28/12/2025
Secretary Shabana Mahmood said
Migration will always be a vital part of Britain’s story. But the scale of arrivals in recent years has been unprecedented.
To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege. And it must be earned.
I am replacing a broken immigration system with one that prioritises contribution, integration and respect for the British sense of fair play.
Other key proposals include:
Criminality:
the Home Secretary has made clear migrants should have a clean criminal record if they wish to settle – work will take place to consider the precise threshold at which this is applied, building on rules announced earlier this year to reduce the deportation threshold
Reductions for contribution:
immediate family members of UK citizens, and Hong Kong BN(O)s will retain their existing 5 year pathway to settlement
5 year pathway for skilled frontline public service workers
migrants on Global Talent or Innovator Founder visas for at least three years could only have to wait three years for settlement, a 7 year reduction on the 10 year baseline
migrants making national insurance contributions will receive settlement after 10 years, but higher and additional rate taxpayers will benefit from reduced periods in recognition of their contribution
migrants could also receive a discount for integration – this includes speaking English to a high standard and volunteering
The Home Secretary has previously set out her preconditions for gaining settlement, including being in work, having a clean criminal record, speaking English to a high standard and not claiming benefits.
Under the current system, settlement is typically granted with few conditions after 5 years in the UK, which allows access to public funds. This includes those who arrived on economic routes, including Skilled Worker visas, as well as family and humanitarian routes.
Citizenship can be granted a year later but bestows few additional benefits. Restricting benefits to British citizens only would mean even those granted settlement after meeting the tougher conditions would not automatically be entitled to public funds.
To earn citizenship, migrants first need to pass the Life in the UK test and pay additional fees.
As announced earlier this week in the asylum reforms, recognised refugees who came to the UK legally will now be subject to a 20 year period.
Refugees will still retain their eligibility for public funds, subject to the stricter conditions set out in the asylum statement on Monday.
The Earned Settlement model was unveiled as part of the government’s Immigration White Paper to restore order and control to the immigration system. It will be based upon four core pillars: character, integration, contribution and residence.
