I stumbled upon Kemi Badenoch’s latest immigration proposal, and well…here we are. If you missed it, let me break it down for you.
Badenoch, the new Conservative Party leader, just announced a major policy shift. One that would extend the timeline for immigrants to gain British citizenship from six years to fifteen.
Yep, fifteen years.
Under the current system, most migrants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years, then apply for citizenship after one more year. Badenoch now wants to triple that waiting period.
Here’s what she’s proposing:
- Immigrants will have to live in the UK for ten years before they can apply for ILR (up from five).
- After securing ILR, they must wait another five years before applying for British citizenship.
- Applicants must prove they have never claimed social housing, have no criminal record, and are a “net contributor” to the UK economy… otherwise, they may be barred from settlement.
To put it bluntly… The UK just became one of the hardest places in the Western world to gain citizenship.
Is Citizenship a Privilege or a Punishment?
According to Badenoch, citizenship is a privilege, not a right. And sure, that sounds like a strong statement… until you remember that she was born British just before birthright citizenship laws changed.
Talk about perfect timing.
Badenoch’s argument is that migrants need more time to “build a meaningful connection” to the UK. But let’s be real, who waits fifteen years in a country without building a connection?
If someone has spent ten years working, paying taxes, following the law, and still isn’t considered “connected” enough, what exactly makes them part of society?
And let’s not forget the price tag attached to this “privilege”:
💰 £2,885 per person for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
💰 £1,630 for British citizenship application
💰 £1,214 per child applying for citizenship
For a family of four, the combined costs of ILR and British citizenship applications can easily exceed £15,000. And that’s just in government fees alone.
Guess what? None of these fees are refundable. If an application is denied, that money is gone.
Now tell me… who is this system really benefiting?
Self-Inflicted Wound?
Here’s the thing; this policy might hurt the UK more than it helps.
- Skilled professionals- the doctors, engineers, and researchers the UK desperately needs might decide to take their talents elsewhere.
- Countries like Canada, Germany, Luxembourg, and Australia (at least for now) offer clearer, faster paths to citizenship, making them far more appealing to skilled migrants.
- The labour shortage, already an issue in healthcare, tech, and education; could get even worse if fewer people see the UK as a viable long-term home.
If the goal is to push away talent and reduce the UK’s appeal to foreign workers, then congrats! This might just do the trick.
So, Who Really Wins?
A 15-year wait for citizenship won’t stop immigration; it will just create a class of permanent outsiders, people who live, work, and pay taxes in the UK but never truly belong.
And if history has shown us anything, that kind of system doesn’t end well.
It is clear this is a political move. It’s about appeasing voters who feel overwhelmed by migration numbers, even though migration is actually fueling the economy.
It’s about looking “tough” rather than being smart.
And most of all?
It’s about turning people’s futures into a waiting game… Personally, one that might not be worth playing.
Because after fifteen years of uncertainty, high costs, and never quite feeling at home, many will ask themselves:
Is it even worth it?
