A Contributory Migration System for Britain

Immigration ranks as the top concern for British voters, yet the debate has long been framed as a choice between "open" and "closed" borders, missing what voters truly prioritize: fairness. The current system struggles to deliver either public consent or sustainable public finances, with permanent settlement depending primarily on time spent in the UK rather than actual economic contribution.

We propose replacing the current time-served model with a "contributory migration system" resting on a simple bargain: people can come if they contribute, and can stay permanently if they contribute consistently over time.

Our core recommendations include:

• Separating entry policy from settlement policy.
• Replacing the flat salary thresholds of the Skilled Worker visa with a points-based system built around age-adjusted earnings benchmarks.
• Introducing a contribution-accrual settlement model, where years spent meeting earnings benchmarks count toward permanent residence regardless of visa type.
• Reforming the family visa route to assess households collectively based on a net-zero fiscal contribution benchmark.
• Abolishing the upfront Immigration Health Surcharge, which deters high performers while failing to filter out net-fiscal-cost migrants.