Kemi Badenoch has unveiled a significant policy change, proposing that immigrants must wait at least 15 years before being eligible for British citizenship.
As part of her first major announcement as Tory leader, Badenoch outlined plans to extend the waiting period for migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years.
In a video shared on her X (formerly Twitter) account, Badenoch stated, “I want to reduce immigration and make living here actually mean something. We need to change the way our immigration system works. If you want to stay in our country permanently, the time you have to live here before applying will increase from five years to ten years. You will need to be a net contributor with a high salary, especially if you want to bring family members, and if you have a criminal record, you are banned.”
Under the new proposal, those seeking British citizenship would also face a five-year waiting period after securing ILR, making it a total of 15 years before they can start an application. Additionally, individuals who enter the UK illegally or overstay their visas would be permanently barred from obtaining leave to remain or a passport.
Currently, migrants can apply for ILR after five years of living and working in the UK, with some visa holders qualifying in as little as two or three years. ILR grants the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely, and after 12 months, holders can apply for British citizenship.
The new Conservative plan aims to increase the ILR period to ten years, with a five-year wait for citizenship applications, tripling the minimum time frame for becoming a British citizen from six to 15 years.
Badenoch’s proposal is set to be included in the upcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, expected to be debated in Parliament next week, with the plan potentially being backdated to 2021.
The policy also targets restrictions on welfare access for immigrants, ensuring that only those who are net contributors to the economy, with no criminal records, and not relying on public benefits, will be eligible for permanent settlement. Badenoch emphasized the need for immigrants to have a meaningful connection to the UK.
However, she did not provide specifics on how much this policy would reduce migration numbers.
