The British government extends to 10 years the period required for most foreigners to obtain permanent residency

The British government on Monday confirmed stricter rules for obtaining permanent residence for foreign nationals with legal status. Starting next year, most applicants will have to demonstrate 10 years of residence in the United Kingdom, compared with five years currently. The reform will also apply to people already living in the country and is part of Labour’s measures to curb immigration, amid pressure from the anti-immigration Reform UK party.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood also announced some exceptions to the initial proposal. People with annual incomes above £125,141 will be able to apply for residence after three years, while those earning more than £50,271, doctors, nurses, teachers and certain care workers will remain eligible after five years. The same period will apply to refugees who arrived through legal and safe routes, including Ukrainians.

For people who have received welfare benefits, the period may extend to 20 years, while for some refugees who crossed the English Channel illegally and have neither worked nor studied, it may reach 30 years. Applicants will have to have a clean criminal record, sufficient knowledge of English and no debts to the state. The government estimates that approximately 500,000 people will be affected by the longer waiting period.