Protect Care Worker's Settlement Rights - Keep or Reduce the 5-Year Route to ILR

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Ensure care workers remain eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years and are not included in any proposals to extend settlement to 10 years. Consider introducing a shorter settlement pathway in recognition of their vital role in UK social care.

Care workers are essential to the UK’s adult social care system but are among the lowest-paid workers in healthcare. The sector already faces severe staff shortages and relies heavily on international workers. Extending the route to settlement beyond 5 years would create more financial and emotional pressure and may worsen recruitment and retention in the care sector.

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 petitions, which call for similar action:

Allow care workers to access 5-year ILR route like other health and care workers
Allow care workers to access 5-year ILR route like other health and care workers

Maintain the current 5-year route to (ILR) for Senior Carers & Care Assistants
Maintain the current 5-year route to (ILR) for Senior Carers & Care Assistants

Keep 5-year ILR for Health and Care visa holders to protect the NHS
Keep 5-year ILR for Health and Care visa holders to protect the NHS

Timeline

9 Mar 2026	Petition opened for signatures
2 Apr 2026	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Rejected 2 Apr 2026

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