Health and Care Worker visas

Early day motion 2683, tabled 26 January 2026 by Cameron Thomas (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 40 members.

That this House notes with concern the thousands of migrants currently working on Health and Care Worker visas, most notably those classified as medium-skilled workers, who, following new Government reforms, will not be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain for a further fifteen years, despite having been promised upon their arrival that the qualifying period would be five years; acknowledges that this will not only have a significant impact on their professional careers but also that they have already committed their lives, and those of their families, to the United Kingdom; further notes with concern that, following the termination of the Health and Care Worker visa route from 2028, some employers use the threat of withdrawing sponsorship to force migrant workers into extreme conditions and prevents them from being able to challenge poor working environments; and calls on the Government to outline whether it plans to introduce any transitional arrangements to ease the impact of changes to ILR eligibility for those already in the UK, or any other changes that may affect migrants currently working in social care, and to set out what steps it will take to tackle exploitative employers.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 31, Green 4, Scottish National Party 2, DUP 1, Labour 1, Labour/Co-operative 1.