Kemi Badenoch: Immigrants should only be eligible for UK citizenship after 15 years

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, says immigrants should have lived in the UK for at least 15 years before being deemed eligible for a British passport. 

Badenoch announced the proposed immigration policy changes for the Tories in a video on her X account on Thursday.

BACKGROUND

Currently, an immigrant seeking British citizenship must obtain an Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which gives the individual the right to live and work in the country.

Before applying for ILR, a person only needs to have worked in the UK for five years. The duration can be lower for different types of visas.

The individual can then apply for British citizenship one year after getting ILR.

However, Badenoch proposed extending the duration before immigrants can apply for ILR from five to 10 years.

She added that the waiting period between obtaining UK citizenship after getting an ILR should also be increased from 12 months to five years.

The Conservative Party leader said migrants who claim social benefits or have criminal records would be barred from ever applying for UK citizenship.

‘BRITAIN IS NOT A HOTEL’

“Britain is our home, it’s not a hotel. It’s time to tell the truth on immigration and propose real plans,” she said.

“I want to reduce immigration and make living here actually mean something. I’m announcing that the Conservative Party is going to do the following things differently.

“If you want to stay in our country permanently and apply for indefinite leave to remain, the time you have to live here before you apply will increase from five years to 10 years.

“You have to be a net contributor with a high enough salary, especially if you want to bring family members with you. And if you’ve got a criminal record, you are banned.

“If you’ve claimed benefits or need social housing, you can’t even apply.

“We will increase the time before you can apply for a British passport from 12 months to five years. Meaning it will take a minimum of 15 years to start an application.

“If you enter this country illegally or outstay your visa, you will be banned from ever gaining leave to remain or a passport.”

HARDLINE IMMIGRATION STANCE

The Tories will debate whether the changes should be backdated to 2021, during the parliamentary debate on Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill next week.

In a chat with the BBC, Badenoch criticised the current immigration rules as a “conveyor belt” to citizenship “creating a strain on public services”.

“We need to make sure that people coming here have a real, meaningful connection to the UK, so no criminal records. They should be net contributors to the economy, not relying on benefits but people who care about our country and our communities,” she said.

Badenoch, born to Nigerian parents in the UK, became the leader of the UK’s opposition party in November 2024.

Her popularity is hinged on her hardline views on immigration.