The UK government has introduced new rules requiring care providers in England to prioritise hiring international care workers already residing in the country before recruiting from overseas. The changes, which were laid in Parliament on March 12, 2025, will come into effect from April 9.
The Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care announced these measures as part of a broader effort to reduce reliance on international recruitment and restore order to the immigration system. The new policy ensures that care workers who have come to the UK seeking employment in adult social care can secure work without being displaced by new overseas arrivals.
A Shift in Immigration and Workforce Strategy
The new rules are part of the government’s Plan for Change, which aims to link immigration, skills, and visa systems to strengthen the domestic workforce and promote economic growth. Authorities have been working with the care sector to uphold high standards in immigration processes while supporting care workers whose sponsors have lost their licenses.
Between July 2022 and December 2024, the government revoked over 470 sponsor licenses in the care sector to combat exploitation and abuse. More than 39,000 workers have been associated with these sponsors since October 2020, highlighting the urgent need for a fair and regulated recruitment system.
Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, emphasised that international care workers already in the UK should be able to work without facing exploitation. She noted that the government has already taken steps to prevent employers from illegally charging workers for sponsorship costs, a practice that left many in unsustainable debt.
Increasing Wages and Cracking Down on Visa Abuse
The new rules will also see an increase in minimum salary thresholds to reflect the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Care workers on Skilled Worker visas must now earn a minimum of £12.82 per hour, ensuring fair wages across the sector.
In addition to the care sector reforms, the government is tightening controls on Short-Term Student visas, a route intended for those studying English language courses in the UK for 6 to 11 months. Authorities suspect that some applicants misuse this visa with no genuine intention to study or leave the UK. The new rules give caseworkers more power to refuse applications deemed suspicious.
Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, acknowledged the crucial role international care workers play in supporting vulnerable individuals. He stressed that prioritising those already in the UK would help get them back to work, reduce reliance on overseas recruitment, and ensure the social care sector has sufficient professionals.
A Broader Immigration Reform Strategy
The changes are part of a wider government effort to reduce the risk of visa abuse and address the record-high levels of legal migration in recent years. These policies are expected to be further detailed in the upcoming Immigration White Paper.
As the UK government continues to reform immigration laws and workforce policies, these new measures signal a shift towards a more controlled and sustainable approach to care sector employment. With a focus on protecting workers from exploitation and reducing reliance on international recruitment, the government aims to strengthen the UK’s domestic workforce while ensuring high-quality care services.