The leader of the Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has proposed a significant policy change that would extend the time immigrants must spend in the UK before becoming eligible for citizenship to at least 15 years.
As part of her proposed immigration reforms, Badenoch also aims to increase the waiting period for migrants seeking Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) from five years to ten years—a key step toward British citizenship.
In her first major policy move as Conservative leader, she plans to bar migrants on work visas who claim benefits from obtaining indefinite settlement in the UK.
In a video posted on her X page on Thursday, Badenoch emphasized that British citizenship should be reserved for those who demonstrate a genuine commitment to the country. She argued that tightening immigration policies would strengthen immigrants’ connection to the UK.
Under the current system, immigrants can apply for ILR after living in the UK for at least five years, and they become eligible for British citizenship 12 months after securing ILR.
However, Badenoch’s proposal would extend this process significantly, requiring individuals to wait five years after obtaining ILR before applying for a British passport.
