UK to double wait for permanent residency, with exemptions for care workers

Live updates

1. 4h ago

   UK doubles wait for permanent residency to 10 years

   The UK has revised its immigration rules, doubling the wait for permanent residency to 10 years for most foreign workers, with exemptions for care workers and higher earners who can qualify sooner. The changes, announced by Shabana Mahmood, aim to overhaul the settlement rules for legal migrants. Refugees who arrive on 'small boats' may have to wait up to 30 years. The new rules are part of a broader effort to reform the UK's immigration system.

   Why it matters

   The UK's immigration rules have been a subject of debate for months, with the government seeking to balance the need for skilled workers with concerns about the impact on public services. The changes to the permanent residency rules are part of a broader effort to reform the UK's immigration system. Labour has faced criticism for its handling of the issue, with some accusing the party of trying to have it both ways on immigration.

   What is confirmed

   • The UK has doubled the wait for permanent residency to 10 years for most foreign workers.
   • Care workers and higher earners will be exempt from the new 10-year wait for permanent residency.
   • Refugees who arrive on 'small boats' may have to wait up to 30 years for permanent residency.
   • The changes to the permanent residency rules were announced by Shabana Mahmood.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Those who arrive on a small boat will have to wait up to 30 years for permanent residency under Shabana Mahmood's watered-down plans.

   What to watch next

   • The implementation of the new immigration rules
   • The reaction of the public and opposition parties to the changes
   • The impact of the new rules on the UK's social care sector
   Sources used for this update (18)

   1. www.aljazeera.com — Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera
   2. cashwalklabs.io — GM will switch to Nasdaq from the NYSE on Nov. 17
   3. BBC — Shabana Mahmood to set out changes to settlement rules for legal migrants
   4. Reuters — UK to unveil migrant settlement overhaul after months of debate
   5. The Guardian — Shabana Mahmood softens immigration plans in face of cabinet backlash
   6. The Guardian — Half-witted at best, a people-pleaser at worst: step forward, Chris Philp | John Crace
   7. Euronews.com — British government sets out tougher rules for migrants looking to settle in the UK
   8. Al Jazeera — UK to double wait for permanent residency, with exemptions for care workers
   9. The Guardian — Tuesday briefing: Britain is moving the goalposts for its migrant workers
   10. New Statesman — Will the public back Labour’s new immigration rules?
   11. AP News — Britain says many migrants will have to wait longer to win the right to stay
   12. The Telegraph — Shabana Mahmood to curb foreign students’ right to settle
   confidence 85%