BBC UK

Mahmood expected to announce changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain

Q: What is this europe story about?

The home secretary has faced opposition from within the government over plans to impose new rules on migrant workers already in the UK.

Q: Who published this story?

This story was published by BBC UK on October 31, 2026 and curated on Africa Front.

Q: What related topics does this story cover?

African Politics, African Technology

October 31, 2026

Share Report:

Mahmood expected to announce changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain

Published31 October 2026

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce her final decision on immigration rules for legal migrants next week.

She had proposed to extend the wait for permanent settlement from the current five years to 10 with some lower-paid migrants facing a 15-year wait. The BBC understands the proposals are likely to be revised for most of those currently working in social care.

The home secretary was concerned about the number of people who would be eligible for permanent residency after a period of very high net migration under the previous government.

Mahmood has faced opposition from within the government for proposing to impose new rules on migrant workers already in the UK.

Before she rejoined the cabinet, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described the proposals as "un-British" because they sought to change the rules for people who had come to the UK in good faith.

In particular, many lower-paid social care workers were facing a wait of up to 15 years rather than five.

But the BBC understands that social care workers already in the UK are now likely to be exempt from the longer wait.

But as originally proposed, it is likely most other workers will have to live and work in the UK for 10 years before being eligible for permanent settlement. That can be reduced if they contribute to their local communities or have higher incomes.

The government's consultation on the proposed reforms has drawn 200,000 responses.

The Home Office will not comment on Mahmood's final decisions until they are presented to Parliament in the coming week.

In September, a Conservative spokesperson said: "Shabana Mahmood has caved in to pressure from Angela Rayner and her open borders MPs and will shred her own plans to reform indefinite leave to remain."

"This is a slap in the face to British taxpayers who will have to subsidise low-skilled, low wage migrants."

Permanent residence, or indefinite leave to remain, gives a person the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as they like and apply for benefits if they are eligible.