The UK Home Secretary has announced a new approach to granting permanent residence (settlement) status to migrants. According to the updated rules, obtaining this status will directly depend on the applicant's personal contribution to the country's economy and society, as well as their reputation and conduct. The new system implies more thorough evaluation of candidates: authorities intend to consider such factors as employment, tax payment, English language proficiency, and absence of legal violations. The initiative is viewed as part of a broader migration reform aimed at tightening control over the naturalization process for foreigners. Government representatives note that the goal of the changes is to create a more fair and transparent system whereby permanent residence can be obtained by those who have proven their usefulness to British society. Critics of the initiative, however, fear that the new criteria may complicate the process for low-wage workers and vulnerable categories of migrants, who find it more difficult to demonstrate a "meaningful contribution" in the formal sense. Details about specific evaluation criteria and timelines for the new rules to come into effect remain unclear. It is expected that the corresponding bill will be presented to parliament in the near future.