Rejected petition: Keep the 5-year ILR route for Skilled Workers already living in the UK
Rejected on
Introduce transitional protection for Skilled Worker visa holders already in the UK before the November 2026 settlement announcement. Allow them to retain the 5-year ILR route, including those facing proposed 10- or 15-year qualifying periods based on their occupation skill level.
Many Skilled Workers came to the UK legally, expecting to qualify for ILR after five years. They have worked, paid taxes and built their lives around this pathway. The proposed 10- and 15-year settlement periods could unfairly affect those already here, including workers with historical occupation codes below RQF level 6. Extending their wait could increase dependence on employer sponsorship and create financial and family uncertainty. Existing visa holders deserve clear transitional protection.
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.
You may wish to sign this petition, which calls for similar action: "Protect the five-year ILR route for existing Skilled Workers" https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/785621
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.