PETITIONRejectedPetition · petition.parliament.uk

Stop Retrospective ILR Changes & Allow Skilled Workers OpenEmployment after 5yrs

We request that the UK Government does not apply any future change extending the ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years to Skilled Worker visa holders already on the established 5-year route. Retrospective application would undermine fairness

Last fetched 19 May 2026 · petition.parliament.uk

Signatures

signatures

Government response threshold (10,000) · 11/10,000

Debate threshold (100,000) · 11/100,000

Petition progress2 events · Nov 2025 – Jan 2026

09 JAN 2026
Petition rejected
duplicate
You may wish to sign the following petitions: Do not apply ILR qualifying period changes retrospectively to ILR applicants https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751517 Make a law to protect ILR from abolition and retrospective changes https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/742864 Make Skilled Worker sponsor-free after 5 years, with grace period and cap fees https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/747176 Keep the 5-year pathway for all legal immigrants to apply for ILR https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751293
26 NOV 2025
Petition created

Background

and the legitimate expectations of those who have planned their lives around existing rules

We ask for a transitional measure allowing current Skilled Worker migrants to work for any employer, in any role, without sponsorship after completing 5 years of lawful residence. We accept continued ineligibility for public funds until ILR is granted under any new rules. This arrangement would provide stability, prevent dependency on single sponsors, and maintain the integrity of the immigration system.