Shabana Mahmood reduces UK settlement time for care workers to five years

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has unveiled a significant overhaul of immigration rules, offering a faster route to permanent residency for foreign care workers. Under the new policy, care workers from countries such as Ghana and Nigeria can qualify for permanent settlement after just five years, provided they earn at least #25,000 annually. This marks a substantial reduction from the previous 15-year requirement for long-term residency.

The revised rules apply to international workers who arrived in the UK before May 2025. The Home Secretary’s plan introduces a system of varying settlement timelines based on income levels and societal contributions, allowing those with higher earnings to secure their status more quickly. The reforms are part of a broader effort to acknowledge the essential role international staff have played in the UK care sector, particularly in the years following the global pandemic.

While the shorter path to residency is seen as a positive development for many, industry experts have raised concerns regarding the salary threshold. Many workers in the care sector currently earn below the #25,000 mark due to systemic low wages in the industry. Critics argue that while the policy rewards "earned status" and character, it may remain out of reach for a significant portion of the workforce unless pay scales within the UK care sector are improved.

This policy shift reflects the UK government’s attempt to balance its reliance on foreign labor with a desire for more controlled immigration. By creating a more accessible path for those already in the system, the government aims to stabilize the workforce in a sector facing chronic staff shortages. For the thousands of Ghanaian health and care professionals currently in Britain, the announcement offers a more certain and accelerated future in the country.