A new report has warned that tougher immigration settlement rules proposed by the government of the United Kingdom could discourage higher-earning migrants from remaining in the country long term.
The analysis, released by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), examined around 900,000 migrant journeys between 2014 and 2024 to better understand long-term migration patterns and how immigration policies may affect labour shortages, public finances, and population growth.
According to the report titled Who Stays, Who Leaves?, migrants earning the highest salaries were among the groups most likely to leave the UK after a few years, while lower-paid migrants were more likely to remain permanently.
The report stated that migrants earning more than £125,000 annually appear to have lower long-term stay rates because they often have greater international career opportunities and fewer financial barriers to relocating to other countries.
“These migrants may benefit from more global opportunities and lower financial barriers to moving elsewhere, reducing the incentives to remain in the UK longer-term,” the report explained.
The findings come as the British government considers major changes to immigration settlement rules. Proposed reforms backed by Shabana Mahmood would increase the standard qualifying period for settled status, also known as indefinite leave to remain, from five years to 10 years.
Under the proposals, some migrants who meet special criteria — including higher-rate taxpayers — may still qualify for faster settlement pathways that could reduce the waiting period back to five years.
However, the Migration Advisory Committee warned that stricter settlement requirements may make the UK less attractive to skilled and highly paid foreign workers.
The report noted that groups already showing lower long-term stay rates, including high earners and workers in higher education, may be more likely to leave the UK or avoid moving there altogether if settlement opportunities become less favourable.
The research also revealed that younger migrants are far more likely to remain in Britain than older migrants. People under the age of 45 had an 81 percent five-year stay rate, compared with 65 percent among migrants aged 45 and older.
Researchers suggested older migrants may have stronger family or professional ties overseas and fewer reasons to relocate permanently.
Meanwhile, lower-paid migrants earning less than £40,000 annually showed much stronger long-term commitment to the UK. Health and social care workers were among the most likely to stay, with 94 percent of nurses remaining in the country after five years.
The report highlighted the important role migrant workers continue to play in maintaining key public services, especially in sectors facing severe labour shortages such as healthcare and social care.
Academics and science professionals recorded some of the lowest stay rates in the report. Only 57 percent of “natural and social science professionals” remained in the UK after five years, partly due to short-term contracts and internationally mobile career paths.
The study also found major differences based on nationality and region. Migrants from African and South Asian countries had the highest long-term stay rates, while migrants from North America, Oceania, and East Asia were more likely to leave.
Within the UK, London had the strongest migrant retention rates, while Scotland and Wales recorded lower long-term stay rates.
Women were also slightly more likely to remain in the UK than men, largely because many female migrants work in health and social care sectors where long-term employment opportunities are more stable.
The report stressed that the economic contribution of migrants should not be measured only through tax payments. Researchers said migrant workers also create broader social and economic benefits by supporting critical sectors such as healthcare, care services, and other essential industries.
The findings add to the growing debate over immigration reform in the UK, where the government continues to face pressure to reduce migration numbers while businesses and public services warn of worsening labour shortages if access to foreign workers becomes more restricted.