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Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled plans to overhaul immigration rules.
Proposals to amend the requirements to qualify for permanent residence in the UK were first detailed in November 2025, when she was home secretary in the government of Sir Keir Starmer.
Following the completion of public consultations, Mamenting has now announced its final decision on which reforms will be implemented.
What are permanent residence and indefinite residence permits?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also known as permanent residence (settlement), gives the holder the right to live, work and study in the UK indefinitely.
Under the current system, people with ILR can also claim benefits if they are eligible.
People who have lived in the UK for 12 months after being approved for ILR can apply for British citizenship if they meet other requirements.
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How will the new regulations affect immigration to the UK?
According to the London government's plan, the standard period of residence required for immigrants to obtain permanent residence in the UK will be doubled from five years to 10 years.
Under this 10-year pathway, applicants must have an annual income of at least £12,571 (US$16,869; RMB 112,453; NT$553,251) for five years in the immediately preceding seven years before being granted permanent residence.
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However, the qualifying period will be shortened to five years for some groups, including:
People earning more than £125,141 a year, as well as "highly skilled" immigrants holding Global Talent or Innovator Founder visas, will be eligible after three years.
Immigrants who have applied for certain benefits or violated immigration regulations must live in the country for at least 20 years before they can obtain permanent residence status.
To qualify for permanent residence, immigrants must also meet other conditions, including:
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What are the rules for refugees?
The rules for refugees will be different. Refugees are people who have been granted asylum in the UK and are unable to return to their country of origin due to fear of persecution.
Refugees arriving in the UK through official government schemes can obtain permanent residence after five years of residence.
However, other refugees have to wait 10 years and need to work or go to school.
Refugees without jobs or education must wait 20 years.
Refugees arriving in the UK by boat or other illegal means must wait 20 years if they are working or studying; if they are not working or studying, they must wait 30 years.
Will immigrants already in the UK be affected?
The changes will apply to immigrants already in the UK, but will not affect those who have already obtained permanent leave to remain.
What about the accompanying family members?
Partners who arrive in the UK with a subsequent applicant for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) can obtain permanent leave to remain at the same time, provided they meet the relevant requirements.
However, partners who come to the UK to reunite with them later must complete the same qualifying period of residence before they are eligible to apply for permanent residence.
Qualifying partners can combine their incomes to meet the minimum income requirement.
The household income threshold will be £25,142 (US$33,728; RMB 224,905; NT$1,106,501), or twice the individual minimum income requirement.
Children under the age of 18 will continue to be able to obtain permanent residence status with their parents.
They will be exempted from income requirements, government debt requirements, English proficiency requirements and the Life in the UK Test requirement, but will still have to meet relevant suitability and criminal record requirements.
Young adults aged 18 to 24 who still depend on their families will continue to be able to obtain permanent residence status with their families.
They must meet all mandatory requirements for adults, but are not required to meet personal income requirements.
When his or her family qualifies for permanent residence, the applicant must independently qualify if he or she is 25 years old or older.
The partners, parents and children of eligible British citizens can still obtain permanent residence after five years.
This article was originally written in English. We used artificial intelligence to assist in translation and was reviewed by BBC journalists before publication. Learn more about how we use artificial intelligence.
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