UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has signaled that the government could soften parts of its proposed reforms that would make it harder for some legal migrants to obtain permanent residency in the country.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Mahmood acknowledged concerns that some aspects of the proposed changes may be unfair and said the government would seek a balance between fairness to people who came to the UK legally and fairness to British citizens.
The proposed reforms, known as the “earned settlement” model, would increase the standard qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five years to 10 years. The government has also proposed allowing the period to be shortened for migrants who meet certain contribution or integration requirements.
Particular controversy surrounds social care workers who came to the UK on Health and Care visas. Under Mahmood’s current proposal, some of these workers could face a 15-year route to permanent residency, with the proposed changes applying retrospectively to people who arrived from 2021.
The proposals have faced opposition from some Labour figures and trade unions, including calls for greater protection for overseas care workers who moved to Britain to work in the social care sector.
However, the changes have not yet been finalised. The House of Commons Library said the proposed changes to qualifying periods for indefinite leave to remain remain subject to the government’s final decision.
The Home Office confirmed in September 2026 that time already spent lawfully in the UK by people on qualifying routes would count towards their settlement period once the final model is introduced.
