PETITIONRejectedPetition · petition.parliament.uk

Give NHS Care Workers a 5-Year ILR Route in Recognition of service during covid

We ask the UK Government to reinstate a 5-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for overseas Care Workers and their dependants who have worked in the NHS or social care sector since 2021, especially those who served during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last fetched 18 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk

Signatures

signatures

Government response threshold (10,000) · 6/10,000

Debate threshold (100,000) · 6/100,000

Petition progress2 events · Nov 2025 – Jan 2026

05 JAN 2026
Petition rejected
duplicate
The Government is currently holding a public consultation on reforming the current settlement system. This includes proposals on extending the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you wish, you can find out more and respond to the consultation on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement You may wish to sign the following petitions: Keep 5-year ILR for Health and Care visa holders to protect the NHS https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/745684 Allow all Care Workers and Senior Care Workers to Bring Dependants. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751718
20 NOV 2025
Petition created

Background

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I want the Government to do this because overseas Care Workers played a vital frontline role during COVID-19, working directly with infected and vulnerable patients and supporting the NHS at its most critical time. It is unfair that they are now placed on a 10-year ILR route while nurses and doctors remain on a 5-year route. Care Workers deserve equal recognition, fair treatment, and the settlement pathway they were originally expecting when they came to the UK to help during the pandemic.