Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has unveiled a significant policy shift aimed at tightening immigration laws. She proposed that immigrants must wait at least 15 years before becoming eligible for British citizenship, a move designed to reduce overall immigration and ensure that settling in the UK carries greater significance.
In her first major policy announcement as Conservative leader, Badenoch outlined several changes to the immigration system. One of the key proposals is to extend the waiting period for migrants applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from the current five years to ten years. This means that immigrants will have to live and work in the UK for a decade before they can apply for ILR, which is a critical step toward citizenship.
Additionally, she announced that individuals who claim benefits, access social housing, or have criminal records would be permanently barred from settling in the UK. The new policies also include financial requirements, ensuring that migrants must be net contributors with sufficient income, especially if they wish to bring family members to the UK.
Badenoch further revealed plans to increase the time required to apply for a British passport after obtaining ILR. Currently, migrants can apply for citizenship 12 months after receiving ILR, but under the new proposal, they would need to wait five years. This effectively extends the overall citizenship process to a minimum of 15 years.
Furthermore, she warned that individuals who enter the UK illegally or overstay their visas would face a lifetime ban from obtaining leave to remain or British citizenship.
She shared these new policies in a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, emphasizing her commitment to reducing immigration and reforming the system.