Reduce Long Residency from 20 Years to 16 for Fairness and Stability
“Parliament should reduce the long-residency requirement from 20 to 16 years and allow ILR for anyone who can prove continuous residence and good character, giving long-term residents fairness, stability, and a clear path to secure status.”
Signatures
8
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 8/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 8/100,000
- 06 JAN 2026Petition rejectedduplicate
You may wish to sign the following petition: Reduce 20 year route to ILR to 15 years https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/731421
- 24 NOV 2025Petition created
Background
“The government should act because the 20-year rule leaves long-term residents in prolonged instability. People who have lived in the UK for over 16 years already work, study, pay taxes, and contribute to their communities. Reducing the requirement would recognise their real ties, promote fairness, ease Home Office burdens, and give families long-needed security and dignity.”