UK doubles standard settlement wait for foreign workers

The UK government has announced that most foreign workers will need to wait 10 years to qualify for permanent settlement, doubling the standard qualifying period, with the rules due to take effect in 2027. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood set out the changes in Parliament on Monday, November 2. The plan retains shorter routes for some workers. Applicants earning more than £50,000 a year can qualify after five years, while those earning more than £125,000 can apply after three. Care workers can qualify after five years if they meet their visa conditions and earn at least £25,000 annually. Public-sector workers, including doctors, nurses and teachers, were also described as eligible for a five-year route. The settlement rules also set different timelines for refugees. Mahmood said people arriving through safe and legal routes can qualify after five years. Other refugees will generally face a 20-year wait, reduced to 10 years for those who work or study. People arriving by small boat could wait as long as 30 years. Applicants may also be disqualified if they have a criminal record, do not meet the required English standard, owe money to the government or have fewer than three years...