Welcome news for the care sector
In the last four years, the UK care sector has not only endured crippling understaffing levels but has also faced a challenging series of Home Office changes, restrictions and increased compliance activity, as outlined below.
06.11.2026
2022 | The Home Office opened the Skilled Worker route to care workers to address dire labour shortages following Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
2024 | The Home Office prohibited dependants from joining newly sponsored care workers.
2025 | The Home Office officially closed the route to overseas applicants and later announced proposals to increase the settlement qualifying period from 5 to 15 years.
2025-2026 | The Home Office increased sponsor compliance activity resulting in an unprecedented increase in sponsor licence revocations, a staggering 1000% higher than the 2012 to 2024 quarterly average.
With increased measures and relentless scrutiny on the sector, the narrative around sponsored care workers in the UK became increasingly unfair, divisive and problematic. The negative discourse also overshadowed the invaluable contribution of care workers who came to the UK and cared for those most in need at a time when the country needed them most.
It is therefore welcome news that the UK Government has now confirmed that:
In recognition of the contribution care workers made to Britain when the sector was reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, those who met their visa conditions and earned at least £25,000 a year will be able to settle after 5 years.
This is welcome news. Not only because it honours the 5-year pathway to settlement that care workers and their families legitimately expected when they entered the UK prior to May 2025, but importantly, it adequately recognises the vital contributions they made at a time when the UK was in dire need.
For care workers who are unable to meet the settlement requirements, for example because their sponsor licence has been revoked, it has been confirmed that they will be given time to find new employment and apply for a new 5-year visa, continuing their path to settlement.
The Prime Minister Andy Burnham has spoken powerfully about the contribution care workers have made to the UK. Those words will be welcomed by many across the sector. What matters now is that they are matched by action and that the Government delivers on its commitment to provide a fair and workable route to settlement for those who have contributed so much.
Key Contacts
Related Articles
Expert CommentLate applications under the EU Settlement Scheme with case studiesOn 31 January 2020 the UK left the EU, commencing the end of free movement between the UK and member states. To manage the transition, the Home Office introduced the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) to allow EU, EEA and Swiss nationals (and their families) already living in the UK by 31 December 2020 to secure their immigration status. The general deadline to apply was 30 June 2021.
Expert CommentThe overlooked deal risk: immigration compliance in corporate transactionsIn the race to complete corporate transactions, immigration compliance is too often overlooked or treated as a secondary consideration.
Expert CommentNew payment requirements for Skilled Workers (with a focus on the care sector)The Home Office recently announced changes to the criteria used for assessing whether employers are paying sponsored workers the correct salary. These changes are effective from 8 April 2026.
