London, 15 May 2025 — Roughly 1.5 million foreign workers who have arrived in the UK since 2020 could face a significant delay in gaining permanent settlement rights, as the Labour government proposes tightening immigration rules in a move likely to impact a wide swath of migrant workers, students, and professionals.
Under measures outlined in the recently published immigration white paper, migrants will no longer be automatically eligible for permanent settlement or citizenship after five years of residency. Instead, they may be required to live in the UK for 10 years before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), a policy shift aimed at enforcing “control, selection and fairness” in the immigration system, according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is expected to consult stakeholders on whether the change will apply retroactively to those who have arrived in the UK since 2020. If implemented, it could mean that foreign workers who had been expecting to qualify for ILR as early as this year may now have to wait until 2030.
Labour’s stance marks a tougher approach than that of the previous Conservative government, which had proposed applying similar changes only to arrivals from 2021 onwards.
The proposed shift has sparked anxiety and frustration among migrant communities. Florence Eshalomi, Labour MP for Vauxhall, raised the issue in Parliament, citing constituents who fear their future in the UK is now uncertain. “One even told me that they were considering leaving the UK because their settled status here is in jeopardy,” she said.
The white paper also includes controversial rhetoric from Starmer, who claimed that the recent scale of migration had caused “incalculable” damage and warned the UK risked becoming “an island of strangers.” These comments drew criticism from fellow Labour MPs and opposition parties. Liz Saville Roberts of Plaid Cymru accused the prime minister of “demonising migrants,” though Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood defended the language as part of Labour’s broader vision to create “a nation of neighbours.”
In a related development, universities have expressed alarm over proposed financial measures in the white paper, including a 6% levy on income from international students and a potential cut to the graduate post-study work visa from two years to 18 months. University leaders warned that these policies could deepen the sector’s financial crisis and deter overseas students from choosing the UK.
“The details of the policy matter less than how it’s perceived in the 150 countries we recruit our students from,” said Shitij Kapur, vice-chancellor of King’s College London. “Are we still seen as a welcoming jurisdiction?”
On Thursday, Prime Minister Starmer is expected to visit Albania in an effort to build on cooperation to curb illegal migration. Albania has seen a 95% drop in small boat arrivals to the UK over the past three years, due in part to accelerated deportation processes. The visit will include high-level talks in Tirana and a tour of the port of Durres, as Labour shifts focus to tackling people smuggling and strengthening asylum enforcement.
As Labour’s immigration overhaul begins to take shape, the government faces mounting pressure to balance public concerns about migration with the economic and social contributions made by newcomers — many of whom now find their future in the UK increasingly uncertain.
Written by: LIIE IMMIGRATION
