Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has dropped a bombshell immigration shake-up. She wants to double the time migrants must wait for permanent settlement in the UK from five to 10 years — and even stretch it to 20 years for those who claim benefits. The sweeping changes affect around 1.6 million migrants arriving since 2021, including vital NHS and care workers.
“Settlement Is a Privilege, Not a Right”
The 44-year-old Labour MP for Birmingham Ladywood slammed the current system as too lenient. Speaking in the Commons, Mahmood said:
“To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege, and it must be earned. Today, that is not the case. Settlement or indefinite leave to remain comes almost automatically after five years. Contribution to this country is a condition of living here.”
The new “Restoring Order and Control” white paper, unveiled on November 17, 2025, backs this philosophy by scrapping automatic settlement after five years and introducing a points-based system.
NHS Staff Face Lengthy Waits and Tougher Tests
Health and social care workers—like nurses from India and the Philippines—will face a 15-year wait to settle. The government says this reflects concerns about NHS dependency on overseas staff.
- Standard migrants will now wait 10 years for settlement.
- Claiming benefits triggers harsher penalties: less than 12 months claims delay settlement to 15 years.
- Claims over 12 months push the wait to a staggering 20 years.
The aim is clear: migrants must work, pay taxes, and contribute before earning permanent status, not rely on welfare.
Refugee Status Overhaul and Benefit Cuts
The white paper also calls for refugee status to become temporary. Refugees will need to renew their status every 30 months, and may lose it if their home countries become safe to return to, mirroring Denmark’s controversial approach.
Refugee Council chief executive Enver Solomon blasted the plans on BBC Breakfast:
“Instead of deterring migrants, the 20-year path to citizenship would leave people in limbo and experiencing intense anxiety for many, many years. We need a system that is controlled and is fair.”
Other proposed cuts include scrapping legal duties to provide housing and £47 weekly asylum allowances, tackling the £6 million daily asylum housing bills and £3 billion spent on hotel stays.
Political Fallout and Industry Warnings
Mahmood claims the reforms will restore public “consent” for immigration amid growing votes for Reform UK, which leads polls on migration concerns. The party blasted the proposals as “copycat” policies stolen from their manifestos, demanding even tougher measures.
Business groups back the controlled approach to protect skilled worker routes vital for growth, but warn about harming sectors like healthcare and hospitality with long qualifying times.
Over 50 Labour MPs have expressed fears the new rules’ retrospective impact will penalise migrants who relied on the current five-year path to settlement, possibly threatening Labour’s majority in Parliament.
What’s Next?
The government launches a public consultation on December 1, 2025, before drafting legislation in 2026. Backlash and amendments are expected as charities, businesses, and migrant communities weigh in. Meanwhile, small boat arrivals hit 10,289 this year—even as ministers vow to “smash the gangs.”
The reforms promise a tough, points-based Britain where settlement is earned—not given—and immigration controls take centre stage alongside economic needs and social cohesion.
