to the UK illegally by dangerous means has led to some outcry from human rights charities who are concerned that illegal immigrants are being punished for the few and not the majority. 

The few and not the majority debate has occupied a lot of public attention regarding (by some accounts) high criminality from foreigners in the UK, as well as the recent public spat regarding the English flag, something that Starmer made reference to in his latest speech as he wished to “reclaim the flag” from those who want to use it spread hate, division and fear.

It is expected that the government’s citizenship ban for illegal and dangerous entries to the UK could affect 71,000 migrants in the country. It is also expected that their plan to increase settlement timelines could affect up to 1.5 million workers who came to the UK after 2020.

Don’t Wait if you are Eligible for ILR

With so many changes, some of which are still uncertain, we advise that you apply for ILR as soon as you are eligible. This will give you time to apply for British Citizenship (safeguarding you against a change of government).

If you are unsure when you may be eligible or are at the beginning of your time in the UK, we can help provide clarity on your pathway to UK settlement amid new plans, policies and announcements. Whether you need to fast-track your application or get up-to-date advice on your circumstances, our team can support you every step of the way.

The experienced team at IAS are on hand to support and advise on compliance, as well as extensions, refusals, overstays and pathways to settlement.

Contact IAS today for personalised advice on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or use our live chat for immediate assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has the qualifying period already changed to 10 years for everyone?

No. The 5-year routes still exist. The government’s 10-year default is a proposal under consultation.

If my Skilled Worker visa predates 22 July 2025, do the new financial thresholds hit me now?

There are transitional protections. What you must meet at extension/ILR depends on your job code, dates and the new going-rate tables.

If my Skilled Worker visa predates the announcement on the 10 year ILR timeline, will I still be affected?

There is an ongoing consultation, but it is expected that the 10 year timeline to ILR will affect those already in the country on a worker visa too.

I have EUSS pre-settled status—do I still need 5 continuous years?

You may qualify with 30 months in the last 60; many will be auto-upgraded when data checks confirm eligibility.