Migrants will be banned from claiming welfare benefits until they are British citizens under Shabana Mahmood's asylum crackdown, which aims at forcing foreign nationals to earn their right to remain in the UK.
Under the current system, migrants are eligible for benefits once they gain settled status, usually taking five years.
But the Home Secretary's crackdown would see migrants face up to 30 years just to be granted the same status.
They will then be required to apply for citizenship before they are allowed to claim benefits, which could take another one to three years.
It comes amid growing concern at the record 1.3 million migrants who are now claiming benefits in the UK.
That is up 6.7 per cent on the previous year and almost 50 per cent up since 2022.
The total welfare bill is estimated to rise from £313billion in 2024/25 to £373billion by the end of the decade that is despite a growing black hole in the public finances.
Ms Mahmood's crackdown will see foreign workers in low-skilled jobs, claiming benefits, forced to wait up to 25 years for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
Shabana Mahmood said the scale of arrivals has been unprecedented
|PA
Illegal migrants will have to wait up to three decades to secure permanent leave to stay in the country.
"Migration will always be a vital part of Britain's story," Ms Mahmood said.
"But the scale of arrivals in recent years has been unprecedented.
"To settle in this country forever is not a right, but a privilege, and it must be earned.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Nets are being deployed by French police to stop small boat crossings | GETTY"I am replacing a broken immigration system with one that prioritises contribution, integration and respect for the British sense of fair play."
Ms Mahmood is also removing the current automatic right that migrants have to settle in the UK after half a decade of living in the country.
Instead, she will set a 10-year qualifying period and which can increase or decrease depending on jobs, earnings and their contribution to society.
They must also speak English to a high standard.
The rules will apply to new arrivals but also the 1.6 million "Boriswave" migrants who arrived after 2021, following the post-Brexit immigration rules led to a rise n people coming to the UK from outside the European Union.
Frontline workers like doctors, nurses and teachers, as well as entrepreneurs and high earners, will be fast-tracked.
They could receive ILR in just five years or even three if they are considered top taxpayers.
Migrants granted ILR can claim benefits like Universal Credit.
But, according to the Home Office policy document - A Fairer Way to Settlement - proposals say "benefits should not be available to those who have settled status".
"Under this option, new migrants granted settlement would continue to be unable to access specified benefits in line with existing visa conditions," it said.
"This would have the effect of shifting the default position on access to benefits to citizenship rather than settlement."
The Telegraph revealed on Wednesday that nearly 500 migrants a day were signing up to Universal Credit.
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