March 15th, 2025 at 05:40 am

UK Care Worker Visa Updates: Revised Salary Thresholds and New Hiring Regulations

The UK has introduced new visa regulations aimed at prioritizing local recruitment for care workers and tightening rules on student visas. Effective April 9, care providers must first hire workers already in the UK before recruiting from overseas. Additionally, salary thresholds for Skilled Worker visa holders will increase to ensure fair pay.

Overview of the Care Worker Visa

The Care Worker Visa allows foreign healthcare professionals to work in the UK’s adult social care sector. This visa falls under the Skilled Worker route, which requires employer sponsorship and adherence to specific salary and job role criteria.

New Recruitment Rules for Care Workers

Starting April 9, care providers in England must prioritize local workers who need new sponsorship before hiring from abroad. This policy aims to:

• Help foreign workers already in the UK secure employment.
• Reduce dependence on international recruitment.

The government is intensifying efforts to prevent exploitation of the visa system. Key actions include:

• Revoking over 470 sponsor licenses in the care sector since July 2022.
• Impacting more than 39,000 workers since October 2020.
• Banning employers from charging workers for sponsorship costs to prevent financial exploitation.

Updated Salary Requirements

To align wages with the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data, the government has set a new minimum hourly pay rate for Skilled Worker visa holders, including care workers, at £12.82. In addition, salary thresholds for health and education professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and teachers, will be adjusted to align with national pay scales.

Stricter Rules for Short-Term Student Visas

In a broader effort to prevent visa misuse, the government is implementing stricter measures on the Short-Term Student visa. This visa allows individuals to study English language courses in the UK for six to eleven months. Authorities are concerned that this route is being exploited by those with no genuine intention to study or leave the country.

New regulations will empower caseworkers to reject applications suspected of fraud. This action aims to maintain the integrity of the visa system.

Government’s Stance on Immigration Reform

Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, has acknowledged the contributions of international care workers. However, he emphasized the need to reduce the UK’s reliance on overseas labor. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling exploitation and prioritizing job placements for existing care workers in the UK.

These measures align with the government’s broader strategy to regulate migration levels and prevent abuses in the Student and Graduate visa routes. More details will be outlined in the upcoming Immigration White Paper.

Implications for Foreign Workers

For foreign workers, these changes mean:

• Care workers already in the UK will have priority for new sponsorship over overseas applicants.
• Employers must comply with stricter recruitment rules, reducing opportunities for non-compliant sponsors.
• Higher salary thresholds will ensure fair wages for Skilled Worker visa holders.
• Student visa applicants will face increased scrutiny to prevent fraudulent applications.

The UK government continues to reform the immigration system. These efforts aim to balance economic needs with controlled migration. Prospective workers and students should stay informed about policy changes to avoid disruptions to their plans.