Migrants securing permanent settlement in the UK reaches record high
The number of migrants winning the right to stay in Britain for good has soared to its highest level since 2011 amid a rush to beat tougher new rules, reports BritPanorama. Some 199,628 people secured permanent settlement in the year to June, marking a 24 per cent increase compared to the previous 12 months.
This substantial rise means that these individuals can live, work, and study in Britain without any limitation on their stay. Foreign workers constituted the largest group of those receiving settlements, with 80,409 people transitioning from work visas, reflecting a notable 36 per cent increase year-on-year.
There was also a significant rise in the number of Hong Kongers who migrated to Britain under the British National (Overseas) route. Additionally, over 245,520 individuals were granted British citizenship during the same year.
Although the recent figures reflect record highs, they show a slight reduction from the previous year’s numbers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing to tighten the requirements for permanent settlement, proposing to double the qualifying period from five to ten years, with some migrants potentially facing even longer waits.
Amid these proposed changes, Mahmood faces pressure from Labour backbenchers regarding how the new rules will impact migrants already on track to qualify in the coming years. A response to a lengthy consultation on the issue is expected in the autumn.
These developments are situated within a broader context of significant immigration levels during the early 2020s, when the UK saw notable increases in foreign workers. Despite the surge in permanent settlements, the Home Office reported that around 85,891 individuals claimed asylum in the year up to June, a decrease of 21 per cent from the previous year. However, the backlog for initial decisions has seen a 56 per cent reduction, dropping to around 40,000, and the number of asylum seekers housed in hotels has halved to approximately 16,000.
The burden of supporting asylum seekers remains uneven across the UK, with the North East and North West experiencing higher ratios of supported asylum seekers relative to their populations. Statistics indicate that there are 26 supported asylum seekers for every 10,000 people in the North East and 24 in the North West, compared to a national average of 13 per 10,000.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has committed to ensuring that the system is fairer so that poorer areas do not disproportionately shoulder this responsibility. Meanwhile, total Home Office asylum spending decreased by eight per cent to £4.36 billion in the financial year 2025/26. In response to the figures, Home Secretary Mahmood stated that the government is “restoring control at our border and fairness to the migration system.”
She added, “A little over two years into office and the asylum backlog is down, the number of asylum seekers in hotels is falling, illegal working arrests are at record levels, and deportations and returns are up markedly.” However, the Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, criticized the government’s approach, arguing that Labour’s policies have worsened the situation regarding illegal immigration and accommodation for asylum seekers.
These figures reflect the ongoing complexities surrounding immigration policies in the UK, as the government navigates public sentiment, economic realities, and legal frameworks.
The push for stricter immigration rules coincides with broader anxieties about the impacts of migration on communities and resources, while the response to asylum seekers continues to evoke significant political debate.
