ISLAMABAD: The United Kingdom government under Prime Minister Keir Starmerhas introduced sweeping reforms to its immigration system, significantlyaffecting Pakistani immigrant families and other Urdu-speaking nationalsseeking permanent residency. Starmer described the existing system asbroken and announced a white paper titled Restoring Control over theImmigration System, aiming to reduce net migration through strictercontrols on legal pathways.
These changes include raising English language requirements and extendingthe qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to ten yearsfor most routes, with potential extensions up to twenty years in certaincases. Pakistani communities, one of the largest South Asian diasporas inthe UK with strong family reunification traditions, now face heightenedbarriers to long-term settlement.
The reforms respond to public concerns over high migration levels andpolitical pressure from Reform UK. Official statistics from the Office forNational Statistics indicate that net migration fell sharply to 204,000 inthe year ending June 2025, down from 649,000 the previous year, primarilydue to declines in work and study visas. Non-EU immigration, including fromPakistan, dropped notably, with family and dependent routes remainingsignificant for Pakistani nationals. The government emphasizes thatpermanent settlement must be earned through economic contribution,integration, and compliance, rather than granted automatically after timespent in the country.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has been central to articulating thesepolicies, stating that British citizenship is a privilege to be earned, nota right. In speeches and announcements, she outlined conditions forindefinite leave to remain, including maintaining employment, avoidingwelfare claims, possessing a clean criminal record, demonstrating a highstandard of English, and contributing to local communities throughvolunteering. These requirements aim to ensure migrants integrate fullyinto British society while addressing perceptions of uncontrolled inflows.
A key element of the changes targets English proficiency. Previously, basiclevels sufficed for many visas, but proposals elevate standardssignificantly. Skilled workers now require B2 level proficiency, up fromB1, while adult dependants must show progression from A1 at initialapplication to A2 for extensions and B2 for settlement. This shift posesparticular challenges for Urdu-speaking families from Pakistan, whereEnglish may not be the primary language at home, especially among olderdependents or those in lower-skilled roles. Many Pakistani families rely onchain migration and family reunification, making these language hurdles asubstantial obstacle.
The extension of the settlement qualifying period to a baseline of tenyears represents a doubling of the previous five-year norm for most workand family routes. In some scenarios, particularly for those with lowereconomic contributions or benefit usage, waits could extend further,potentially to twenty years. This policy, detailed in consultations onearned settlement, ties faster pathways to factors like high salaries,priority sector employment, and societal integration. Lower-paid migrantsor those in non-specialized roles face prolonged uncertainty, impactingfamily planning and stability.
Pakistani immigrants, historically prominent in family visa grants andcommunity networks in cities like Bradford, Birmingham, and London, aredisproportionately affected. Data shows Pakistan as a top nationality forpartner and family visas, alongside work routes. The stricter rulesexacerbate existing issues, with reports of families already encounteringdelays and rejections due to prior threshold increases. Urdu-speakingnationals, including those from Pakistan and parts of India, must nowinvest heavily in language training, potentially straining householdresources and delaying family unity.
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Mahmood’s emphasis on contribution-based settlement underscores aphilosophical shift. She has argued that time alone is insufficient;migrants must prove value through work, integration, and civicparticipation. This approach counters critics who view it as overlyrestrictive, while aligning with efforts to prioritize high-skilledinflows. For Pakistani families, many established over generations yetstill navigating extensions or reunifications, the changes introduce newlayers of complexity and potential hardship.
The broader context includes a decline in overall migration flows. Workvisas, particularly in health and care sectors previously reliant onoverseas recruitment, have fallen sharply following route closures. Studydependants also decreased significantly. Asylum claims remain high, withPakistan featuring among top nationalities, but legal migration reformsfocus on controlled, selective entry. These measures aim to reduce netmigration sustainably while addressing labor needs through domestictraining.
The reforms have sparked debate on integration versus exclusion. Supportersargue they promote cohesion and fairness, while opponents highlighthumanitarian and economic costs, including family separations and laborshortages. For Pakistani diaspora communities, the changes signal a tougherenvironment for maintaining family ties and achieving permanence. Asconsultations continue, the full implementation timeline remains underreview, but the direction points to enduring challenges for those aspiringto build lasting lives in the UK.
Source:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0m4g3zvy02o
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