Immigration and Settlement: Changes affecting international care workers

Last week, the Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, announced changes to the government’s Earned Settlement proposals. This announcement confirmed that qualifying international care workers who joined the care route prior to the May 2025 Immigration White Paper will retain a five-year route to indefinite leave to remain, rather than the previously announced fifteen-year path.

This is an important announcement for the care sector, but there is still a way to go. The following member briefing outlines exactly what has changed, what eligibility criteria there are, what requires more clarity, and what providers can do right now. Care England will continue engaging with the Home Office and Department of Health and Social Care on the outstanding questions around earnings requirements, transitional arrangements and support for displaced workers. We will keep members informed as further details become available.