Caregiver Jobs in the UK with Visa Sponsorship for Immigrants

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The United Kingdom has long been a significant destination for foreign workers, particularly in its vital health and social care sectors. The demand for caregivers remains high due to an aging population and increasing care needs.1 For immigrants seeking a stable career with visa sponsorship in the UK, caregiver roles offer a clear pathway, though recent immigration policy changes for 2025 have significantly reshaped the landscape.

 

It’s critical for aspiring caregivers to understand these new rules, especially concerning eligible occupations, salary thresholds, and the ability to bring dependents.

 

The Enduring Demand for Caregivers in the UK (2025/2026)

 

The UK faces a persistent and growing shortage of care workers, driven primarily by demographic shifts and evolving care needs:2

 

  • Aging Population: The UK has a steadily aging population, with a significant increase in the number of individuals requiring adult social care support, both in residential settings and in their own homes.3 The number of people aged 85 and over is projected to double in the next 25 years.

     

  • Increased Care Needs: More individuals are living longer with complex health conditions, necessitating ongoing care and support.4

     

  • Workforce Challenges: Despite domestic recruitment efforts, the sector faces high vacancy rates and significant turnover.5 This creates a reliance on international recruitment to fill critical roles.

     

  • Government Focus: The UK government recognizes the vital role of social care and has introduced specific visa routes, like the Health and Care Worker visa, to attract overseas talent.

This high demand generally creates a favorable environment for visa sponsorship. However, recent policy changes have introduced new hurdles that must be carefully navigated.

 

Understanding Caregiver Roles and Compensation in the UK

 

Caregiver roles in the UK are broad and include various titles, such as:

  • Care Worker / Home Carer (SOC code 6135): Provides personal care, practical support, and companionship to individuals in their homes or residential settings.6

     

  • Senior Care Worker (SOC code 6136): Similar duties to a Care Worker but often with supervisory responsibilities, leading a small team, or handling more complex care plans.7

     

  • Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants (SOC code 6131):8 Work under the supervision of nurses, typically in hospitals or nursing homes, providing basic patient care.

     

Compensation (as of July 2025):

The average salary for a Caregiver in the UK is approximately £27,468 per year, translating to about £13.57 per hour. Senior Care Workers would typically earn more. Specific regional variations exist, with areas like Hounslow (Greater London) reporting average caregiver salaries of £74,000 per year, and Winchester (Hampshire) at £70,000. Live-in caregivers can see salaries around £40,812 per year (£20.16 per hour) on average.

It’s important to note that the minimum salary threshold for the Health and Care Worker visa is a critical factor, and it has been subject to changes. As of July 2025, for Care Workers (SOC 6135) and Senior Care Workers (SOC 6136) on the Immigration Salary List (ISL), the minimum salary required is £23,200 per year or the full going rate for the role, whichever is higher.

 

The Health and Care Worker Visa: Your Primary Pathway

 

The Health and Care Worker visa is the primary route for caregivers seeking to work in the UK with visa sponsorship. It is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa, offering several advantages compared to the general Skilled Worker route.9

 

 

Key Eligibility Requirements for 2025/2026:

 

  1. Job Offer from an Approved Sponsor: You must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer who holds a valid sponsor license from the Home Office. This employer must be either an NHS body or trust, an organization providing medical services to the NHS, or an organization providing adult social care.10 For Care Workers and Senior Care Workers in England, the employer must also be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).11

     

  2. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your employer must issue you an electronic Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that contains a unique reference number and details about your role, salary, and confirms your eligibility for this visa route.12

     

  3. Eligible Occupation Code: Your job must fall under an eligible Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code.
    • Crucial Change from 22 July 2025: Care Workers and Home Carers (SOC 6135) and Senior Care Workers (SOC 6136) are being removed from the eligible occupations list for new Skilled Worker visa applications from outside the UK.13 This means that, for most new applicants, direct recruitment from overseas for these specific roles will cease.

       

    • Nursing Auxiliaries and Assistants (SOC 6131) and other clinical roles (e.g., Registered Nurses, Paramedics, Physiotherapists) remain eligible.
    • Impact: This is a major policy shift aimed at reducing net migration. While existing visa holders in these roles can typically extend or switch to other routes if eligible, new overseas recruitment will be severely limited or cease for SOC 6135 and 6136 from the specified date.
  4. Salary Requirements: You must be paid a minimum salary that meets the “going rate” for your job’s occupation code or the general salary threshold for the Health and Care Worker visa, whichever is higher.14

     

    • As of July 2025, the general salary threshold is £29,000 per year or the going rate for the specific role (if higher).
    • For jobs on the Immigration Salary List (ISL), the salary threshold is typically £23,200 or the occupation-specific threshold (whichever is higher). Care Worker (6135) and Senior Care Worker (6136) were on the ISL, benefiting from this lower threshold, but their removal from the eligible occupations for new overseas recruits from July 22, 2025, changes this landscape significantly.15

       

  5. English Language Proficiency: You must prove your knowledge of English to at least Level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. This is usually demonstrated by passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT). There are exemptions for nationals of majority English-speaking countries or those with a degree taught in English.16

     

  6. Financial Support: You must show that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK (at least £1,270 for 28 consecutive days) unless your employer confirms on your CoS that they will support you for your first month.
  7. Tuberculosis (TB) Test Results: If you are from a country where TB testing is required (e.g., Nigeria), you must provide a negative TB test certificate.
  8. Criminal Record Certificate: You will need to provide a criminal record certificate from any country you’ve lived in for 12 months or more over the last 10 years (or since you turned 18 if you’re under 28), unless your job is exempt.

 

Crucial Policy Changes Affecting Caregivers from July 22, 2025:

 

  • Removal of Care Worker (SOC 6135) and Senior Care Worker (SOC 6136) from Eligible Occupations: This is the most significant change. For most new visa applications submitted from outside the UK after July 22, 2025, these specific care roles will no longer be eligible for sponsorship under the Health and Care Worker visa route.17 This aims to reduce overall migration numbers and reliance on lower-skilled foreign labor.18

     

  • Dependents Ban (Effective March 11, 2024): Care Workers and Senior Care Workers (SOC 6135 & 6136) on the Health and Care Worker Visa cannot bring dependants (spouses/partners or children) to the UK on applications submitted from March 11, 2024, onwards.19 This restriction remains in place.

     

  • Proof of Local Recruitment Efforts (Effective April 9, 2025): Care providers in England seeking to recruit care workers and senior care workers from overseas (or those switching from another visa route) must first provide proof that they have attempted to recruit a worke20r already resident in England through working with regional partnerships before they can hire from overseas. This new requirement applies even to roles that might still be eligible under specific (and very limited) circumstances after July 22, 2025.

     

  • Increased Skill Threshold (General Skilled Worker Visa): The minimum skill level for Skilled Worker visas will rise from RQF Level 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF Level 6 (graduate level) from July 22, 2025.21 This further solidifies the ineligibility of care worker roles (RQF 3) for the general Skilled Worker route, irrespective of salary.

     

 

The Health and Care Worker Visa Application Process (General Steps)

 

  1. Secure an Eligible Job Offer: This is the absolute prerequisite. The job offer must be from a Home Office-approved sponsor for an eligible occupation code (which, for most new applicants, will exclude SOC 6135 and 6136 from July 22, 2025).22

     

  2. Obtain Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your sponsoring employer will issue you a CoS. This is not a physical document but an electronic record.
  3. Prepare Required Documents: Gather all necessary documents (passport, English test results, financial proof, TB test results, criminal record certificate, etc.). Ensure all non-English/Welsh documents have certified translations.23

     

  4. Apply Online: Complete the online application form on the UK government website.
  5. Pay Fees: Pay the application fee (reduced compared to the general Skilled Worker visa: £304 for up to 3 years, £590 for over 3 years). You are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which is a significant financial saving.24

     

  6. Biometrics Appointment: Book and attend an appointment at a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide your fingerprints and photograph.25

     

  7. Submit Documents: Upload or submit your supporting documents as instructed.
  8. Decision: You’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks of your biometrics appointment. Priority services may be available for faster decisions.

 

Pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (Settlement)

 

The Health and Care Worker visa offers a clear pathway to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain – ILR) after 5 years of continuous residence in the UK, provided you continue to meet eligibility requirements, including salary thresholds, and pass the Life in the UK test.26

 

 

Conclusion

 

The UK’s demand for care services remains critical, but recent stringent immigration policy changes for 2025/2026 have profoundly impacted the availability of visa sponsorship for general Care Worker (SOC 6135) and Senior Care Worker (SOC 6136) roles from outside the UK.27 As of July 22, 2025, these specific roles are being removed from the eligible occupations for new overseas recruitment. Additionally, the ban on dependants for these roles remains.

 

For those still considering care work in the UK, it is essential to:

  1. Target other eligible healthcare support roles if your qualifications permit (e.g., Nursing Auxiliaries, SOC 6131, if still eligible under new rules).
  2. Focus on employers who already have staff in the UK and might be able to assign a CoS for internal switches until July 2028 (though this is not for new overseas recruitment).
  3. Be aware of stricter local recruitment requirements that came into effect in April 2025.
  4. Consider alternative countries that still offer clearer pathways for general care workers (e.g., Canada, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Ireland).

Navigating UK immigration for care roles has become significantly more challenging for new overseas applicants in 2025/2026. Thorough research of the very latest Home Office guidance and, ideally, consultation with a UK immigration solicitor are more crucial than ever.

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