An IMGW News Report
In a sweeping recalibration of Britain’s immigration system, the Labour government is set to impose a ten-year residency requirement before migrants can apply for permanent settlement – replacing the current five-year route – unless they demonstrate a “real and lasting contribution” to the UK economy and society.
“the measures will trim net migration by at least 50,000 annually”
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to unveil the changes in a white paper on Monday, part of a broader strategy to curb inward migration and counter the electoral advance of Reform UK, which surged in recent local elections.
“The government will also raise English language requirements across all visa categories”
The overhaul includes the controversial closure of the care worker visa route—despite persistent staff shortages in adult social care – and a sharp tightening of skilled worker eligibility. Only graduate-level roles will qualify for visas, with temporary provisions for low-skilled jobs restricted to acute shortages and contingent on domestic recruitment plans.
Cooper claims the measures will trim net migration by at least 50,000 annually, though she avoided committing to a specific target. Net migration stood at 728,000 in the year to mid-2024, but the Office for Budget Responsibility expects it to fall sharply following successive visa restrictions.
The government will also raise English language requirements across all visa categories and promote a model of migration grounded in integration and economic value. Starmer has signalled that a fast-track to settlement will remain for select high-skilled roles—doctors, engineers, and AI experts among them.
“Whether it will pay off at the polls remains an open question”
Critics argue the longer route to settlement risks creating a precarious class of migrants paying substantial visa and NHS fees while struggling to establish secure careers or integration. Employers in the care sector warn that cutting off overseas recruitment will exacerbate existing shortages, with over 130,000 vacancies recorded in 2023-24.
Meanwhile, opposition comes from both sides. Reform UK’s Richard Tice calls the measures insufficient, while think tanks warn they will do little to reduce migration but will instead encourage irregularity and exploitation.
The government’s gamble lies in balancing public anger over immigration with the economic costs of shutting out the very workers many sectors depend on. Whether it will pay off at the polls remains an open question.
