SESCA Welcomes Government U-Turn On International Social Care Workers
In November 2025, the Home Office published proposals indicating that international workers on the Health and Care visa, specifically care workers and senior care workers would see their qualifying period for settlement increased by ten years, to a minimum baseline of fifteen years.
This week, care providers have been pleased to see that the proposed 15 year route for care workers has been overturned. Care workers who came in on, or switched into, the care route before the Immigration White Paper dated 12th May 2025 will keep a five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). To qualify they must have met their visa conditions, including earning £25,000 a year in sponsored care work (Home Office consultation response).
There is also a ‘second chance’ for about a quarter of that group who did not meet their visa conditions. They can apply for a further five-year Health and Care visa that is not tied to their old employer and can then apply for settlement.
Most other international workers will now wait 10 years for ILR instead of five. That includes care workers who arrived after May 2025.
Anyone earning over £50,271 can still settle at five years, as can doctors, nurses and teachers. Those earning over £125,000 can settle at three years.
The new conditions imposed apply to everyone, care workers included. Applicants must also have no criminal record and higher-level English, owe no debt to the government, and have a record of paying National Insurance (GOV.UK).
Nothing has changed in law yet. The current rules stay in force until a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules is laid and takes effect. No date for this has been given.
For SESCA, this is a major win on the main point that was argued for no retrospective change for care workers already here. But the detail now matters. The £25,000 test, disrupted earnings, the new English and criminality tests, and support for displaced workers after March 2027 are where care providers will feel the effects.
In a statement, SESCA Chair, Erica Lockhart MBE said: “We welcome the Government’s decision to retain a five-year route to settlement for international social care workers. This provides much needed reassurance for thousands of dedicated professionals who make vital contributions to the sustainability of care services across the country. These individuals play an essential role in enabling people to live independently, safely and with dignity, and many have become valued members of the communities they serve.
“While this announcement is a positive step, important questions remain about how the new requirements will be implemented in practice. Providers and sponsored workers need urgent clarity on the proposed £25,000 earnings threshold, the increase to B2 English language standards, arrangements for sponsorship transfers, and the timetable for introducing the new settlement criteria.
“Social care and support services remain heavily reliant on both international and domestic recruitment, and while the commitment to maintaining a viable settlement pathway is welcome, it must be matched by sustained investment in growing the domestic workforce and continued support for displaced workers through locally delivered recruitment hubs.
“SESCA looks forward to working constructively with Government to ensure these reforms are implemented fairly, provide certainty for workers and providers, and support the long term sustainability of care services for the 1 million people in our region who depend on them every day.”