The UK has announced new rules that make it harder for immigrants to become permanent residents. On Monday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer introduced a policy that doubles the waiting time for permanent residency from 5 years to 10 years. This means only people who have lived in the UK for 10 years will be eligible to apply for permanent residency. This change is likely to affect many Indian nationals, as they are the largest group of professionals and students moving to the UK each year.

In 2023, Indians made up the largest group of immigrants to the UK, with around 250,000 people arriving mainly for work and education, according to the Office for National Statistics. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government wants to "take back control of our borders" and end the rise in inward migration, as reported by The Guardian. However, Starmer did not set a specific target for reducing migration but promised that the numbers would fall "significantly."

These tough new policies were announced despite a 10% overall decrease in net annual immigration to the UK. Around 85% of migrants were from outside the European Union.

Under the new rules, immigrants will have to live in the UK for 10 years before they can apply for permanent residency unless they can prove they have made "a real and lasting contribution to the economy and society," as reported by The Financial Times.

The UK government is planning to remove the current rule that allows people, including Indians, to get permanent residency after living in the country for five years. Now, under the new system, immigrants will need to stay in the UK for 10 years before applying for settlement, unless they can show they’ve made a strong contribution to the country’s economy and society.

According to The Financial Times, this is part of a bigger plan to reduce legal migration. It will also make it harder for employers to hire low-skilled workers from abroad.

What Keir Starmer said

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Monday that even tougher steps may be taken if needed. "Mark my words, we will," he said, responding to pressure from opposition parties like Reform UK and the Conservatives.

The new rules will also raise the salary limit for visa holders who want to bring family members and will increase the English language requirements for both visa holders and their dependants.Starmer argued that more migration does not always mean better growth. “Migration has quadrupled in the past four years, but the economy has not improved,” he said.

The changes come as Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, gains popularity in opinion polls and local elections. These new rules are expected to affect a large number of Indian nationals hoping to settle in the UK.a