British citizenship applications hit record high with 312,000 applying in year to March before Labour launches crackdown by doubling settlement waiting time
Immigrants are scrambling to obtain British citizenship in record numbers amid fears that Labour’s looming immigration crackdown could make it much harder to settle in the UK permanently.
By March, more than 312,000 refugees, foreign workers and dependents had applied to become British citizens; This is the highest figure ever recorded and almost double the level seen eight years ago, according to new Home Office data.
At the same time, a further 331,000 people have applied for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) (the route that allows immigrants to stay permanently before applying for citizenship) in the past two years; This marked another record and a 28 percent increase over the previous two-year period.
The rise comes as Labor prepares to overhaul the immigration system by extending the time immigrants must spend in Britain before they can settle permanently.
Under the proposal put forward by Shabana Mahmood, immigrants would have to wait 10 years instead of five to qualify for ILR, unless they are high earners or employed in public services.
Current plans also call for tougher rules to be applied to workers already living in Britain.
Experts believe that the prospect of stricter rules has fueled a rush among immigrants to obtain citizenship while the current system continues.
Dr. from Oxford University Migration Observatory. Nuni Jorgensen said the increase exceeded expectations and was seen not only among non-EU citizens but also among Americans and Europeans already living in Britain.
Under the proposal put forward by Shabana Mahmood, immigrants would have to wait 10 years instead of five to qualify for ILR
‘One potential reason is the intense publicity around Government and opposition plans to restrict permanent status and citizenship,’ he said.
“In this context, some people may think that it is better to apply for citizenship now rather than risk more difficult conditions later,” Dr Jorgensen added.
Under current rules, immigrants can apply for British citizenship after living legally in the UK for five years, provided they have not spent more than 450 days outside the country during that time.
Applicants must also pass the Life in the UK test, prove they can speak English to GCSE level and show they are of ‘good character’.
Labor is also considering restricting access to benefits so that immigrants only qualify when they become British citizens, rather than immediately after receiving indefinite leave to remain, as is currently the case.
The Conservatives have proposed even tougher measures, including forcing immigrants granted ILR to wait five years instead of the current 12 months before becoming citizens.
The party also wants to permanently prevent anyone entering the UK illegally from obtaining ILR or citizenship.
Reform UK has gone further, proposing to abolish ILR altogether for most immigrants and replace it with renewable five-year visas with tighter pay conditions, stricter English tests and no access to benefits.
According to the plans, only British citizens will be eligible for benefits and newcomers will be banned from having dual citizenship.
Figures underline the lasting impact of the post-pandemic immigration boom under Boris Johnson’s government; A growing number of foreign nationals are now reaching the point where they are eligible to settle permanently in Britain.
Record numbers of immigrants apply for British citizenship under Labor ahead of crackdown and looming threat of Reform government
Ministry of Internal Affairs data show that citizenship applications increased by almost 20 percent in just one year, from 263,440 to 312,063.
Indian citizens formed the largest group of applicants with 31,298 applications (about one tenth of the total applications). Pakistanis were the second largest group with 23 thousand 423 applications, followed by Nigerians with 15 thousand 747 applications, Italians with 15 thousand 130 applications and Poles with 10 thousand 371 applications.
Dr Jorgensen said many EU citizens who had been living in Britain for years without applying for citizenship were now moving quickly due to uncertainty about future immigration rules.
Labour’s plans have already sparked a fierce backlash within the party; There are reports suggesting that nearly 100 MPs are unhappy with proposals to retroactively apply stricter settlement rules to immigrants already in the country.
Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner reportedly described the plans as ‘un-British’ and a ‘breach of trust’.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp urged ministers not to weaken the proposals.
He said it was ‘shocking’ that the amendments were not included in the King’s Speech, adding: ‘I can only conclude that the Government are too afraid of left-wing reactionaries to implement their own plans.
‘Time is of the essence now and the rules need to be changed urgently. Only very highly skilled immigrants who make a real contribution should be able to stay in this country. Low-skilled immigrants will have to return home. ‘The Conservative Party will support these changes as long as they are not watered down.’
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The increase in citizenship applications reflects long-term migration trends; more people are now eligible after completing their settlement pathway.
‘The Home Secretary has drawn up plans for the biggest legal immigration reforms in a generation, tackling the challenges of unprecedented levels of immigration under the previous government.’
