I got my care visa in 2023. Do I get 5 years?
It appears so, if you meet the conditions.
Earned settlement · Care worker
The 15-year care route is gone. You may keep 5 years.
It depends on when you started and whether you meet the conditions.
Last updated: 2 November 2026
If you started before the May 2025 White Paper
5 years, if you meet the £25,000 salary, sponsorship, employment and minimum requirements. This includes people who switched into care before then.
If you started after that
The standard 10-year pathway, unless you meet the conditions for a shorter one.
If you don't qualify at 5 years
You can take another 5-year care visa, for genuine care work only, with no public funds.
If your sponsor loses its licence (from 1 Feb 2027)
120 days to find a job offer, then 60 days to sort your status.
What can push you to 20 years
- Using specified public funds (list not published)
- An immigration breach as an adult, like overstaying
What can get you refused: any adult UK criminal record, including conditional cautions and fines.
Questions
I came as a student and switched to care in 2023.
Your switch appears to count. Your student years don't.
My ILR date is January 2027. Am I affected?
Current rules apply for now, and no start date is out. The response doesn't cover people near their date, so speak to an IAA-regulated adviser.
Other routes
Sources (GOV.UK only)
Confirmed, but not in force. Current rules still apply. No start date yet. General information, not legal advice. Last updated 2 November 2026.