British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has said that the residency period for permanent settlement in the UK will be increased from five to ten years.

The proposed new regulations are set to apply to nearly two million people who arrived in the UK after 2021.

In her statement to Parliament, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that individuals seeking permanent residency must have a clean criminal record, no outstanding debts, and must speak English at the A-level standard.

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She clarified that doctors and nurses serving in the NHS will only be eligible to apply for permanent residency after five years.

The Home Secretary further stated that highly skilled individuals under the fast-track scheme, high earners, and entrepreneurs can apply for permanent residency after three years, while illegal immigrants will have to wait three years to become eligible.

Shabana Mahmood emphasized that permanent settlement in the UK is an entitlement that must be earned, rather than an inherent right.