UK Immigration Rule Changes: Key Updates for Health and Care Worker and Skilled Worker Sponsors

On 12 March 2025, the UK government announced a new Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules, introducing updates that will impact sponsors across different sectors. These changes include:

• A new requirement for care worker sponsors to prioritise hiring from the existing UK-based pool before recruiting from overseas.
• An increase in the minimum salary threshold for care workers and health and care visa holders under SOC codes 6135 and 6136.
• Updated rules on salary deductions and minor changes on how new entrants qualify for reduced salary thresholds.

Below, we explain these changes, discuss the likely impact, and provide practical guidance for sponsors.

Changes to Care Worker Sponsorship

The Home Office is introducing new rules for employers sponsoring care workers in England due to the growing number of workers without sponsorship. This is happening because some sponsors have lost their sponsor licences or cannot offer sufficient work.

From 9 April 2025, sponsors must first try to recruit from the existing pool of care workers in the UK before hiring from overseas. To demonstrate this, sponsors will need to:

• Seek confirmation from a relevant regional or sub-regional partnership that they have attempted to recruit locally.
• Confirm that no suitable candidates were available from the UK-based pool.

This requirement applies only to care worker roles in England and does not affect employers in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland. It also does not apply to care workers who were already sponsored before 9 April 2025 or those switching from other UK visa routes who have worked lawfully for their sponsor for at least three months.

Lack of Guidance

At this stage, the Home Office has not published details on how employers will need to provide evidence of their recruitment efforts. It is also unclear which partnerships will be responsible for issuing confirmation. Employers should be prepared for additional administrative steps when recruiting from overseas and ensure they keep a record of their recruitment efforts. We will provide updates once more information is available.

Increase in Minimum Salary for Care Workers

From 9 April 2025, the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas in SOC codes 6135 and 6136 (care workers and senior care workers) will increase from £23,200 per year (£11.90 per hour) to £25,000 per year (£12.82 per hour).

However, from 1 April 2025, the National Minimum Wage will increase to £12.21 per hour. This creates a potential issue where some existing sponsored workers may be paid less than new hires. Employers may need to review salary structures to avoid a two-tier workforce and the challenges that could arise from pay disparities.

This new salary threshold applies only to Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned after 9 April 2025. Sponsors do not need to increase salaries for existing workers, as long as they are paid at least the new legal minimum of £12.21 per hour.

Other Changes to Skilled Worker Sponsorship

The following additional updates have been introduced to the Skilled Worker visa:

• Salary deductions: New rules will prevent sponsorship costs from being passed on to applicants, ensure consistency in how paid allowances are treated, and close loopholes where applicants could effectively pay towards their own salary by investing in their sponsor’s business. The full details of these changes have not yet been published, so we will continue to monitor developments and look forward to seeing the official guidance for clarity on how this will work in practice.
• New entrant salary reductions: Workers claiming a new entrant salary discount based on training towards a recognised professional qualification, this must be a UK qualification.

Next Steps for Employers

With these changes taking effect from 9 April 2025, sponsors should take the following actions:

• Care providers should prepare for additional recruitment steps when hiring from overseas and keep up to date with Home Office guidance.
• All sponsors should review salary structures to ensure compliance with both the Skilled Worker salary thresholds and the new National Minimum Wage from 1 April 2025.
• Employers must ensure that any deductions from Skilled Worker salaries comply with the updated rules, and should monitor for further clarification from the Home Office, as many details remain unknown.
• In general, employers should remain alert to further updates, as more details and official accompanying guidance to the rules are expected to be published soon.

These changes introduce new compliance and financial considerations for sponsors, particularly in the care sector. The recruitment requirement for care workers adds complexity, and we will continue to monitor for further Home Office guidance on how sponsors should evidence their hiring efforts. If you have any questions or concerns about how these changes impact your business, please get in touch.