The Home Office has proposed new regulations that would allow those earning more than £125,000 ($163,000) to apply to settle permanently in the UK after three years, reports Bloomberg.
The UK legal migration system is undergoing its most significant reform in fifty years, aimed at rewarding individuals who contribute positively and adhere to regulations.
The Home Secretary has previously set out her preconditions for gaining settlement, including being in work, having a clean criminal record, speaking English to a high standard, and not claiming benefits.
Current Rules
Under the current system, settlement is typically granted with few conditions after 5 years in the UK, which allows access to public funds. This includes those who arrived on economic routes, including Skilled Worker visas, as well as family and humanitarian routes.
To earn citizenship, migrants first need to pass the Life in the UK test and pay additional fees.
Earlier this year, the government announced it would double the permanent settlement qualifying period for migrants to 10 years, with reductions for those making a strong contribution to British life.
The changes will apply to almost 2 million migrants who arrived in the UK from 2021, subject to consultation on transitional arrangements for borderline cases. It will not apply to those with existing settled status who have made their lives here.
New Timelines
Low-paid workers, such as the 616,000 people and their dependants who came on health and social care visas between 2022 and 2024, would be subject to a 15 year baseline. The route was closed earlier this year following widespread abuse.
Illegal migrants and visa overstayers would have to wait up to 30 years to settle, removing the prospect of long-term residence and security in the UK.
In contrast, doctors and nurses working in the NHS will be able to settle after 5 years. To support economic growth, the brightest and best of international talent could have settlement fast-tracked – with high earners and entrepreneurs able to stay after just three years.
Due to record-high levels of migration under the previous government, 1.6 million migrants are set to become eligible for settlement by 2030.
Transitional arrangements for those already in the UK will be set out following a consultation. However, the intention is that anyone yet to be granted settlement would be subject to the contribution-based model once the new rules are in force.
The modifications will expedite their path to residency status, and the same will be true for entrepreneurs. Those earning less than that but more than £50,000 would be required to wait five years under present standards.
Under the guidelines, anyone earning less than that will have their qualifying time for indefinite leave-to-remain doubled to ten years. The contents of the consultation will be announced later on Thursday.