Petition · Home Office

Make Skilled Worker sponsor-free after 5 years, with grace period and cap fees

Closed 146 signatures

What the petition asks

After 5 years, give Skilled Workers portable status to change jobs without a sponsor; keep no recourse to public funds (NRPF). Add a 180-day grace period after job loss; cap repeat visa/IHS fees.
A single employer can decide a family’s fate. If sponsorship is delayed or withdrawn, long-term taxpayers can lose job, home and stability overnight—despite never using benefits. Sponsor-free status after 5 years could protect contributors, cut red tape for employers, and keep UK-trained talent in critical sectors like AI, biosciences, fintech and healthcare. We believe this does not change ILR timelines or salary thresholds and costs taxpayers nothing, as NRPF remains until settlement.

Timeline

21 Nov 2025 Petition opened for signatures
21 May 2026 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 146
Status Closed
Department Home Office
Opened 21 Nov 2025
Closed 21 May 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 10 Aug 2026.