United Kingdom announces merit-based reform for residency

The UK has announced a merit-based immigration reform that alters the requirements for permanent residency. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood stated that residency should be earned, not automatic. The waiting period for residency will now vary, potentially extending up to 30 years for illegal refugees. Migrants earning below £50,000 will see their residency application period double to ten years. However, those earning above £50,000 or in essential sectors can maintain the five-year wait. Criminal records, insufficient English proficiency, and unpaid debts will disqualify applicants. Legal refugees will wait five years, while illegal entrants face a 20-year ban, extendable to 30 years for small boat arrivals, though this can be halved with employment or education. Existing migrants under the EU Settlement Scheme are unaffected.