About 1.5 million foreign workers who arrived in the UK after 2020 may face a longer path to permanent residency. Proposed changes in a new immigration white paper could extend the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain and citizenship from five years to ten.
Potential Impact on Current Residents
The key question is whether these new rules will apply to those who have already moved to the UK since 2020 and are in the process of applying for settlement. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is reportedly consulting with various groups to determine if the changes will affect all migrants who have arrived in the past five years. If implemented, this means many foreign workers who would have been eligible for permanent settlement as early as this year could have their wait extended by an additional five years.
This uncertainty is causing significant concern among individuals. For instance, Labour MP Florence Eshalomi shared that constituents in her south London area are worried, with some even considering leaving the UK due to the potential jeopardy to their settled status. Interestingly, if these changes apply to post-2020 arrivals, it would make the current government’s policy even stricter than what the Conservatives had previously suggested, which was to apply the changes from 2021.
Political Reactions and Debates
The immigration white paper and the language used by Labour leader Keir Starmer to introduce it have drawn criticism from some Labour MPs and other political figures. Starmer’s remarks about recent migration causing “incalculable” damage and the UK risking becoming “an island of strangers” have been particularly contentious. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, even praised Starmer’s rhetoric, suggesting he was adopting their party’s stance.
However, Starmer defended his comments, stating his desire for a country where people “pull together” as “neighbours and communities,” and arguing that the previous government’s lack of control over migration jeopardized this. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of controlled migration for integration and a “nation of neighbours.”
Concerns from the Higher Education Sector
Beyond general immigration, the white paper’s proposals concerning international students are raising alarms within the higher education sector. University leaders and vice-chancellors warn that these changes could worsen the financial struggles already faced by many universities.
One specific concern is a proposed 6% levy on income from overseas students. Jo Johnson, a former Conservative universities minister, noted that few universities are in a financial position to absorb such a levy or pass it on through higher fees, potentially weakening the sector and making it less competitive globally.
Shitij Kapur, Vice-Chancellor of King’s College London (where over half of students are international), highlighted the crucial aspect of perception: “The precise details of the wording and policy change matters less than how it is perceived in the 150 countries we recruit our students from. Are we still seen as a welcoming jurisdiction?”
Additionally, the white paper proposes cutting the graduate post-study work visa from two years to 18 months. Steve West, Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol, warned that this, combined with the new levy and rising pension and national insurance costs, would further deplete university resources and likely lead to another drop in international student numbers, exacerbating the sector’s financial crisis.
Focus on Unofficial Migration
In a separate but related development, Starmer is scheduled to visit Albania to discuss efforts to combat people smuggling and address the issue of asylum seekers arriving in the UK via small boats from France. Albania has been a success story in reducing such arrivals, with a program speeding up the return of Albanian nationals leading to a 95% decrease in small boat arrivals from the country over three years. This will be the first official visit to Albania by a UK Prime Minister.
Source: The Guardian, 14th May 2025