On the 20th, the UK government announced the launch of the largest reform of its immigration system in nearly half a century, significantly adjusting the length of residency required for different groups to settle in the UK, and strengthening penalties for abuses of the immigration system.
According to China News Service, the UK government stated that this reform covers about 2 million people who have entered the UK since 2021. Those who have already obtained settled status will not be affected, but those who have not will be subject to the new “contribution-based settlement model.”
According to the UK government, the baseline residency requirement for settlement will be doubled from the previous 5 years to 10 years, with the specific period differentiated according to the immigrant’s level of contribution. Immigrants who rely on welfare benefits will have to wait 20 years before they can apply for settlement—the longest period in Europe; for illegal immigrants and those who overstay their visas, the settlement waiting period will be extended to 30 years.
The UK government stated that groups with high contributions will be eligible for accelerated settlement channels. NHS (National Health Service) medical personnel can settle after 5 years; those with high incomes and holders of global talent visas can settle after 3 years, which is 7 years shorter than the baseline period.
This reform also marks the first clear imposition of penalties for abuses of the immigration system, and raises multiple preconditions for settlement: immigrants must have no criminal record, be employed, possess a high level of English proficiency, and not claim welfare benefits.