UK migrant care workers visa debate

In early August 2026, Prime Minister Andy Burnham signalled a possible exemption for overseas care workers from a Home Office proposal that would raise the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain from five to fifteen years. Burnham framed the move as a matter of fairness, citing his own experience caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s, while Housing Secretary Angela Rayner criticised the plan as “un‑British and unfair.” The proposal, driven by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, attracted more than 200,000 consultation responses, and the government said a final settlement model would be announced in the autumn.

A few days later, the Royal College of Nursing released a report documenting nearly 400 cases of exploitation of migrant nurses in adult social care between 2023 and 2025. The report described bullying, racism, financial extortion and threats of visa withdrawal, including demands for up to £25,000 to leave jobs. RCN chief executive Nicola Ranger called for an overhaul of the visa sponsorship system, urging the end of employer‑controlled sponsorship, the ability for workers to change jobs without a new sponsor, and stronger investigations of abuse. The call for reform was linked to Burnham’s announced National Care Service, highlighting the sector’s reliance on migrant staff and the need for protective immigration rules.