Care-worker visa route closing
By Den Allday, Marketing Executive
08 July 2025
What will it mean for overseas recruitment?
Starting 22 July 2025, the UK will end overseas recruitment of care and senior-care workers under the Skilled Worker route (SOC codes?6135/6136). Current sponsored workers can extend until 22 July 2028, but no new international applicants will be allowed after July 2025. This shift intensifies existing labour shortages: Skills for Care reported ~131,000 vacancies in 2024, and overseas staff turnover rates are 25?% lower than domestic hires .
The Home Office has raised the general Skilled Worker salary threshold from £38,700 to £41,700 effective 22 July, although health and education roles retain a £25,000 minimum. A new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) for key RQF-3 to 5 roles, including care, runs until 31 Dec 2026 (carers stay until 2028), with dependants barred from joining those on TSL roles