{
  "id": 17341845,
  "title": "Mahmood expected to announce changes to rules around indefinite leave to remain",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/mahmood-expected-to-announce-changes-to-rules-around-indefinite-leave",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T05:16:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC News",
    "slug": "bbc-news",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm62yxxd992eo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil modifications to the regulations governing indefinite leave to remain in the UK. According to recent reports, the current five-year wait for permanent settlement could be extended to 10 years, with lower-paid migrants facing a more extended 15-year wait. However, it is believed that social care workers who are already residing in the country may be exempt from this lengthy waiting period. The government's consultation on these proposed reforms has garnered over 200,000 responses. The home secretary expressed concern over the number of individuals who would be eligible for permanent residency following a period of significant net migration under the previous administration. Mahmood's decision to alter the rules has faced opposition from within her own party, with some accusing her of bending to pressure from opposition MPs. Initially, it was proposed that most workers would need to reside and work in the UK for 10 years before becoming eligible for permanent settlement, although this period could be reduced based on their contribution to their communities or their income level. The Home Office will not disclose Mahmood's final decisions until they are presented to Parliament in the coming week.",
  "summary": "The home secretary has faced opposition from within the government over plans to impose new rules on migrant workers already in the UK.",
  "key_points": [
    "Shabana Mahmood to announce changes to indefinite leave to remain rules.",
    "Current five-year wait could be extended to 10 years for permanent settlement.",
    "Social care workers may be exempt from lengthy waiting period."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Extending the residency requirements for permanent settlement signals a shift toward stricter migration controls that penalizes lower-paid workers while attempting to protect essential social care staffing levels.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}