Rejected petition Give NHS Care Workers a 5-Year ILR Route in Recognition of service during covid

We ask the UK Government to reinstate a 5-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for overseas Care Workers and their dependants who have worked in the NHS or social care sector since 2021, especially those who served during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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I want the Government to do this because overseas Care Workers played a vital frontline role during COVID-19, working directly with infected and vulnerable patients and supporting the NHS at its most critical time. It is unfair that they are now placed on a 10-year ILR route while nurses and doctors remain on a 5-year route. Care Workers deserve equal recognition, fair treatment, and the settlement pathway they were originally expecting when they came to the UK to help during the pandemic.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.

You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.

The Government is currently holding a public consultation on reforming the current settlement system. This includes proposals on extending the standard qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

If you wish, you can find out more and respond to the consultation on the GOV.UK website: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/earned-settlement

You may wish to sign the following petitions:

Keep 5-year ILR for Health and Care visa holders to protect the NHS
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/745684

Allow all Care Workers and Senior Care Workers to Bring Dependants.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/751718

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 20 November 2025
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