Britain will link permanent residency to earnings and contributions, while retaining shorter routes for qualifying care workers and public service staff.
New UK settlement rules will double the standard permanent residency waiting period from five to 10 years. The changes could affect thousands of Kenyans living and working in Britain.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the Earned Settlement model on November 2. It links eligibility to migrants’ earnings, conduct and contribution to the country.
Most foreign workers earning less than £50,271 (Ksh8.76 million) annually will face the longer wait. They can then apply for indefinite leave to remain, which allows permanent residence and employment in Britain.
UK settlement rules retain shorter routes for some workers
However, workers earning more than £50,271 annually will retain a five-year route to settlement. Those earning above £125,000 (Ksh21.78 million) will qualify to apply after three years.
Care workers will also keep a five-year route if they meet their visa conditions. They must earn at least £25,000 (Ksh4.36 million) annually, offering relief to qualifying Kenyans in social care.
Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, teachers and other qualifying public service workers will retain a five-year settlement route.
The government will also offer another five-year care visa to workers who failed to meet existing visa conditions. This will allow them to find employment with legitimate providers before seeking settlement.
Mahmood told Parliament that migrants should earn settlement rather than receive it automatically. She said the system would reward those who contribute most to Britain.
Existing migrants face new eligibility requirements
The UK government said it would apply the framework when deciding settlement applications, regardless of arrival dates. However, specific transitional protections will cover certain existing visa holders.
The changes could therefore affect Kenyans who arrived through skilled employment expecting to qualify after five years. Figures published in August 2026 put the Kenyan population in Britain at at least 144,000. Britain ranks second only to the United States among destinations for Kenyans abroad.
Applicants must also show a clean criminal record and English proficiency equivalent to A-level English. In addition, they must have no outstanding British government debt and demonstrate sustained National Insurance contributions.
Refugees arriving through approved safe and legal routes will qualify after five years. Others face 20 years, although work or study could reduce that period to 10 years.
Meanwhile, people entering illegally, including through small-boat crossings of the English Channel, could face a 30-year wait. The government says these changes aim to discourage irregular migration.
