New rules for sponsoring overseas care workers in England from 9 April 2025

In a Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules published last week, the Home Office set out new rules for employers sponsoring international care workers in England.

The changes, which come into effect on 9 April 2025, will require employers to prioritise hiring international care workers who are already in England before recruiting from overseas.

Care providers who wish to recruit a new worker from overseas will first need to prove that they have already attempted to recruit a worker from within England who needs new sponsorship. This measure will ensure that those who came to the UK to pursue a career in adult social care can do so, and will support care workers into alternative jobs when their sponsor has had their licence removed.

Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, said: “International care workers play a vital role in our social care workforce. We value their contribution and work supporting vulnerable people across the country every day.

As we crack down on shameful rogue operators exploiting overseas workers here in the UK, we must do all we can to get the victims back into rewarding careers in adult social care.

Prioritising care workers who are already in the UK will get people back to work reducing our reliance on international recruitment, and make sure our social care sector has the care professionals it needs.”

Background to the policy change

The new rules are being introduced in response to the growing pool of care workers in the UK who no longer have sponsorship, because their sponsors have been unable to offer sufficient work and/or have lost their sponsor licences.

Between July 2022 and December 2024, the government has revoked more than 470 sponsor licences in the care sector to clamp down on abuse and exploitation. More than 39,000 workers have been associated with these sponsors since October 2020.

How will the new rules work in practice?

The new rules relate only to care jobs with working locations entirely in England. Applications relating to working locations in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland are unaffected.

The changes also do not apply to workers in England who were already sponsored in these occupations before the changes take effect (including those changing employers), or those switching from other immigration routes who have been working lawfully for their sponsor for at least three months.

From 9 April, sponsors must try to recruit from this pool of workers who are seeking new employment before seeking to sponsor new recruits from other immigration routes or from overseas. To enforce this requirement, sponsors must provide confirmation from the relevant regional or sub-regional partnership that they have tried to recruit in this way, and confirm that no suitable workers were available from this pool.

Immigration compliance in the care sector

It is now more important than ever for employers in the care sector to remain compliant with the immigration rules and uphold their sponsorship duties, as the Home Office continues to crack down on rogue employers in high-risk sectors.

Smith Stone Walters has worked with many care providers to help them understand their legal obligations when it comes to sponsoring care workers from overseas. If you have questions about immigration compliance or want support in managing your migrant workforce, we can help.

To speak to a qualified immigration advisor, please contact us today.