Politics

Mahmood to extend settlement waits for some legal migrants; care worker revisions likely

Plans would double the standard wait to 10 years, with some lower-paid workers facing 15, and revisions for care workers are likely.

Updated Nov 2, 2026 · 13:14 UTC2 reports

The short version

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce longer settlement waits for many legal migrants.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Some lower-paid workers could face a 15-year wait, and BBC reporting says the plans will likely be revised for most social care staff.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Housing Secretary Angela Rayner criticized applying the changes to migrants already in the UK.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Home Office estimates put the lifetime cost of care worker settlement at £9.5bn, while the IPPR think tank projects a net tax gain for skilled workers.[BBC News]

Mahmood is expected to announce rules extending the standard settlement wait from five to 10 years, with some lower-paid workers facing 15.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Ministers including Housing Secretary Angela Rayner raised concerns about applying the changes to care workers already in the UK.[The Guardian · BBC News]
Home Office calculations suggested 196,000 care workers and adult dependants could settle between 2026 and 2030, at an estimated lifetime cost of £9.5bn.[BBC News]
The IPPR think tank estimated that skilled workers and dependants due to settle under current rules would make a net lifetime tax contribution of around £115bn.[BBC News]

The final rules had not been published when the reporting was filed, and BBC reporting indicates revisions are likely for most social care workers.[The Guardian · BBC News]
The cost and tax figures are government and think-tank estimates attributed to their authors, and this reporting does not independently verify them.[BBC News]

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.