UK Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh declined to endorse a proposed 15-year wait for some migrant workers to gain permanent settlement, The Guardian reported, as the government weighs changes affecting people already in Britain.
The Home Office’s November 2025 consultation proposed raising the standard qualifying period from five to 10 years. It also sought views on a 15-year period for workers sponsored in roles below degree-equivalent level, including some jobs covered by Skilled Worker and Health and Care visas. Neither period has been adopted.
The 15-year option would lengthen the route to settlement for affected workers, including some care workers. The Home Office proposed applying the new requirements to people already in the UK who have not obtained indefinite leave to remain, the country’s form of permanent settlement.
The department asked whether people already on a settlement pathway should receive transitional protections. It said those who already have settled status would be excluded. How the final rules would treat current visa holders remains subject to the government’s decision.
During an Oct. 21 Sky News interview, Fahnbulleh expressed support for Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s wider immigration reforms but did not commit to the 15-year option when pressed, according to The Guardian’s account. Her response did not establish that she opposed it.
The Home Office says it wants settlement to reflect economic contribution and to address concerns about access to public funds. UNISON, a public service union, has warned that a longer wait for care workers already in Britain could cause staff to leave the sector and deepen shortages.
The consultation closed Feb. 12. In an April 15 parliamentary answer, the government said it was reviewing responses before choosing a final model and assessing its effects. It has not announced a date for that decision.
