- Badenoch proposes 15-year wait for citizenship.
- ILR wait extends to 10 years, with 5 more for citizenship.
- Plan limits welfare access and promotes economic contribution.
Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, has unveiled a bold policy proposal that would require immigrants to wait at least 15 years before being eligible for British citizenship.
The plan, which marks her first major announcement as Tory leader, aims to tighten the UK’s immigration system by extending the process for gaining indefinite leave to remain (ILR) and citizenship.
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Under the current system, immigrants can apply for ILR after five years of living and working in the UK, with some visa holders qualifying even sooner. ILR grants the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely, and after 12 months, holders can apply for British citizenship.
However, the new proposal seeks to extend the ILR wait from five to ten years. After this, an additional five-year waiting period would be required before immigrants can apply for citizenship, effectively tripling the minimum timeline from six to 15 years.
Badenoch, as quoted by the BBC, emphasized that the right to citizenship and permanent residency should only be granted to those who have demonstrated a “real commitment” to the UK. “We need to make sure that people coming here have a real, meaningful connection to the UK,” she said. “No criminal records, they should be net contributors to the economy, not relying on benefits but people who care about our country and our communities.”
The Conservative Party is seeking to backdate these changes to 2021 through amendments to the upcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which is set for parliamentary debate next week.
Additionally, Badenoch’s plan proposes restrictions on welfare access for immigrants. While many migrants already face restrictions on claiming state benefits, Badenoch argues that the current system has created a “conveyor belt” to citizenship, allowing too many people to settle too quickly and putting pressure on public services.
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Despite her strong stance, Badenoch did not specify how much the new policy would reduce overall migration numbers.
Nonetheless, the proposal represents a significant shift in the UK’s immigration policy, focusing on long-term integration and economic contribution rather than immediate residency rights.
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