The UK government has announced a policy change that will allow some Zimbabwean care workers to apply for settlement after five years. The concession applies to qualifying social care workers who meet specific salary and visa conditions. Those who came to or switched into the social care route between 2022 and 2025, earned at least £25,000 a year in the sector, and complied with their visa conditions will be able to remain on the existing five-year path to indefinite leave to remain (ILR).
The original proposal had suggested that some care workers could face a wait of up to 15 years for settlement. However, the government has reconsidered and introduced a new policy that will benefit some care workers. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs that settlement should not be automatic and should be earned. The government estimates that this concession will benefit a significant number of care workers who meet the conditions.
In addition to the five-year settlement route, the government has also announced a new route for care workers who did not fulfil their visa conditions. These workers will be able to apply for a new five-year care visa and will not be tied to their previous employer. This will give workers with problematic sponsors the chance to find a legitimate provider. After completing the new visa, they will be able to apply for settlement.
The concession is not automatic for every Zimbabwean in Britain, or for every person working in care. The salary, time-period, and visa-compliance conditions matter, and applicants will also need to meet the government's broader settlement requirements. This includes having no criminal record, speaking English to a high standard, owing no money to the taxpayer, and having made at least three years of National Insurance contributions.
For most other migrants, the standard qualifying period for settlement will rise from five to 10 years. However, a five-year route will remain for people earning more than £50,000 and workers in public service professions such as doctors, nurses, and teachers. Those earning more than £125,000 and people on certain high-talent schemes may qualify after three years.
The government has also announced that some groups, including Hong Kong British nationals, overseas members of the armed forces, people with a British connection, and those on legacy routes such as Windrush, will keep their existing settlement pathways. The announcement sets out the government's policy, but reports did not give a precise date for when the revised Immigration Rules will take effect.
The formal rules and any transitional arrangements will determine how the changes apply to people already in the UK. The government says an immigration breach could extend the wait to 20 years, and Reuters reported that people who entered the UK illegally by small boat could face a wait of up to 30 years. The changes are expected to affect a significant number of migrants, including those from Zimbabwe.
Key points
- The UK government has retained a five-year settlement route for some Zimbabwean care workers who meet specific salary and visa conditions.
- The concession applies to care workers who came to or switched into the social care route between 2022 and 2025, earned at least £25,000 a year, and complied with their visa conditions.
- The government has also introduced a new route for care workers who did not fulfil their visa conditions, allowing them to apply for a new five-year care visa.
