🇬🇧 UK to Close the Care-Worker Visa for New Overseas Applicants: Other Visa Options Open to You
The UK Government has confirmed a major immigration change: from 9 April 2025 the “general care worker” route (SOC 6135/6136) under the Health and Care Worker visa will shut for applicants applying from outside Britain. Current visa-holders may stay and even extend until 2028, but fresh overseas hires will no longer be sponsored. Below is a plain-English guide to what ends, what stays, and which alternative visas can still open the door to Britain’s health sector.
1. What Is Changing?
| Item | Before April 2025 | After 9 April 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| New overseas applications | Care homes could sponsor frontline carers | Closed – no new out-of-country filings |
| Existing visa-holders | Could renew | May extend or switch inside the UK until 2028 |
| Other health roles (nurses, doctors, allied health) | Open | Unchanged – still eligible |
Government notice: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/statement-of-changes-home-office-rules-april-2025
2. Why the Ban?
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says the policy forms part of a “fundamental shift” aimed at:
- Cutting net migration
- Training UK residents for social-care roles
- Reducing exploitation linked to overseas recruitment
The Department of Health & Social Care will channel new funds into local training hubs throughout 2025–2027.
Recommended: UK Visa Funds & Salary Rules You Must Know for 2025–2026
3. If You Already Work as a Carer in the UK
- Renew early. File an extension before your current leave expires.
- Consider switching to another visa (see section 4).
- Plan for 2028. After that, the care-worker SOC codes are expected to disappear from sponsorship lists entirely.
4. Alternative Visa Routes Still Open
| Route | Who Qualifies? | Key Requirements | Typical Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health & Care Worker visa (qualified roles) | Nurses, doctors, senior carers (SOC 6146) | Job offer + CoS + salary threshold | 3 weeks; priority upgrades available https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa |
| Skilled Worker visa | Any role on the UK shortage list outside general care | Sponsor + salary (usually £38,700) | About 3 weeks https://www.gov.uk/skilled-worker-visa |
| Student visa → Graduate route | Future carers who study in UK | Enrol on degree; 2-year post-study work | 8 weeks https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa |
| Temporary visas (e.g., Seasonal Worker) | Agriculture, poultry, horticulture | Sponsor + 6-month cap | 3–6 weeks https://www.gov.uk/seasonal-worker-visa |
5. Tips for Prospective Migrants
- Upskill into higher bands. Senior carer or nursing qualifications still unlock sponsorship.
- Track occupation lists. The Migration Advisory Committee updates shortage codes twice a year.
- Budget for the IHS. Only Health & Care Worker visa holders remain exempt from the £1,035 annual surcharge.
- Use authorised advisers. Check the OISC register before paying for immigration help.
6. Timeline at a Glance
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Now – 8 Apr 2025 | Final overseas care-worker applications accepted |
| 9 Apr 2025 | Route closes to new out-of-country applicants |
| 2025 – 2028 | In-country carers may extend or switch |
| Post-2028 | Policy up for review; domestic workforce targets assessed |
Bottom Line
Closing the care-worker visa to fresh overseas talent narrows one of the easiest routes into UK social care. Yet pathways remain for nurses, senior carers, and other skilled health professionals—plus study-to-work options. Stay informed, upgrade your credentials, and explore alternative sponsorship codes to keep your UK career plans alive.
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