Few announcements have been searched for as anxiously this week as the UK government’s new rules on settlement for care workers. Hundreds of thousands of carers from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe, India, Kenya and the Philippines came to the UK on the Health and Care Worker visa between 2022 and 2025. Many feared they would have to wait 10 or even 15 years for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
On 2 November 2026, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood confirmed the final plans. Here’s what they mean for care workers, in plain English.
This is general information, not legal advice. The detailed Immigration Rules are expected in December 2026. Always check GOV.UK and speak to a regulated immigration adviser about your own case.
The headline: most care workers who arrived before May 2025 keep a 5-year route
Under the new “earned settlement” system, the standard wait for ILR rises from 5 to 10 years for most migrants. But care workers who joined the route before the May 2025 Immigration White Paper are treated differently:
- Group 1: care workers who earned at least £25,000 a year in social care and complied with their visa conditions keep a 5-year qualifying period for settlement.
- Group 2: care workers who did not meet those conditions, often because their sponsor lost its licence, they were underpaid, or they were left without work, will be offered a new 5-year care visa that is not tied to one employer. They can apply for settlement after completing it.
The government estimates the revised policy could benefit around 146,000 care workers and 136,000 dependants. It says about a quarter of carers who arrived from 2022 to 2025 did not meet their visa conditions.
Questions care workers are asking
What does “earned at least £25,000” mean?
The government has said care workers who earned £25,000 in social care while meeting visa conditions qualify for the 5-year path. The exact way earnings will be assessed, for example whether it’s each year, an average, or a particular period, should be set out in the Immigration Rules in December. Keep your payslips, P60s and contracts safe.
What if my sponsor lost its licence?
The government has removed sponsor licences from around 1,800 exploitative employers. If you were affected, you may fall into Group 2 and be eligible for the new 5-year care visa. Under the announcement, care workers will also get more time to find a new job before their visa is cut short: legal commentators report 120 days to find a secure job offer and 60 days to resolve status, applying from 1 February 2027.
I arrived after May 2025. Does this apply to me?
The care worker visa route closed to new overseas applicants in July 2025. The transitional protections described here are for people who joined before the May 2025 White Paper. If you arrived or switched later, check the final rules carefully; you may face the default 10-year path unless you qualify another way, such as through earnings above about £50,000.
What about senior care workers and nurses?
Registered nurses are named among the “skilled public service workers” who keep a 5-year route. Some health and education workers below degree level on national pay scales who joined before May 2025 also keep 5 years. If you are a care worker who later registered as a nurse with the NMC, seek advice on which rules apply to your timeline.
What are the other conditions?
Everyone applying for settlement will need to meet four mandatory requirements:
- A clean criminal record (the threshold is being tightened).
- English at a high standard: legal commentary indicates a minimum of B2 level.
- No debts owed to the government, such as unpaid NHS charges or tax.
- A record of National Insurance contributions, with the statement referring to three years.
People who have claimed certain benefits will need five continuous years without claiming before applying.
What about my family (dependants)?
The government’s estimate includes 136,000 dependants, suggesting family members are being considered, but the detailed rules for partners and children haven’t been published yet. Watch for the December statement of changes.
When do the changes start?
The formal rule changes are expected in December 2026, with the new system coming in during 2027. Nobody who already holds ILR will lose it.
What care workers should do now
- Gather evidence: payslips, P60s, contracts, Certificates of Sponsorship and any letters from the Home Office.
- Check your National Insurance record through your HMRC personal tax account.
- Prepare for the English requirement: if you haven’t got a B2-level qualification, consider preparing now.
- Stay compliant: keep working for a licensed sponsor in your sponsored role, and report changes on time.
- Avoid scams: don’t pay anyone who promises “guaranteed ILR” or a new sponsor for a fee. Charging workers for sponsorship is unlawful.
- Get advice: use a solicitor or adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (formerly OISC), or free advice from charities and unions such as UNISON or the GMB.
Why the government changed course
A year ago, ministers had proposed waits of up to 15 years for care workers. After more than 200,000 consultation responses and pressure from care providers, unions and some MPs, the final plan recognises the role care workers played, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the sector’s reliance on overseas staff: around a third of England’s independent care workforce comes from abroad.