UK New PM tightens citizenship rules: Changed 5 years Residency to 10-years
Los Angeles/May 12, 2025
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh
Keir Rodney Starmer also known as ‘Keir Starmer’ (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and barrister. Keir Starmer - Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (Since 2024).
UK Citizenship rule changes from 5 year permanent Residency to 10 year permanent residency. The government plans to extend the standard qualifying period for settlement from 5 to 10 years,
Common Previous Routes to UK Settlement or Citizenship:
- Marriage to a UK Citizen:
Many immigrants married UK nationals as a pathway to settlement and eventual citizenship, sometimes with minimal scrutiny of the genuine nature of the relationship.
- Family Reunion Visas:
Immigrants often brought spouses or close family members under family reunion schemes, which offered relatively easier access to settlement.
- Student or Work Visas Turned Permanent:
Some entered the UK on student or work visas and later switched to settlement routes, often after a short qualifying period.
- Shorter Settlement Timeframes:
The older system allowed settlement after just 5 years in many cases, with limited requirements for long-term contribution or integration.
- Minimal Points-Based Evaluation:
Citizenship decisions were less tied to a person’s economic or social contribution, with fewer checks on language skills, employment, or public service.
New 10-Year Requirement for Permanent Residency Introduced:
Skilled must mean skilled
Lifting the level for skilled workers back to RQF 6 (Graduate level) and above. Salary thresholds will rise.
Foreign national offenders (FNOs)
Reform the deportation system to ensure the Home Office is informed of all foreign nationals convicted of offences – not just those who go to prison.
English language
Introduce new English language requirements across a broader range of immigration routes, for both main applicants and their dependants, to ensure a better knowledge of English, including an assessment of improvements over time.
Growth
We will go further in ensuring that the very highly skilled have opportunities to come to the UK and access our targeted routes for the brightest and best global talent.
Family
We will tackle the over complex family and private life immigration arrangements, where too many cases are treated as ‘exceptional’ rather than having a clear framework.
The new reforms seek to close these gaps by introducing stricter, merit-based criteria and a longer pathway to settlement and citizenship. The new policies aim to shift the focus toward earned status, emphasizing commitment, contribution, and time spent actively supporting the UK.
News Source: Gov UK
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