Migrants seeking permanent residence in the United Kingdom will soon face tougher requirements under new plans from the government. The interior minister, Shabana Mahmood, is expected to announce that applicants must hold a job, avoid claiming benefits, make social security contributions, and take part in community service before being granted indefinite leave to remain.
At present, those who have lived in the UK legally for ten years, or those with family ties and five years of residence, qualify for permanent status, which allows access to work, study, benefits, and citizenship. The proposed reforms mark a significant shift, tightening conditions and introducing civic obligations such as volunteering and maintaining a clean criminal record.
The announcement will be made at the Labour Party’s annual conference and will undergo consultation later this year. It comes as the opposition Reform Party pushes for an end to indefinite leave to remain altogether.
