New rules for international care worker recruitment

From 9 April 2025, care providers in England planning to recruit a new care worker from overseas — including via a visa switch — must first show the Home Office that they have attempted to recruit a UK-based care worker who needs a new sponsor.

The change is partly in response to previously reported abuses affecting migrant care workers. Updated guidance has now been published by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), targeting international care workers whose sponsor has had their licence revoked.

The revised guidance is available on the DHSC section of the gov.uk website.