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Migrants are flooding the Home Office with applications for British citizenship in record numbers as they seek to beat anticipated restrictions on settlement rights under Labour. Official figures show more than 312,000 people applied for citizenship in the year to March 2026 — the highest total on record and roughly double the level of eight years ago.

In addition, 331,000 applied for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) over the past two years, a 28 % rise on the previous period and another record high. The surge comes amid growing anxiety over planned reforms that would make it significantly harder and slower for many to secure permanent status in Britain.

Under existing rules, migrants must normally live in the UK for five years, with limited absences, pass the Life in the UK test, demonstrate English proficiency and prove good character.

However, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is preparing a major crackdown that would double the qualifying period for ILR to 10 years for most migrant workers, with exceptions only for high earners and those in public services. Crucially, the changes would apply retrospectively to people already in the country.

The reforms would also prevent migrants from accessing welfare benefits until they achieve full British citizenship, rather than upon gaining ILR as at present.

The proposals have triggered a significant backlash within Labour itself, with reports of up to 100 MPs, including former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner, opposing the retrospective element. Ms Rayner has reportedly described the plans as “un-British” and a “breach of trust”.

Immigration experts link the rush not only to the legacy of high net migration in recent years but to explicit signals from all main parties that the current route to citizenship is too lenient.

Dr Nuni Jorgensen, of the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, said the increase has been sharper than expected across nationalities, including non-EU migrants as well as EU citizens and even Americans.

She said: “One potential reason is the publicity around Government and opposition plans to restrict permanent status and citizenship.

“In that context, some people may feel it is better to apply for citizenship now rather than risk tougher requirements later.”

The Conservatives have pledged even stricter measures, while Reform UK has floated abolishing ILR for most new arrivals in favour of time-limited visas with higher salary thresholds and no access to benefits.

Indian nationals accounted for the largest share of citizenship applications at over 31,000, followed by Pakistanis, Nigerians, Italians and Poles. EU citizens who had previously not bothered to naturalise are also now applying in greater numbers due to uncertainty over future rights.

A Home Office spokesman said the rise reflected long-term migration trends and the number of people now eligible after completing existing settlement routes. The department defended the planned changes as necessary to address the challenges of unprecedented migration levels under the previous Conservative government.

The figures provide the clearest evidence yet of the lasting demographic impact of the sharp rise in immigration seen in recent years on British society, public services and the welfare system.

According to analysis by The Telegraph, the acceleration in applications reflects a calculated move by many to lock in rights before the political consensus shifts towards tighter controls.