UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood scraps 15-year settlement wait for migrant care workers earning £25,000

The UK government has revised its proposed immigration settlement rules, allowing eligible foreign care workers to qualify for permanent residency after five years instead of waiting up to 15 years.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the changes in the House of Commons, following criticism from Labour MPs, trade unions and organisations representing the care sector.

"Settled status is one of the most valuable rights this country can offer. Until now, it has been given almost automatically. From today, it must be earned. Those who contribute most will settle fastest. Those who don’t play by the rules will be refused or wait much longer. This policy creates a fair migration system: fair to those who come here and play their part, and fair to British citizens already here, who must not be asked to bear a greater burden," she said during her address.


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Under the revised policy, care workers who arrived in the UK before May 2025, earn at least £25,000 annually and meet their visa conditions will retain the existing five-year route to indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Those who do not meet the requirements will be offered another five-year visa and can apply for settlement after completing that period. The government estimates that around 300,000 care workers and their dependants could benefit from the revised arrangements.

"People want to see an immigration system based on control, contribution, and rewards those who play by the rules. These proposals are based on that principle and recognise the contribution made by overseas workers to our country. Following Brexit, the previous government lost control of immigration, with an unprecedented spike in numbers. This Home Secretary is gripping this problem, and she has my full support in doing so," said Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

"It is only fair that those who are making the most valuable contribution to our communities are allowed to settle earlier. Those in other roles should expect to wait longer, while people who abuse the system or arrive illegally will be refused or will also have to wait longer.,"he said.

Most migrants to face a 10-year settlement wait

While care workers receive an exemption, the government is proceeding with its wider plan to extend the standard qualifying period for settlement from five to 10 years.

Under the new earned settlement model, the waiting period will depend on an individual's earnings, contribution and immigration history.

Migrants earning more than £50,271 annually and certain public service professionals, including doctors, nurses and teachers, will be eligible to apply for settlement after five years.

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The highest earners, with annual salaries exceeding £125,000, can qualify after three years. Most other migrants will follow the 10-year route.

The government has also introduced stricter eligibility conditions. Applicants will need a clean criminal record, a high standard of English, no outstanding debts to the government and a record of sustained National Insurance contributions.

Longer waits for some refugees

The revised framework also sets different settlement timelines for refugees, depending on how they entered the UK and whether they work or study.

Those who arrived through illegal or clandestine routes, including small boat crossings, could face a wait of up to 30 years if they do not work or study. Those who enter work or education will face a 20-year qualifying period.

The government has said that more than 500,000 migrants will now have to wait longer than five years to qualify for settlement. Its revised estimates put the number affected at around 517,000, compared with 799,000 under the original proposals.

Mahmood defended the wider changes, saying: "Settlement should not be automatic; it should be earned".

“Those who contribute most will settle fastest,” she said. “Those who don’t play by the rules will be refused or wait longer."

The revised policy follows concerns that extending settlement timelines retrospectively could affect migrant workers who had moved to the UK under existing visa conditions. Several Labour MPs had also warned that the original proposals could worsen staffing shortages in the care sector.

The Conservatives criticised the exemption for care workers, arguing that the government's decision would increase the cost to taxpayers.

The Home Office had previously estimated that the lifetime cost of settling 117,000 foreign care workers between 2026 and 2030 would be £4.2 billion. This figure was projected to rise to £9.5 billion when their adult dependants were included.

The government has said the revised settlement framework will reduce the benefits bill by billions of pounds. A detailed assessment of the financial impact is expected to be published later.