Skilled Worker Visa Holders Face 10-Year ILR Wait Under Earned Settlement as Unions Protest
27 Apr 2026
If you're on a Skilled Worker visa, the Government's proposed "earned settlement" system could more than double your wait for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — from 5 years to 10 years for most people, and potentially 15 years if you work in health and social care.
UNISON, the UK's largest union, held a national day of action on 24 April 2026 to protest the proposals. General Secretary Andrea Egan called them "morally disgraceful," warning that migrant care workers — who make up nearly 30% of the care workforce — are being pushed out of reach of permanent settlement despite keeping the sector running. "Without them, the entire system would collapse overnight," she said.
Under the proposed tiered framework, your waiting period for ILR would depend on your earnings and occupation:
- 3 years — highest earners paying the top rate of income tax
- 5 years — doctors, teachers, nurses, and partners of British citizens
- 10 years — most standard Skilled Worker visa holders
- Up to 15 years — health and care workers not considered "net economic contributors"
These are still proposals — no legislation has passed and implementation is not expected before autumn 2026. If you already meet the current 5-year ILR rules, applying now protects you from any future changes. The Government has confirmed that earned settlement will apply retrospectively to people already in the UK, which is why acting under the existing rules sooner rather than later matters. BNO visa holders are not affected — the BNO route keeps its 5-year settlement pathway.
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