Migrants who want to settle permanently in the United Kingdom will soon face tougher conditions, including holding a job, avoiding benefits, and taking part in community work, under new plans set to be announced on Monday by Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood.
Currently, migrants can apply for “indefinite leave to remain” — permanent residence — after living legally in the UK for 10 years on any visa, or after five years if they have family in the country. Successful applicants gain the right to live, work, and study in the UK, access benefits, and apply for citizenship.
Under the proposed changes, applicants would need to prove they have made social security contributions, claimed no benefits, maintained a clean criminal record, and volunteered in their communities. Mahmood is expected to outline the policy during the ruling Labour Party’s annual conference, with a public consultation to follow later this year.
The move comes as the opposition Reform Party, which is currently ahead in national polls, has pledged to scrap “indefinite leave to remain” entirely and require migrants to reapply for visas every five years including those who have already obtained permanent residence.
“These measures draw a clear dividing line between the Labour government and Reform, whose recent announcement… would force workers, who have been contributing to this country for decades, to leave their homes and families,” Labour said in a statement.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday described Reform’s plan as “racist” and warned it would “tear the country apart.”
In her first address as interior minister, Mahmood will also say that migrants should reach a high standard of English and stress that she intends to be a “tough” minister.
Immigration remains a politically sensitive issue in the UK. Mahmood will warn party members that failing to address it risks pushing “working people” towards the “false promises” of Reform leader Nigel Farage.
Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is also scheduled to speak at the conference, where she will outline plans to boost youth employment and “invest in Britain’s renewal,” according to Labour.