Farage’s plan to scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain raises legal and economic alarm

Zuzana Moscakova, Chief Reporter

Nigel Farage has announced plans to abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain, one of the key routes to permanent residency in Britain and replace it with a renewable visa system. The Reform UK leader said that under his proposal, migrants would instead be placed on five-year visas and would only become eligible for citizenship after seven years rather than the current five. He also pledged tougher English language requirements, higher salary thresholds, and restrictions on welfare support for those who do not hold British citizenship. 

The policy has been widely condemned by opponents. Labour described the plan as “half-baked and unworkable,” with senior figures questioning whether it could ever be delivered in practice. Some Conservative voices also expressed scepticism, suggesting Reform UK was rehashing ideas already considered by the government without offering the detail needed to make them workable. Migration lawyers, charities and community organisations warned that abolishing Indefinite Leave to Remain could destabilise families, leave people uncertain about their rights, and expose the government to legal challenges. They also cautioned that the policy could conflict with Britain’s international commitments on refugees and human rights.

Farage’s proposal comes against the backdrop of a broader review of immigration rules. Earlier this year, the government published its Restoring Control over the Immigration System White Paper, which proposed extending the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from five to ten years for most migrants, though with exemptions for certain highly skilled or high-earning individuals. Reform UK’s plan goes significantly further by suggesting the route be abolished altogether.

One of the most contentious aspects of Farage’s announcement is the question of how it would affect those who already have permanent residency. Reform UK has suggested that existing holders of Indefinite Leave to Remain could be required to reapply under new visa rules, but the legality and practicality of such a move are uncertain. Lawyers have pointed out that changing the rights of people who have already secured residency could trigger a wave of legal disputes and may prove impossible to enforce.

Experts also note that any attempt to abolish permanent residency would have to take account of EU citizens who obtained rights under the post-Brexit settlement scheme, as well as those protected by international treaties. The scale of administrative work required to move people onto a new visa system would be enormous, raising questions about cost and capacity.

For migrants who are living in the UK legally, the proposals would represent a significant shift. Instead of moving from a temporary visa to a secure, long-term status, people could face repeated renewals and uncertainty about whether they would be allowed to stay. Families who had expected to put down permanent roots might find their future in Britain tied to stricter salary rules or language tests. Community advocates warn that such insecurity could discourage skilled workers from coming to the UK at all, at a time when sectors such as health and social care already face shortages. For many, the debate over Indefinite Leave to Remain is not just a technical change in immigration law but a question of whether Britain continues to offer migrants a stable path to belonging.

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