The government’s proposal to lengthen the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five to 15 years for overseas care workers is drawing sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Speaking to the BBC on 12 June 2026, former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner called the idea “un-British” and warned it would deepen staff shortages in an already strained social-care sector. Under the mooted change—floated in a recent Home Office paper on post-Brexit immigration—the 102,000 care staff who arrived on Health & Care Worker visas last year would spend the bulk of their working lives on temporary status before being able to settle. Employers say that would make recruitment dramatically harder just as vacancies approach 150,000.
![Angela Rayner condemns plan to extend settlement wait for migrant care workers]()
For organisations and individual carers needing to navigate these shifting immigration rules, visa-processing specialists like VisaHQ can provide timely guidance on the UK’s Health & Care Worker pathway, extension applications and switching options. Their online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers clear summaries of current requirements and managed application support, helping employers stay compliant and workers understand their routes to settlement even as policy evolves.
Rayner noted that most carers earn well below the £29,000 salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route and therefore rely on long-term stability to make the move viable. Sector bodies such as Care England and the National Care Forum argue that a 15-year route to settlement would push workers to competitor markets like Canada and Australia, both of which offer residency within four to five years. They also warn that tying staff to employers for longer increases the risk of exploitation and undermines the government’s stated aim of professionalising care. From a global-mobility perspective the policy could undercut the UK’s attractiveness as a destination for mission-critical health talent. Multinational operators running UK care homes depend heavily on third-country recruitment and have urged ministers to align settlement rules with International Recruitment Organisation (IRO) standards adopted elsewhere in the OECD. If the proposal proceeds, businesses will need to budget for higher churn, increased visa-sponsorship costs and a renewed focus on retention incentives such as housing support and accelerated career pathways. Officials insist no final decision has been taken, but a consultation is expected before Parliament’s summer recess. Companies should therefore use the coming weeks to quantify potential cost impacts and prepare evidence-based submissions.
For organisations and individual carers needing to navigate these shifting immigration rules, visa-processing specialists like VisaHQ can provide timely guidance on the UK’s Health & Care Worker pathway, extension applications and switching options. Their online portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) offers clear summaries of current requirements and managed application support, helping employers stay compliant and workers understand their routes to settlement even as policy evolves.
Rayner noted that most carers earn well below the £29,000 salary threshold for the Skilled Worker route and therefore rely on long-term stability to make the move viable. Sector bodies such as Care England and the National Care Forum argue that a 15-year route to settlement would push workers to competitor markets like Canada and Australia, both of which offer residency within four to five years. They also warn that tying staff to employers for longer increases the risk of exploitation and undermines the government’s stated aim of professionalising care. From a global-mobility perspective the policy could undercut the UK’s attractiveness as a destination for mission-critical health talent. Multinational operators running UK care homes depend heavily on third-country recruitment and have urged ministers to align settlement rules with International Recruitment Organisation (IRO) standards adopted elsewhere in the OECD. If the proposal proceeds, businesses will need to budget for higher churn, increased visa-sponsorship costs and a renewed focus on retention incentives such as housing support and accelerated career pathways. Officials insist no final decision has been taken, but a consultation is expected before Parliament’s summer recess. Companies should therefore use the coming weeks to quantify potential cost impacts and prepare evidence-based submissions.
