Britain doubles the wait for permanent residency, with an exemption for care workers

Years before permanent residency

10 years

Most foreign workers in the United Kingdom will wait 10 years, not five, to qualify for indefinite leave to remain, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told Parliament on Monday. The rules take effect next year and apply to workers already in the country.

Over 50,000 pounds

5 years

Over 125,000 pounds

3 years

Eligibility is now tied to income: people earning more than 50,000 pounds a year can still apply after five years, and those earning more than 125,000 pounds after three.

Care workers can still settle after five years if they met their visa conditions and earn at least 25,000 pounds a year, a concession after opposition from unions and parts of the Labour Party.

Longest wait, for small-boat arrivals

30 years

Refugees outside the government's safe and legal routes face a standard wait of 20 years, cut to 10 for those who work or study, and people who arrived by small boat could wait up to 30 years.

World · 1 d ago

Britain doubles the wait for permanent residency, with an exemption for care workers

Eligibility is now tied to income: people earning more than 50,000 pounds a year can still apply after five years, and those earning more than 125,000 pounds after three.

Care workers can still settle after five years if they met their visa conditions and earn at least 25,000 pounds a year, a concession after opposition from unions and parts of the Labour Party.

Refugees outside the government's safe and legal routes face a standard wait of 20 years, cut to 10 for those who work or study, and people who arrived by small boat could wait up to 30 years.

Britain doubles the wait for permanent residency, with an exemption for care workers

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