UK's New Immigration Policy: Extended Settlement Waiting Periods and How It Impacts Indian Migrants

Nov 21, 2025 02:29 pm CST

The United Kingdom is implementing its most significant immigration reform in nearly 50 years, extending waiting periods for permanent settlement to up to 20 years for some migrants. The new contribution-based system will prioritize high-skilled workers while creating longer pathways for others, particularly impacting the 250,000 Indian migrants who arrived in 2023. While NHS professionals may qualify after just 5 years, those dependent on benefits could wait four times longer than under current rules.