UK Care Worker Visa Closed: What Options Remain in 2026?

The UK care worker visa closed to applicants outside the UK on 22 July 2025. People already in the UK can still switch into care worker and senior care worker roles until 22 July 2028, but only if they have worked lawfully for the sponsoring employer for at least 3 months before the certificate of sponsorship is issued. Existing care workers can usually extend or change sponsor.

Key points

• No new entry clearance applications are accepted for care workers (6135) or senior care workers (6136).
• In-country switching is allowed until 22 July 2028, subject to the 3-month rule, and is “kept under review”.
• Current care workers can extend, update or move to another licensed employer.
• In England, the employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
• Qualified health professionals (doctors, nurses, allied health) can still apply from overseas.

What changed on 22 July 2025

The Statement of Changes HC 997 ended overseas recruitment into adult social care. The explanatory memorandum says the changes “close entry clearance applications for Skilled Workers sponsored in these occupation codes”, meaning 6135 (care workers and home carers) and 6136 (senior care workers).

This means:

• If you are outside the UK, you cannot get a new visa to come and work as a care worker or senior care worker.
• A UK care provider cannot sponsor you from overseas into these roles.
• Job adverts promising a “care worker visa” from abroad should be treated with great caution.

Who can still get a care worker visa

The Health and Care Worker your job page describes codes 6135 and 6136 as medium-skilled codes that qualify for extending, updating or switching, but not for a first application from outside the UK.

Switching from another visa (until 22 July 2028)

You can switch into a care role from inside the UK if:

1. You hold another visa that allows switching (for example a Student, Graduate or dependant visa, subject to the rules for that route).
2. You have worked legally in the job for your sponsor for at least 3 months before the CoS is issued.
3. Your employer holds a sponsor licence and, in England, is registered with the CQC.
4. The salary and other Health and Care Worker requirements are met.

HC 997 states the switching window runs “for a transition period until 22 July 2028” and that it “will be kept under review”. The government could close it earlier, so do not leave plans until the last moment.

Extending or changing employer

If you already hold a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa as a care worker, you can usually:

• extend your visa with your current sponsor
• update your visa to move to a new licensed sponsor
• move into a senior care worker role

To extend or update, GOV.UK says you must have held a Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visa continuously since your CoS was issued.

If your sponsor loses its licence

If your sponsor’s licence is revoked, you would usually need to find a new licensed sponsor within the time the Home Office allows. Contact a regulated adviser as soon as you are told about a revocation.

Salary for care roles

The Health and Care Worker route usually requires £25,000 or the going rate, whichever is higher. Codes 6135 and 6136 are listed on GOV.UK as having different salary rules, so check the your job page for the current figure that applies to care roles before you sign a contract.

Can care workers bring dependants?

Under HC 997, workers sponsored from 22 July 2025 in RQF 3 to 5 roles on the shortage lists generally cannot bring dependants. Care roles were given separate treatment, and people already in the route before the changes were protected. Dependant rules for care workers are complex, so confirm your position on GOV.UK or with an adviser before making family plans.

Alternatives if you cannot use the care route

If you are outside the UK and wanted to work in care, other routes may fit depending on your background:

Route	Who it suits	Notes
Health and Care Worker (professional roles)	Registered nurses, doctors, allied health professionals, social workers	Still open from overseas. See Health and Care Worker visa: who still qualifies
Skilled Worker (RQF 6 roles)	Degree-level jobs, such as care home managers in some cases	£41,700 general threshold. See our Skilled Worker visa guide
Student visa	People who want to retrain, for example in nursing	Separate rules on work hours and dependants
Family visas	Partners of British citizens or settled people	Not tied to employment

Retraining as a nurse is one common route into UK health and social care work. You would need to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Council before taking a nursing role.

Timeline of the care worker changes

Date	What happened	Status (October 2026)
1 July 2025	Statement of Changes HC 997 laid before Parliament	Done
22 July 2025	Overseas applications in codes 6135 and 6136 closed; RQF 6 skill level introduced for most new Skilled Worker roles	In force
End of 2026	Temporary Shortage List and Immigration Salary List entries due to expire (adult social care handled separately)	Scheduled
22 July 2028	In-country switching into care roles due to end	Scheduled, kept under review

Care roles are treated separately from the general shortage list review. For the wider picture on medium-skilled jobs, see our explainer on the Temporary Shortage List after December 2026.

Documents to prepare if you plan to switch

If you are already in the UK and working for a care provider, start gathering evidence early. You will usually need:

• your passport and current eVisa details (your UKVI account)
• the certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer
• payslips and an employment contract showing at least 3 months of lawful work for the sponsor before the CoS was issued
• English language evidence, unless you are exempt
• proof of maintenance funds, unless you have been in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months or your employer certifies maintenance The 3-month rule is strict. Work done in breach of your current visa conditions, for example beyond the hours allowed on a Student visa, will not count as lawful work and can lead to refusal.

What happens after July 2028?

The government has not said what will replace the switching window. Unless the rules change, from 22 July 2028 people in the UK on other visas will no longer be able to switch into care worker or senior care worker roles. Care workers already in the route may still be able to extend or change sponsor, but this could also change. Keep your status under review rather than assuming today’s rules will continue.

Spotting scams

The closure has not stopped fraudulent offers. Be wary of:

• anyone asking for a fee to “buy” a certificate of sponsorship (Home Office sponsor guidance does not allow sponsors to pass the certificate of sponsorship fee on to you)
• offers of a care worker visa from outside the UK
• agents who will not give the name and licence number of the sponsor

You can check whether an employer is licensed on the GOV.UK register of licensed sponsors.

What to do next

• If you are in the UK on another visa, check whether your current conditions allow you to work for a care provider for 3 months before switching.
• If you are already a care worker, keep your CoS, payslips and visa records in order before your extension date.
• Follow the UK country hub and updates page for any change to the July 2028 switching window.
• Speak to an OISC/IAA-regulated adviser or a solicitor before paying any fees. This article is general information, not legal advice.