Keep existing skilled worker visa holders’ 5 year route to settlement

Background

We ask that Home Office confirms in writing to retain the existing five-year route to settlement for all Skilled Worker visa holders, and commit to no further extensions of the qualifying period.

Additional details

Extending the settlement route obliterates economic stability—businesses, academia, and NHS depend on a guaranteed five-year path to retain talent. In 2006, shifting from 4 to 5 years to ILR for HSMP holders caused critical controversy and was deemed illegal by the High Court. Skilled workers bought homes, invested, paid taxes, and built communities under the five-year promise; changing this now breaks trust, burdens employers and families, inflates costs, and tarnishes the UK’s global standing.