Two-thirds cut in migrant workers staying permanently under minimum salary plans Currently, migrants from outside the EU who work legitimately in the UK for five years are eligible to apply for settlement, meaning they can live here permanently and later apply for British citizenship. Ministers want to break the almost automatic link between people arriving on work permits and settlement. Under the proposals, in future only those earning £35,000 or more will be eligible for settlement after five years. Mrs May hopes that will ensure only the "brightest and best" will remain here in the long term. It echoes similar recommendations currently being considered by the Government to require those sponsoring partners or relatives arriving on family visas to earn more than £25,000. However, the settlement proposals will meet opposition from business leaders who are concerned it will damage the UK's ability to attract the best workers. The Department of Health is also said to be concerned that the supply of foreign nurses will dry up. There are also plans to change the rules surrounding foreign domestic workers such as nannies, au pairs, cooks and servants. Those from outside the EU will only be allowed to come to the UK with foreign visitors and must leave after six months, when the visitor also leaves. Those working for foreign diplomats, however, will be allowed to remain with the diplomat until their tour of duty ends. In 2010, almost 15,700 visas were handed to overseas domestic workers and 1,360 were allowed to settle here.