UK lowers residency timeline for foreign care workers under final immigration rules

Foreign social and home care workers who arrived in the U.K. before May 2025 can now settle as permanent residents in five years instead of the previously proposed 15 years.

Key Details and Changes

Under the final rules announced on November 2, 2026, social care workers earning at least £25,000 per year qualify for 'indefinite leave to remain' after five years. Workers who broke initial visa terms receive a second chance with a fresh five-year period, as stated by U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Doctors, nurses, and those earning above £50,271 per annum also settle in five years, while earners above £1,25,140 settle in three years. Other low-income workers now obtain permanent residency in 10 years instead of 15. The change impacts thousands of Indian nationals who entered via the Health and Care Worker visa scheme.

Government Action and Reactions

Ms. Mahmood reported that the government stripped roughly 1,800 exploitative employers of their licenses and will help workers find valid jobs. The policy softening followed pressure from health unions and the left flank of the Labour Party, alongside a public consultation drawing over 202,000 responses. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the decision in the House of Commons, estimating the policy shift's cost at 10 billion pounds and claiming the government lacked control over immigration policy.

Context

Permanent residency, known as indefinite leave to remain, grants individuals the right to live and work in the U.K. permanently and potentially access public benefits. Immigration policies often shift in response to political pressures, economic needs in sectors like social care, and public feedback during consultations.