Social Care Providers Must Act Now As Immigration Route Closes, Lawyer Warns
Following the government’s announcement that it will close the health and care worker visa route to new overseas applicants, a leading business immigration lawyer from Shakespeare Martineau is urging social care providers to urgently review their existing sponsored workers’ visa statuses.
The call comes in response to the government’s ‘restoring control over the immigration system’ white paper, which was published on Monday, 12 May. The wide-ranging policy document outlines a significant tightening of the UK’s immigration regime, including plans to shut down key recruitment pathways for sectors such as social care.
Calum Hanrahan, legal director and head of the business immigration team at Shakespeare Martineau, said:
“We’re advising all social care employers to assess their current sponsored workforce as a matter of urgency.
“With the closure of the visa route for new applicants, the ability to bring in care workers from overseas will disappear almost overnight. There is a limited transition period until 2028 to extend or switch the visas of those already in the UK, and we don’t expect that window to widen.”
Under the proposed reforms, the skill level for sponsored workers will be increased from RQF 3 (A-level equivalent) to RQF 6 (bachelor’s degree), ruling out the majority of frontline care jobs from eligibility.
Employers will also face a 32% increase in the immigration skills charge and higher salary thresholds, making international recruitment significantly more expensive and less accessible.
The white paper also outlines the creation of a new temporary shortage list, which will only allow limited, time-bound immigration access for occupations below the RQF 6 level. This list will be tightly controlled, and only applicable where there is evidence of long-term shortages, sector workforce strategies, and commitments to domestic training and recruitment.
Calum said: “These changes represent a major shift in immigration policy. International recruitment has been essential for many care providers, but that model is being dismantled. Those who don’t start preparing now risk significant workforce disruption and the loss of valued employees whose visas aren’t properly managed.”
While the government has indicated it will keep the social care visa policy under review, there is no guarantee any relaxation will follow.
Calum said: “The direction of travel is clear. Immigration is no longer seen as a long-term solution to staffing shortages. Providers must prepare for a future with fewer international options. Providers must begin planning for a future with far more limited access to overseas talent.
“They can do this by auditing sponsored worker visa expiry dates; identifying workers eligible for in-country visa extensions or switching; ensuring compliance with ongoing sponsorship duties to avoid enforcement risks; and accelerating domestic recruitment planning.
“This is not a time for delay. Without proactive planning, businesses face serious risk – not only in terms of staff continuity but also compliance exposure under a stricter immigration regime.”
