Dhaka, Nov. 21 -- The UK government will prevent migrants from accessing welfare benefits until they obtain British citizenship under sweeping changes to immigration rules.

According to The Telegraph, the overhaul, described as the most far-reaching changes to settlement rights in decades, would mean that foreign nationals may have to wait as long as 30 years before they qualify for settled status, and then an additional one to three years to secure citizenship.

At present, most migrants can claim benefits once they receive indefinite leave to remain (ILR), typically after five years.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the measures were needed to "replace a broken immigration system" and to ensure that settlement in the UK "is not a r...