UK Retains 5-Year Settlement Route For Care Workers, Bringing Relief To Thousands Of Indians

The UK government has decided to retain the five-year settlement route for overseas care workers who arrived after the COVID-19 pandemic, offering relief to thousands of Indian migrants who feared they would have to wait longer to secure permanent residency.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the decision in Parliament on Monday after a year-long public consultation on the government's proposed immigration reforms. Under the revised plan, eligible care workers who followed visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 annually will continue to qualify for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years.

Indians are expected to benefit significantly from the decision. According to Home Office statistics, Indian nationals accounted for the largest number of workers under the Health and Social Care visa category, which recorded 104,555 visa extensions in the year ending December 2025.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham backed the revised policy, describing it as recognition of overseas workers who contributed to Britain during a difficult period for the care sector. He said migrants who make valuable contributions should have an opportunity to settle earlier, while those who abuse immigration rules or enter the country illegally should face longer waiting periods.

Mahmood acknowledged that the care worker visa route had also been exploited by rogue employers and companies sponsoring overseas workers for jobs that did not exist. Those who fail to meet the eligibility conditions for five-year settlement, estimated to be around a quarter of the affected workers, will receive another opportunity through a new five-year visa. They can apply for settlement after completing that additional period.

Similar arrangements will apply to certain healthcare and education workers who arrived during the same period.

The wider immigration reforms introduce an earned settlement system, under which the time required to secure ILR will depend on an individual's earnings, contribution to public services and immigration record. Those earning more than £50,271 annually, along with eligible public service professionals such as doctors, nurses and teachers, will be able to apply after five years. The standard waiting period for others will increase to 10 years, while those who have breached immigration rules could face a minimum wait of 20 years.

Applicants will also have to meet four mandatory conditions, regardless of when they arrived in Britain. These include having a clean criminal record, demonstrating a high standard of English, clearing outstanding debts owed to the UK government and showing sustained National Insurance contributions.

The Home Office estimates that around 500,000 people will have to wait longer than five years to obtain settlement under the revised framework. However, those affected will not be forced to leave the country and will have opportunities to apply for visas allowing them to qualify later.