Reform UK has unveiled a controversial immigration policy that would scrap indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for migrants in the United Kingdom if the party wins the next general election.
The announcement, made by party leader Nigel Farage, has already stirred intense debate across Westminster and within migrant communities.
The proposed changes aim to overhaul the current migration system, replacing ILR with visas that require migrants to reapply every five years under stricter conditions.
Reform UK claims that the policy could save the UK economy up to £234 billion over several decades.
However, critics have called the figures “unrealistic” and warned that the plan could disrupt countless families who have already established lives in the UK.
What Reform UK’s Plan to Scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain Entails
Under the current system, migrants can apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, granting them the right to live, work, and study in the UK permanently.
ILR also serves as a pathway to British citizenship and allows migrants access to benefits such as Universal Credit.
Reform UK’s new plan would abolish ILR entirely, requiring all non-EU migrants to apply for visas every five years.
Applicants would need to meet stricter criteria, including higher salary thresholds and improved English language skills.
Speaking at a press conference, Nigel Farage stated, “It is not for us to provide welfare for people coming in from all over the world.”
The policy, he argued, is designed to protect British workers who have been “priced out of the market by endless cheap foreign labour.”
Implications for Migrants and Families
The move to scrap indefinite leave to remain would have profound effects on hundreds of thousands of migrants already living in the UK.
Estimates from the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford suggest that around 430,000 non-EU citizens held ILR at the end of 2024.
Among these, over 200,000 individuals were claiming Universal Credit, according to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Reform UK insists that EU nationals with settled status under the European Union Withdrawal Agreement would be exempt from the new rules.
However, non-EU migrants could face deportation if they fail to meet the updated visa requirements.
The party has also proposed introducing new visas, including the Acute Skills Shortage Visa (ASSV), aimed at addressing critical job vacancies while incentivizing employers to train domestic workers.
Zia Yusuf, Reform UK’s policy chief, emphasized, “Many of those who will lose their leave to remain are entirely dependent on the welfare state and will leave voluntarily upon losing access to benefits.
Those who do not will be subject to immigration enforcement as part of our mass deportation programme.”
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties.
Labour’s Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, described Reform UK’s savings claims as baseless, while Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp argued that the plan is “half-baked and unworkable,” noting that the Conservatives already intend to limit ILR for migrants claiming benefits or with criminal records.
The Liberal Democrats also dismissed the policy as “not serious,” warning that the UK economy could lose billions in growth and tax revenue if such drastic changes were implemented.
Meanwhile, government officials have highlighted ongoing measures to reduce illegal migration and control asylum claims, emphasizing that the UK is already tightening its welfare and immigration systems.
Reform UK describes its policy as a response to what Farage calls the “Boris wave” – the 3.8 million migrants who arrived in the UK under Boris Johnson’s administration with comparatively relaxed rules.
The party argues that retrospective application of stricter visa rules is necessary to restore fairness for British citizens and prevent the continued use of public resources by those who have not fully integrated.
Farage acknowledged that the policy may split families and displace migrants who have settled in local communities but insisted that advance notice is being provided to allow people to prepare.
The party also hopes that replacing ILR with entrepreneur and investor-focused visas will attract highly skilled migrants and significant capital, thereby boosting the economy while reducing reliance on public welfare.
Experts have warned that scrapping indefinite leave to remain retroactively could trigger legal challenges and long-term societal disruptions.
The Centre for Policy Studies’ £234 billion savings estimate has already been questioned by the Office for Budget Responsibility, casting doubt on the economic rationale for such sweeping reforms.
Critics argue that forcibly removing the rights of established migrants could destabilize the labour market, burden public services, and create uncertainty for families across the UK. Nevertheless,
Reform UK insists that the measures are necessary to align the country’s migration system with nations like the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
Reform UK’s plan to scrap indefinite leave to remain marks a radical shift in the UK’s approach to immigration, promising tighter controls, stricter visa requirements, and potential mass deportations.
While the policy is designed to protect British citizens and reduce welfare costs, it raises pressing questions about fairness, economic impact, and the future of migrant communities in the UK.
As the UK heads toward the next general election, the debate over indefinite leave to remain is set to dominate political discourse, with supporters citing economic necessity and critics warning of human and legal consequences.
The unfolding discussions will determine whether this bold proposal becomes a cornerstone of the UK’s immigration strategy or a polarizing political flashpoint.
