Omanghana
Migrant care workers who joined the UK’s care visa route before May 2025 could retain a five-year pathway to permanent settlement after the government revised plans that could have required some workers to wait up to 15 years.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the change on Monday, November 2, 2026, as part of a wider overhaul of immigration settlement rules. Eligible workers will still need to meet salary, employment and other requirements before they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
The revised policy follows concerns raised by Labor MPs and care sector advocates about the effect a longer wait could have on workers and staffing in the sector.
The changes are not yet in force. Mahmood told Parliament that the government would begin laying the changes in immigration rules from December 2026 and implement them during 2027. Further guidance is expected.
Who Can Qualify After Five Years?
The government says the transitional arrangement will apply to eligible care workers who entered or switched into the care route before publication of its immigration white paper on May 12, 2025.
To retain the five-year route, workers must meet the applicable salary requirement of £25,000 a year, along with sponsorship and employment conditions. They will also need to meet the relevant settlement requirements under the new framework.
The announced requirements include a clean criminal record, a high standard of English, no outstanding government debt and evidence of the required contribution to the UK. The government’s policy document also includes the Life in the UK test among the general requirements, with some exemptions applying.
The arrangement could affect migrant care workers from several parts of the world, including African countries, who came to the UK to work in the sector.
Further Visa for Some Workers
Mahmood said workers who do not qualify for settlement after five years would be able to apply for a further five-year Health and Care visa, giving them more time to meet the requirements.
The government said the additional visa would be restricted to genuine work in the care sector. It also promised to help workers whose sponsors had lost their licences find new employers.
The Home Secretary said some workers had been unable to meet their visa conditions because of exploitative employers or because the jobs they were promised did not exist.
Wider Settlement Changes
Under the government’s Earned Settlement policy, the standard qualifying period for many migrants is expected to increase from five years to 10 years. Faster routes would remain available to some workers who meet the relevant conditions.
These include a five-year route for eligible higher earners and certain public service professionals, such as doctors, nurses and teachers. Some of the highest earners could apply after three years.
The government also proposes longer settlement periods for specified immigration breaches. Separate provisions for refugees could result in waits of up to 30 years in some circumstances, including for some people who entered by small boat.
Mahmood said the care-worker arrangements recognised the contribution of people recruited when the sector was facing severe shortages. The government expects to publish further details before the reforms are implemented.
Source: Omanghana
