Britain’s government is due to respond Monday to a proposal to double the default wait for permanent residency to 10 years, with care workers already in the country awaiting details of how they may be affected.
The Home Office’s November 2025 consultation proposed raising the standard qualifying period from five years, subject to exceptions and possible reductions. Its proposal for some sponsored workers set out a possible 15-year wait for people in jobs below degree level, including care workers. The government also sought views on how changes would apply to migrants already in Britain who had not gained settled status.
The Guardian reported that the government’s response is expected to ease the proposed terms for some care workers already in Britain. The outcome has not been announced. In a letter seen by The Guardian, lawmakers and groups representing migrant workers and health professionals warned that longer waits for existing residents could worsen staffing shortages.
The Home Office has framed the proposed changes around migrants’ contributions and access to public funds. Meanwhile, provisional Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures put net migration at 171,000 in 2025, down from 331,000 in 2024. The ONS said non-EU+ work-related arrivals fell 47% and were the main reason for the continued decline.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to address Parliament after 10:30 a.m. ET (15:30 UTC) Monday, according to The Guardian’s parliamentary agenda.
