By Islam El-Sakka
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce her final decision on immigration rules for legal migrants on Monday, with proposals that could extend the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from five years to up to 10 years for most foreign workers.
Potential Exemption for Care Workers
Amid a backlash from Labour MPs, reports indicate that existing social care workers may be exempted from the lengthened timetable. The original plans, unveiled in November 2025, would have doubled the settlement wait for most migrants and potentially tripled it to 15 years for care workers, prompting criticism that the reforms were unfair.
Political Backlash and Cabinet Tensions
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp accused the government of a U-turn, arguing that the exemption would allow hundreds of thousands of low-wage migrants to stay permanently and claim benefits at a cost of £10 billion. Reform UK Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick warned that granting settlement to 400,000 people within six years would cost hundreds of billions. Meanwhile, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has described applying the rules retrospectively as “un-British,” and Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh repeatedly declined to endorse the prolonged qualifying period.
Migration Surge and Cost Estimates
In a March speech, Mahmood cited Migration Advisory Committee figures showing that between 2021 and 2024 the UK experienced migration levels previously seen across four decades. She warned that without action, some 350,000 low-skilled workers and their dependants would qualify for settlement over the next five years, with a lifetime cost to taxpayers of £10 billion.
