Petition

Protecting UK Skilled Worker Visa Holders on the 5-Year ILR Path

Rejected 14 signatures

What the petition asks

This petition strongly urges the UK Government to preserve the existing five-year ILR route for UK Skilled Worker visa holders and other eligible migrants who were already living and working in the UK prior to any rule changes.
The White Paper published in May 2025 announced the UK Government’s plan to extend the ILR residency requirement from five to ten years, with reports suggesting this may impact those already in the UK.

Applying this policy retrospectively would disrupt and limit migrants’ financial, professional, and personal plans as they qualify for ILR.

The UK Government must provide official clarification ensuring current visa holders are protected and that any enacted changes apply only prospectively.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action:

Keep the 5-Year ILR pathway for existing Skilled Worker visa holders
Keep the 5-Year ILR pathway for existing Skilled Worker visa holders

Timeline

15 May 2025 Petition opened for signatures
30 May 2025 Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 14
Status Rejected
Rejected 30 May 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 17 Aug 2026.