Government proposes new points test for citizenship

The Government has published a public consultation document, ‘Earning the right to stay’, on its plans to introduce a new points test for citizenship. The consultation is open for 12 weeks from 3 August 2009. The consultation document seeks views on the introduction of a points test for earned citizenship; delivering the earned citizenship system in partnership with local authorities; supporting those who are on the path to citizenship to integrate into their new communities; and managing the impacts of migration on the developing world.

The proposed points test for citizenship system builds on the changes to earned citizenship introduced by the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Act 2009. All migrants start off as temporary residents and, upon fulfilling various conditions, move to probationary citizenship before finally achieving British citizenship. A migrant has to spend a minimum amount of time as a probationary citizen and the process will take between 12 months and 10 years, depending on points earned by the applicant.

Points will be allocated for English language ability, earnings potential, qualifications, shortage skills, volunteering, special artistic or scientific merit, and residence in parts of the UK experiencing population decline, such as Scotland. For full details on how earned citizenship will work, click here.

See the Home Office press release here.

Also see a news report by The Guardian here.