Which Jobs Qualify for 5-Year ILR?
Under earned settlement, eligible health and education workers paid on national pay scales can settle after 5 years regardless of salary. Here is the full list.
Under earned settlement, 30 health, education and social work occupations qualify for a 5-year pathway to ILR, even where pay is below the £50,271 higher-earner threshold. The list is taken from Annex C of CP 1707 and matches the occupations in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations whose going rates are based on national pay scales. You must still meet the minimum requirements: no criminal record, no Government debt, B2 English, the Life in the UK test and sustained contribution. This is announced policy and not yet in the Immigration Rules.
The full occupation list
| Occupation (SOC 2020 title) | Sector |
|---|---|
| Generalist medical practitioners | Health |
| Specialist medical practitioners | Health |
| Physiotherapists | Health |
| Occupational therapists | Health |
| Speech and language therapists | Health |
| Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists | Health |
| Clinical psychologists | Health |
| Other psychologists | Health |
| Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified | Health |
| Midwifery nurses | Health |
| Registered community nurses | Health |
| Registered specialist nurses | Health |
| Registered nurse practitioners | Health |
| Registered mental health nurses | Health |
| Registered children’s nurses | Health |
| Other registered nursing professionals | Health |
| Pharmacists | Health |
| Optometrists | Health |
| Dental practitioners | Health |
| Medical radiographers | Health |
| Paramedics | Health |
| Podiatrists | Health |
| Other health professionals not elsewhere classified | Health |
| Further education teaching professionals | Education |
| Secondary education teaching professionals | Education |
| Primary education teaching professionals | Education |
| Nursery education teaching professionals | Education |
| Special and additional needs education teaching professionals | Education |
| Head teachers and principals | Education |
| Social workers | Social work |
Source: CP 1707, Annex C, derived from Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations. The final list will be set in the Immigration Rules.
How the public service pathway works
- 5 years in an eligible occupation: CP 1707 Table 1 lists “worked in an eligible public service occupation for 5 years” as one way onto the 5-year pathway.
- Salary does not decide it: the Government accepted that pay set by national pay structures does not reflect the value of these roles. For example, a social worker earning below £50,271 can still use the 5-year pathway.
- Minimum standards still apply: no criminal record, no outstanding Government debt, B2 English, Life in the UK test, and no specified public funds in the last 5 years.
- Based on independent advice: the approach follows the Migration Advisory Committee’s advice on these occupations.
Below-RQF6 roles (transitional)
Workers in health and education occupations below RQF level 6 that are on a national pay scale for the purposes of the Immigration Rules, such as nursing auxiliaries and teaching assistants, keep a 5-year route only if they came to the UK before the May 2025 Immigration White Paper and meet the requirements of their visa. This is a one-off arrangement, not a permanent pathway: people arriving after May 2025 in these roles follow the standard 10-year pathway.
If your job is not listed
You may still reach 5 years by earning at least £50,271 in 3 of the last 5 years, or through a British connection (partner of a British citizen, UK Ancestry). Otherwise the default is 10 years. Use the earned settlement calculator to see your likely pathway, or the Skilled Worker ILR guide for current rules.
Official sources
Always check the original documents for the current position.
- GOV.UK — A Fairer Pathway to Settlement: Government response (CP 1707) — the final policy, 2 November 2026
- GOV.UK — Appendix Skilled Occupations — Table 3 national pay scale occupations
- GOV.UK — Home Secretary’s statement to Parliament — timing of the rule changes
- GOV.UK — Indefinite Leave to Remain — the rules that apply today
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about the public service route to 5-year settlement.
Do nurses get ILR after 5 years under the new rules?
Do teachers qualify for 5-year ILR?
Do social workers qualify for the 5-year pathway?
Do teaching assistants or healthcare assistants get 5-year ILR?
Is this list final?
Our editorial and accuracy standards
ILR Calculator UK is an independent, free settlement-planning resource. This page is written from the Government response CP 1707 and the Immigration Rules, with primary sources linked. We mark clearly what is announced policy and what is law, and re-check the page after each Statement of Changes. Researched and maintained by Howard Wilson, Editor. Read our editorial standards.
This site provides general information, not regulated immigration advice. For a view on your own case, use an adviser regulated by the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA) or a solicitor.