Kemi Badenoch Proposes Tougher Immigration Rules: 15-Year Residency for British Citizenship

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has unveiled a stringent immigration policy proposal, suggesting that immigrants must reside in the UK for at least 15 years before being eligible for British citizenship.

In a video posted on her X account on Thursday, Badenoch outlined her party’s vision for stricter immigration controls, arguing that the current system allows for an expedited path to citizenship that places a burden on public services.

Under the current rules, immigrants seeking British citizenship must first obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which grants them the right to live and work in the UK. Presently, individuals can apply for ILR after residing in the country for five years—sometimes less, depending on the type of visa—followed by a one-year waiting period before applying for citizenship.

However, Badenoch’s proposal aims to extend this process significantly. She plans to:

Increase the minimum residency requirement for ILR from five to ten years. Extend the waiting period between obtaining ILR and applying for citizenship from one year to five years. Ban immigrants with criminal records or those who have claimed benefits from ever applying for British citizenship.

The Conservative leader framed her proposals as a necessary step to ensure that UK residency and citizenship hold genuine value.

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

“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 ten 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.”

She added, “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 overstay your visa, you will be banned from ever gaining leave to remain or a passport.”

Badenoch’s proposal is expected to spark heated debate when Parliament discusses the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill next week. The Conservative Party will also debate whether the new rules should be backdated to 2021.

In an interview with the BBC, Badenoch criticized the existing immigration system as a “conveyor belt” to citizenship, arguing that it has strained public services.

“We need to make sure that people coming here have a real, meaningful connection to the UK—no criminal records, net contributors to the economy, and people who care about our country and our communities,” she said.

Badenoch, who was born in the UK to Nigerian parents, has risen to prominence partly due to her firm stance on immigration. Since taking over leadership of the Conservative Party in November 2024, she has positioned herself as a champion of stricter border controls, further solidifying her support among right-leaning voters.