Following the publication of the immigration white paper in May, the government intends to close the social care visas to new applications for entry clearance. The Home Office has published further details on this reform, confirming on 1 July that, as of 22 July 2025, care worker and senior care worker occupations will be closed to new applications from abroad.
The government communication further stated that:
“For a transition period until 2028, we will permit visa extensions and in-country switching for those already in the country with working rights, but this will be kept under review.”
Over the last year, the care sector has faced numerous conflicts with the Home Office, some even finding their way to court. Home Office data for 2024 indicated a 245% rise in sponsor licence suspensions and a 396% surge in revocations. All signs indicate towards an even more challenging year, with the white paper confirming:
“Innovative financial measures, penalties or sanctions, including for sponsors of migrant workers or students, which will incentivise them to show greater responsibility in their sponsorship practices, as well as measures which will support compliance with visa conditions by migrants.”
From 22 July 2025, the Home Office will refuse new entry clearance applications that rely on Standard Occupational Classification codes 6135 (care workers and home carers) or 6136 (senior care workers), meaning that sponsors can no longer recruit frontline carers directly from overseas.
Care home companies across the UK will naturally wonder what this means for their business. There are a number of significant implications for stakeholders to note:
- It is still possible to submit applications for care worker visas by entry clearance from abroad up to 21 July 2025.
- Care workers from overseas who are already in the UK will be permitted to extend their visas but should be aware of the deadlines to do so.
- Those currently sponsored to work in these occupations can continue to do so but are likely to face a 10-year route to settlement rather than the five years they had anticipated.
- Skills and health surcharges are due to increase by the end of this year and both employers and employees should factor this into any decision on extensions.
- It is still possible for migrants outside the care worker route to apply to switch to this category, though this is likely to change and end completely by July 2028.
Transitional arrangements will operate until 22 July 2028. Sponsored care workers already in the UK can move into, or remain in, a 6135/6136 post, provided they have been lawfully employed by the same sponsor for at least three months before the new certificate of sponsorship is issued.
After 22 July 2028 the codes will be removed from both the Immigration Salary List and the Temporary Shortage List, ending sponsorship entirely.
If you have any questions about the changes to immigration rules and/or would like assistance with submitting an immigration application, please contact us .
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