A record number of migrants have applied for British citizenship since the three main political parties vowed to crack down on welfare handouts for foreign nationals.

Some 291,971 people lodged applications with the Home Office last year, up from 253,757 in 2024.

It followed a huge political battle over immigration, with Labour, the Conservatives and Reform UK all vowing to dramatically tighten access to the NHS, welfare and social housing if they win the next General Election.

And the number of people being granted citizenship since Labour came to power has surged to the highest level since 2013.

Dr Nuni Jorgensen, researcher for the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said: "The recent spike in citizenship grants also has some other possible causes apart from higher non-EU migration a few years ago.

"There was a particular spike in citizenship applications in the last quarter of 2025, at the time of the political debate around indefinite leave to remain and citizenship restrictions.

"This may have encouraged some people, including EU migrants, to apply for citizenship.

"There is also some evidence that more Americans are now choosing to acquire British citizenship, via ancestry or naturalisation, although the effects are likely to be smaller."

Robert Bates, research director at the Centre for Migration Control, said: "Decisions taken by the Labour Government have meant that the Boris Wave will cause this country huge economic and social difficulties in the years ahead.

"More temporary migrants are being allowed to stay in the country long-term through the damaging graduate and care visas.

"These routes must be shut down and we must look to pursue a sustained period of net negative migration, with more people leaving Britain than entering."

He added: "British citizenship has been devalued by the mass migration experiment of the recent decades.

"It is outrageous that an individual is given a passport after just six years in the country.

"A system that grants citizenship to hundreds of thousands of recent arrivals is fundamentally broken and needs a complete overhaul."

Under Labour's plans, migrants could be barred from claiming benefits unless they become British citizens.

And, as revealed by the Daily Express last week, Nigel Farage will ban all foreign nationals from claiming any form of welfare.

Only UK citizens will be able to receive benefits, under a Reform government.

This means Mr Farage will unpick Boris Johnson's deal with Brussels that guarantees EU citizens the right to claim benefits in the UK if he wins power.

The Tories have also vowed to bar foreign nationals from claiming benefits. Any overseas arrival who receives handouts whilst living in the UK on a work visa will be barred from staying indefinitely, under Kemi Badenoch's plans.

And analysis of Home Office figures demonstrate how migrants have been "encouraged" to apply for British citizenship.

Some 291,971 people lodged applications in the 12 months up to last December, up from 253,757 in 2024.

This itself was a record number, eclipsing the 235,975 in 2023 and 232,262 in 2013.

By comparison, the number of citizenship applications only surpassed 200,000 in three of the past 22 years.

Separate figures also showed how the record number of arrivals in recent years were having their visas extended.

A staggering 1.1 million foreign nationals received permission to stay in the UK last year, up from 900,376 in 2024.

Analysis revealed how 199,256 migrants were granted visa extensions in 2016 - the lowest number since 2010.

But the number of grants has surged since 2019, from 292,563 to 342,970 in 2020, 395,157 in 2021, 563,981 in 2022, 685,705 in 2023 and 900,376 in 2024.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: "The number of citizenship grants and extensions of visas is totally unacceptable.

"We are being overwhelmed by the sheer numbers. People who have come here and not worked or only worked on low wages should not have their work visas extended and should not be given indefinite leave, which is a precursor to citizenship.

"They should instead be required to leave.

"Only people making a substantial contribution should be allowed to stay here and ultimately get citizenship."

The Tory MP for Croydon South added: "These numbers are far too high, and the Government has completely lost control. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is asleep at the wheel.

"And to be clear, no one who is not a full British citizen should be entitled to any benefits at all. It's an insult to hard working taxpayers that recent arrivals can get even a single penny."

Mr Farage told the Sunday Express: "What we are seeing now is the Boris Wave, either having extensions, being given indefinite leave to remain, or citizenship.

"Boris Johnson and the Conservative party betrayed the Brexit vote by opening up the doors in a way that has never been done before.

"Of the last three million who have come, only 20% work. That is why they are done.

"They are rushing to get British citizenship. They are fearful of a Reform government. We cannot let countless millions coming into Britain take more than they give."

A Home Office spokesperson said: "Permanent settlement in the UK is a privilege to be earned, not a right.

"The Home Secretary has set out her plans for the biggest legal migration reforms in a generation, addressing the challenges caused by unprecedented levels of migration under the previous government."

Ms Mahmood said in a speech earlier this month: "For those who come to this country, who can contribute to our national life, I am clear. They should have a path to settlement, and ultimately citizenship.

"I want people to put down roots in this country, to contribute to our national life. But it is essential that the privilege of living in this country forever is earned, and not automatic.

"The qualifying period for settlement should move - as a norm - from five years to 10."

"But many migrants, including those who have arrived illegally, could be told they will have to wait more than 20 years to qualify for indefinite leave to remain."