UK exempts carers from plan to impose long delays on migrants seeking residence
Britain softens its immigration timeline, sparing care workers while tightening rules for illegal boat arrivals.
Britain watered down plans on Monday to impose long delays on immigrants seeking permanent residence, announcing exemptions for hundreds of thousands of care workers to defuse a political outcry within the governing Labour Party.
The government had announced last year that lower‑skilled workers would have to wait 10‑15 years for permanent residence, up from the previous five‑year requirement.
Under the revised plan revealed on Monday, care sector employees will be exempt from the longer waiting period, meaning they can still qualify after the original five years.
By contrast, refugees who arrived illegally by boat will face additional penalties and could now be required to wait decades for settlement.
The interior minister summed up the approach, stating that “those who contribute most will settle fastest.”
