U.K. Social Care Workers Get Easier Path to Permanent Residence
The United Kingdom has announced changes to its permanent residency rules, allowing certain foreign workers to apply for permanent residency after five years instead of the previously proposed 15 years. The changes will benefit social care and home care workers who arrived in the UK before May 2025 and earn at least £25,000 annually. Doctors, nurses, and teachers will also be covered under the revised rules.
The new policy, finalized on November 2, 2026, also provides faster permanent residency opportunities for people earning higher salaries. Workers earning more than £50,271 a year can apply after five years, while those earning over £125,140 may qualify after just three years.
Thousands of Indian care workers, particularly those from Kerala, are expected to benefit from the changes. Many Indian workers moved to the UK under the Health and Care Worker visa scheme, which operated from October 2020 to July 2025.
However, several workers have reportedly faced difficulties, including unpaid wages, exploitation, and threats from employers. The UK government has taken action against employers accused of abusing foreign workers. Around 1,800 employer licences have reportedly been revoked, and authorities are helping affected workers find safer employment opportunities.
The revised policy follows pressure from labour unions, the Labour Party, and members of the public. During a public consultation, the government received more than 202,000 responses, with most participants supporting changes to the proposed residency rules.
Initially, the government had planned to increase the waiting period for permanent residency to 10 years for many low-income workers. However, the proposal faced strong criticism and was later revised following political and public pressure.
Under the updated rules, other low-income workers will generally be able to apply for permanent residency after 10 years instead of 15 years. Refugees and people arriving through illegal routes may face longer waiting periods, depending on their individual circumstances.
Despite the changes, the policy has faced criticism over its possible financial impact. One opposition member reportedly estimated that the revised rules could cost the government around £10 billion.
The government is also trying to address concerns about rising migration, particularly in the social care and student visa categories. Migration increased significantly during former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government. However, net migration declined after stricter immigration policies were introduced under the governments of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
The revised policy aims to balance immigration control with the need to recognise the contributions of foreign workers who support important services across the UK.