Kemi Badenoch Proposes 15-Year Residency Requirement For UK Citizenship

Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, has proposed tougher immigration rules, stating that immigrants should reside in the UK for at least 15 years before becoming eligible for British citizenship.

Badenoch outlined the proposed policy changes in a video shared on her X account on Thursday, emphasising the need for stricter criteria to curb rising immigration levels.

Under existing UK immigration laws, an immigrant must obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) before applying for citizenship. Currently, ILR can be secured after five years of residency, with an additional one-year wait before citizenship eligibility.

However, Badenoch’s proposal includes:

• Doubling the ILR requirement from five to 10 years before immigrants can apply.
• Extending the citizenship waiting period from one year to five years after obtaining ILR.
• Banning immigrants with criminal records or those who claim social benefits from ever applying for UK citizenship.

Defending the proposed reforms, Badenoch asserted that Britain must prioritise economic contributors over individuals dependent on state support.

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

“If you want to stay permanently, the time before applying for ILR will increase from five to 10 years. You must be a net contributor with a high salary, and if you’ve claimed benefits or need social housing, you can’t apply.

“We will also increase the time before you can apply for a British passport from 12 months to five years—meaning it will now take at least 15 years before applying for citizenship.”

Badenoch further stated that individuals who enter the UK illegally or overstay their visas would face a lifetime ban on applying for ILR or citizenship.

The Conservative Party is set to debate whether the policy should be backdated to 2021 during the upcoming parliamentary discussions on the Border Security, Asylum, and Immigration Bill next week.

Speaking to the BBC, Badenoch criticised the existing system as a “conveyor belt” to citizenship, arguing that it places undue strain on public services.

“We need to ensure those coming here have a real, meaningful connection to the UK—no criminal records, no reliance on benefits, just people who truly care about our country,” she stated.

Badenoch, who was born in the UK to Nigerian parents, has gained popularity within the Conservative Party due to her hardline stance on immigration.