British Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has unveiled a major overhaul of the UK’s immigration system, proposing a 15-year wait for British citizenship and stricter residency requirements.
In her first major policy announcement as party leader, Badenoch detailed plans to extend the waiting period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years. Additionally, she proposed barring individuals with criminal records, those dependent on social benefits, and social housing applicants from settling in the UK permanently.
Under the new policy, migrants would also need to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency, earning a high enough salary to support themselves and their families. Furthermore, the timeline for applying for a British passport would be extended from 12 months after ILR to five years, effectively making the citizenship process a minimum 15-year journey.
Badenoch also vowed to crack down on illegal immigration, stating that individuals who enter the UK unlawfully or overstay their visas would be permanently banned from obtaining legal status or citizenship.
Her announcement, made in a video shared on social media, underscores the Conservative Party’s push for tighter immigration controls ahead of the next general election.
