Alan Johnson has launch a new points-based immigration system for those seeking British citizenship.
The home secretary is publishing a consultation paper setting out plans for those seeking a passport to earn points for activities such as learning to speak English and doing community work.
But they could lose points for anti-social behaviour such as protesting against British troops.
In Sunday's News of the World, Johnson wrote: "Already we require people earn the right to become citizens by paying taxes, speaking English and obeying the law.
"I will go even further, unveiling my new citizenship proposals which will require people earn points for, among other things, their skills, their job and their qualifications.
"Bad behaviour will be penalised, and only those with enough points will obtain a British passport."
Temporary migrants are already subject to the points-based system introduced last year.
Under measures introduced in the Borders, Citizenship and Immigration Bill aspiring citizens will have to spend five years as temporary residents and then between one and five years as a "probationary citizen".
During this probationary phase, applicants will have to earn points in order to demonstrate their suitability for a British passport.
Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, immigration minister Phil Woolas said the new system would break the link between temporary migration and permanent settlement or citizenship.
And he rejected suggestions it would lead to non-white non-Christians being blocked from becoming citizens.
Woolas argued that the system would be better for migrants as it would foster integration with the rest of society and stem any 'brain drain' from the developing world.
But shadow immigration minister Damian Green said the plans were "pure spin".
"There never has been an automatic right to British citizenship. It is simply that this government that has let an unprecedented number of people obtain citizenship, issuing someone with a British passport every five minutes," he said.
"This is an act of desperation by a government that knows it has let immigration run out of control for more than a decade."
