Can health and care workers get ILR?

Yes. Health and Care Worker visa holders can apply for ILR after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK. They must meet the same general ILR requirements including continuous residence, English language, Life in the UK test, and good character.

What salary do I need for ILR as a care worker?

At the ILR stage, your salary must meet the going rate for your occupation. Health and care worker going rates are lower than the general Skilled Worker threshold. Check the current going rate for your specific SOC code on GOV.UK.

Do I still get the IHS exemption for ILR?

No. The IHS exemption applies to Health and Care Worker visa applications, not ILR. However, ILR gives you permanent NHS access, so you will never pay IHS again after receiving settlement.

ILR for Health and Care Workers: Settlement Guide 2026

Health and Care Worker visa holders qualify for ILR after 5 years of continuous residence. The application process follows the standard Skilled Worker ILR route but benefits from lower salary thresholds. You must meet the continuous residence, English language, Life in the UK test, and good character requirements.

Eligibility

To apply for ILR as a health and care worker, you must:

Have held a Health and Care Worker visa (or qualifying predecessor) for 5 continuous years.
Still be working in a health and care role at the time of application.
Be paid at least the going rate for your occupation. See our salary guide.
Meet the continuous residence requirement (no more than 180 days absent in any 12-month period).
Pass the Life in the UK test.
Meet the English language requirement at B1.
Meet the good character requirement.

Salary at the ILR Stage

Your salary must meet the going rate for your occupation at the time you apply for ILR, not when your visa was granted. This is important because going rates can change between Immigration Rules updates.

Health and care roles typically have lower going rates than other Skilled Worker occupations, reflecting the pay structures in the NHS and social care sector. However, ensure your current salary meets the current rate. See our salary guide.

Evidence Needed

For your ILR application, provide:

A letter from your employer confirming your role, salary, and continued employment.
Payslips for the most recent period.
Your Life in the UK test pass certificate.
English language test evidence (or exemption).
Travel history for the qualifying period. See our evidence of residence guide.

For the full list, see our documents checklist.

Application Process

Apply online through GOV.UK. You can apply up to 28 days before your qualifying date.

After submitting, attend a biometrics appointment. Standard processing takes approximately 8 weeks. See our processing time guide.

For Your Employer

Employers should be aware that when a sponsored worker receives ILR:

The worker is no longer tied to the sponsor.
The sponsorship reporting duties end.
The worker can change jobs freely.
Report the change through the Sponsor Management System.

See our health care sponsorship guide for employer guidance.

After ILR

After receiving ILR, you gain permanent residence and access to the full range of UK benefits and services. See our benefits after ILR guide. You can then proceed to British citizenship.