UK to Introduce Stricter Rules for Migrants Seeking to Stay

The UK government plans to tighten requirements for migrants wishing to settle permanently in the country, introducing rules that will require employment, a clean benefits record, and community service. The interior minister, Shabana Mahmood, is expected to unveil the proposals on Monday.

At present, migrants qualify for “indefinite leave to remain” (ILR)—permanent residence—under the following conditions:

Under the new proposals, migrants seeking to remain in the UK would be required to:

• Be employed and contribute to social security
• Not claim any benefits
• Maintain a clean criminal record
• Undertake community service or volunteering
• Demonstrate high proficiency in English

Mahmood will outline these plans at the annual Labour Party conference, with formal consultation on the changes expected later this year.

“I will be a tough minister,” Mahmood is expected to say, emphasising that migrants must integrate and contribute to the country.

The announcement comes amid pressure from the opposition hard-right Reform Party, which leads national polls and has proposed abolishing indefinite leave to remain altogether. Under Reform’s plan, migrants would need to reapply for visas every five years, affecting hundreds of thousands of existing residents.

Labour has criticised the proposal: “These measures draw a clear dividing line between the Labour government and Reform, whose recent announcement would force workers, who have been contributing to this country for decades, to leave their homes and families.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Reform’s plan “racist”, warning it would tear the country apart.

In addition to Mahmood, Finance Minister Rachel Reeves will address the conference, pledging to invest in Britain’s renewal and unveil new schemes to increase youth employment.

Mahmood will stress that failing to manage immigration effectively risks alienating working people, who may turn to the “false promises” of Reform leader Nigel Farage.

The new proposals signal a major policy shift from Labour, seeking to balance integration, contribution, and fairness while drawing a contrast with the more extreme measures proposed by the Reform Party.