In a move that could significantly impact the UK’s immigration landscape, Conservative politician Kemi Badenoch has proposed a radical overhaul of the country’s citizenship rules. Under her plan, immigrants would be required to wait a staggering 15 years before becoming eligible for British citizenship. This contentious suggestion has sparked intense debate, with proponents arguing it would promote integration and opponents warning it could create a permanent underclass of second-tier citizens.

Kemi Badenoch has announced a significant policy shift, proposing that immigrants be required to wait at least 15 years before becoming eligible for British citizenship.

As part of her first major initiative as Tory leader, the plan aims to strengthen the immigration system by extending the waiting period for migrants to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to ten years.

She also revealed that individuals who claim benefits, access social housing, or have criminal records would be prohibited from settling permanently in the UK.

“The right to citizenship and permanent residency should only go to those who have demonstrated a real commitment to the UK,” Badenoch stated as quoted by the BBC.

Under the current system, most migrants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of working in the UK, with certain visa holders eligible after just two or three years.

ILR grants individuals the right to live, work, and study in the UK indefinitely, and after one year, they can apply for British citizenship.

The new Conservative proposal extends the ILR waiting period to ten years and introduces an additional five-year wait before migrants can apply for citizenship—effectively tripling the minimum timeframe from six to 15 years.

The party is advocating for these changes to be backdated to 2021, with plans to amend the upcoming Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill, which is set for parliamentary debate next week.

Badenoch’s plan also tightens access to welfare for immigrants.

While most migrants on work visas, asylum seekers, and those residing in the UK illegally are unable to claim state benefits due to the “no recourse to public funds” condition, some have had this restriction removed.

Badenoch argued that the current system has created a “conveyor belt” to citizenship, enabling too many people to settle in the UK too quickly, which in turn puts a strain on public services.

“We must ensure that those coming here have a genuine, meaningful connection to the UK—no criminal records, they should contribute positively to the economy, avoid relying on benefits, and be individuals who care about our country and communities,” she added.

However, she did not specify how much this policy would reduce migration numbers.