London, February 6, 2025 – UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has announced plans to overhaul the country’s immigration system, introducing stricter requirements for obtaining permanent residency and citizenship. The proposal aims to curb immigration and ensure that only those who “genuinely contribute” to the UK economy can settle permanently.
Under the proposed changes, the waiting period for foreign workers to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) would be doubled from five to ten years. Additionally, individuals would need to wait another five years after obtaining ILR before becoming eligible for British citizenship, effectively extending the minimum timeframe to 15 years before an immigrant can naturalize.
Badenoch also outlined new eligibility criteria, stating that applicants must have a clean criminal record and demonstrate they are net contributors to the economy. This means that their tax contributions must exceed the cost of public services and welfare benefits they or their dependents receive.
Tougher Stance on Illegal Immigration
As part of the policy overhaul, Badenoch proposed a lifetime ban on illegal immigrants and visa overstayers from obtaining UK citizenship or settled status. This restriction would apply to those who enter the country unlawfully, including most asylum seekers, unless they arrive through specific “safe and legal routes” such as programs for refugees from Afghanistan, Hong Kong, or Ukraine.
