- Introduction
- Why Is the UK Closing the Care Worker Visa Route?
- What Is Actually Changing on 22 July 2025?
- Are There Any Transitional Arrangements?
- What Should Care Sector Employers Do Now?
- How This Fits Into Wider Immigration Reforms
- How Can WorkPermitCloud Help?
- Conclusion
- Glossary
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Introduction
The UK Government has announced a major policy shift that will close the Care Worker and Senior Care Worker visa route to new overseas applicants from 22 July 2025. This change, confirmed through the Statement of Changes HC 997 and rooted in the May 2025 Immigration White Paper titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System”, marks the end of direct international recruitment for frontline carers under the Skilled Worker route.
If you’re a care provider relying on overseas talent or a care worker planning to come to the UK, this blog will walk you through what’s changing, why it’s happening, and what your next steps should be.
2. Why Is the UK Closing the Care Worker Visa Route?
The UK Government is undertaking a full reset of its immigration system to reduce net migration and tackle abuse within lower-skilled recruitment sectors. The closure of the care visa route is a response to:
● Widespread concerns of exploitation in the care sector
● A desire to promote domestic workforce development
● The aim to restore order and control to the immigration system
The Health and Care Visa sub-category remains within the Skilled Worker route, but the SOC codes 6135 (Care Workers) and 6136 (Senior Care Workers) will be withdrawn for new overseas applicants from 22 July 2025.
3. What Is Actually Changing on 22 July 2025?
From 22 July 2025:
⧁ Employers will no longer be able to sponsor new care or senior care workers from overseas.
⧁ New entry clearance (visa) applications using SOC 6135 or 6136 will be refused.
⧁ These roles will be removed from the Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List over time.
⧁ The new rules apply to care providers across the UK, and particularly to those in England regulated by the CQC.
Although the broader Health and Care visa route remains open, the pathway for care worker recruitment is being phased out entirely.
4. Are There Any Transitional Arrangements?
Yes. Transitional protections are in place until 22 July 2028 for care workers who are already in the UK. These arrangements allow:
◆ Existing sponsored care workers to change jobs or employers in the same sector,
◆ Provided they have been employed for at least three months before the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) is issued.
◆ New sponsors must be CQC-registered care providers in England, and remain compliant.
However, after 22 July 2028, SOC 6135 and 6136 will be completely removed from all visa lists, fully ending sponsorship opportunities for these roles.
5. What Should Care Sector Employers Do Now?
Care providers currently relying on international recruitment must act fast:
✔ Stop recruiting new care workers from overseas under SOC codes 6135 and 6136.
✔ Conduct a compliance review of your sponsor licence and HR systems.
✔ Retain existing care workers lawfully, ensuring three months’ employment history before any new CoS.
✔ Prepare for increased Home Office scrutiny and sponsor compliance audits.
✔ Begin developing a UK-based workforce strategy to avoid future immigration restrictions.
Failure to comply could lead to licence revocation, loss of workforce, and reputational damage.
6. How This Fits Into Wider Immigration Reforms
This visa route closure is part of a much larger shift in UK immigration policy. From July 2025, the UK is:
● Raising to RQF Level 6 (degree level) or above, significantly reducing the number of eligible occupations for new sponsorships.
● Raising the minimum salary and skill thresholds
● Removing over 100 job roles from the Skilled Worker route
● Introducing a temporary, time-limited Shortage Occupation List
● Making it harder to bring dependants and get visa fee discounts for certain roles
The UK Government has made it clear: immigration will only support key sectors and roles aligned with domestic training strategies.
7. How Can WorkPermitCloud Help?
At WorkPermitCloud Ltd, we understand that these changes can be overwhelming—especially for care providers and workers with ongoing recruitment plans.
Our expert team can help you:
● Understand the transitional arrangements and your obligations
● Review and adjust your sponsorship strategy
● Maintain full compliance to protect your sponsor licence
● Explore alternative visa options and workforce planning support
📞 Call us: +44 020 8087 2343
📧 Email: info@workpermitcloud.co.uk
📅 Book a free consultation: calendly.com/lutfur-workpermitcloud
If you need immediate assistance, you can submit a Priority Service Request and our team will respond promptly:
Let us help you stay informed, prepared, and supported.
8. Conclusion
The closure of the Care Worker and Senior Care Worker visa route on 22 July 2025 signals a major policy shift in UK immigration. While transitional support is available until 2028, the route is clearly on a path to full closure.
If you are an employer, the time to act is now—review your workforce, protect your sponsor licence, and plan for the future. If you are a care worker already in the UK, it’s vital to understand your rights under transitional rules.
At WorkPermitCloud, we’re here to guide you through every step.
9. Glossary
Term | Definition |
| SOC Code | Standard Occupational Classification code used to identify job roles for immigration purposes. |
| Care Worker (SOC 6135) | A person employed to provide personal care and support to vulnerable individuals in homes or care facilities. |
| Senior Care Worker (SOC 6136) | A supervisory role within care settings, responsible for overseeing care staff and managing care plans. |
| Health and Care Visa | A sub-category of the Skilled Worker route for eligible health and social care professionals. |
| Skilled Worker Route | UK visa route allowing overseas workers to take up eligible skilled jobs in the UK with sponsorship. |
| Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) | A digital document issued by a licensed sponsor to support a worker’s visa application. |
| CQC | Care Quality Commission – the regulatory body for health and social care providers in England. |
| Statement of Changes HC 997 | A legal document outlining amendments to the UK Immigration Rules, laid before Parliament in July 2025. |
| Immigration Salary List (ISL) | A list of jobs eligible for sponsorship under lower salary thresholds (to be replaced). |
| Temporary Shortage List (TSL) | A temporary list of priority occupations eligible for overseas recruitment until the end of 2026. |
