Settlement, Citizenship and Integration Inquiry Call for Evidence

Anyone affected by the proposed changes to Settlement and Citizenship should read this and take action.

Formed to consider country-wide issues, the Justice and Home Affairs Committee has launched a new inquiry into settlement, citizenship and integration. Inquiries allow for committees to consider and consolidate evidence on a topic, generally resulting in a report that’s released to the public for further consumption.

What will the inquiry focus on?

This inquiry will look at the proposals released by the Government in May and November of 2025 that promoted changes to settlement and citizenship in the UK: the white paper ‘Restoring control over the immigration system‘ and the policy paper ‘Restoring order and control: A statement on the Government’s asylum and returns policy‘.

The Committee intends to use this inquiry to provide more detailed information on:

• The process of applying for British Citizenship;
• The complexities of applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR);
• The costs involved in various routes towards settlement and citizenship;
• Updates to the Life in the UK Test and citizenship ceremonies;
• How citizenship and social cohesion are supported in the UK; and
• Consistencies and contrasts of the Government’s current approach on both a UK and global level.

Inquiry call for evidence

To allow the Committee to formulate a report that’s fully indicative of the state of immigration in the UK at this time, a call for evidence has been released.

The Committee’s call for evidence aims to hear from individuals directly affected by the process, and aims to “welcome views on any of the following questions relating to the subject of the inquiry”. Individuals across the UK, not solely in England, are encouraged to send evidence to ensure a fair and equitable response is achieved.

Feedback is requested based on questions covering:

• Recent developments in Government policy on settlement and citizenship;
• Historical and International Context;
• The Citizenship Process; and
• Applying for Citizenship and its impact on integration and social cohesion.

Written evidence can be sent until 23rd January 2026, but earlier submissions are encouraged.

Read the call for evidence

Call for evidence guidance

Evidence can be submitted digitally via the online portal, with the following guidance provided by the Committee:

• Shorter submissions are preferred.
• Any submissions longer than six pages should be prefaced by a one-page summary.
• Paragraphs must be numbered.
• If any AI is used, this must be disclosed in an introduction.

Submit evidence online

In summary

This call for evidence provides an important opportunity for individuals directly impacted by the UK Government’s immigration policies and procedures to have their say.

If you want your voice to be heard, we encourage you to have your say online. Even if you choose to answer a minimal number of the Committee’s questions, a diverse response will be critical for a more accurate Committee response.