Keep existing skilled worker visa holders’ 5 year route to settlement
We ask that Home Office confirms in writing to retain the existing five-year route to settlement for all Skilled Worker visa holders, and commit to no further extensions of the qualifying period.
Signatures
21
signatures
Government response threshold (10,000) · 21/10,000
Debate threshold (100,000) · 21/100,000
- 23 MAY 2025Petition rejectedduplicate
You may wish to sign the following petition, which calls for similar action: Keep the 5-Year ILR pathway for existing Skilled Worker visa holders https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/727360
- 14 MAY 2025Petition created
Background
Extending the settlement route obliterates economic stability—businesses, academia, and NHS depend on a guaranteed five-year path to retain talent. In 2006, shifting from 4 to 5 years to ILR for HSMP holders caused critical controversy and was deemed illegal by the High Court. Skilled workers bought homes, invested, paid taxes, and built communities under the five-year promise; changing this now breaks trust, burdens employers and families, inflates costs, and tarnishes the UK’s global standing.