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.”

This petition was rejected on 6th Jan 2026 as it duplicates an existing petition

The Petition Committee commented:
You may wish to sign the following petition: Reduce 20 year route to ILR to 15 years https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/731421


Reticulating Splines

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“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.”