In This Guide
2025–2026 Changes Timeline
The UK Government has made significant changes to immigration rules affecting care workers since 2024. Here is a chronological timeline of the key changes and their impact on care visa applicants.
Dependant Restrictions for Care Workers
New care worker visa applicants can no longer bring dependants (spouse, partner, children) to the UK. This is one of the most impactful changes, particularly for applicants from countries where family migration is common. Existing visa holders with dependants are unaffected.
Skilled Worker Salary Threshold Increase
The general Skilled Worker visa minimum salary rose from £26,200 to £38,700. However, the Health and Care Worker visa was protected — its threshold remained at £23,200. This was a significant relief for the care sector which argued it cannot compete with higher salary requirements.
B2 English Language Requirement
The English language requirement for new care worker applicants was raised from B1 (IELTS 4.0) to B2 (IELTS 5.5 in each component). This change aims to ensure care workers can communicate effectively with service users. It does not affect those already on the visa or extensions. See our B2 English guide.
Sponsor Compliance Enforcement
The Home Office has significantly increased compliance visits and enforcement actions against sponsors who abuse the system. Hundreds of sponsor licences have been revoked or suspended. This has led to some disruption for genuine care workers whose employers lost their licences. Workers affected typically get 60 days to find a new sponsor.
eVisa Transition Complete
The UK continues its transition from physical BRP cards to digital eVisas. All visa holders should ensure they have access to their UKVI online account and can prove their immigration status digitally. See our eVisa transition guide.
Dependant Restrictions Explained
The restriction on dependants is the single biggest change to the care worker visa route. Here is exactly how it works:
Key Rule
New care worker visa applicants from March 2024 onwards cannot include dependants on their initial application or add dependants later while on the care worker route. This includes spouse/partner and children under 18.
Who IS affected:
- Anyone applying for a NEW Health and Care Worker visa from March 2024 onwards (care worker roles SOC 6145/6146)
- Anyone switching to a care worker role from another visa
Who is NOT affected:
- Care workers who were granted their visa before March 2024 — dependants already in UK can stay
- Nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals (not in SOC 6145/6146)
- Senior care workers on higher salaries meeting the general Skilled Worker threshold
- Extensions of existing visas granted before the restriction
For full guidance on bringing family members, see our dependant visa guide.
B2 English Requirement
The increase in English language requirements from B1 to B2 represents a significant change for many care worker applicants. Here is what you need to know:
The B2 requirement means you need IELTS 5.5 in each of speaking, listening, reading, and writing (not just overall). For OET, you need grade B in each component. This is a meaningful step up — the difference between B1 and B2 typically requires 3–6 months of additional study.
The rationale is that care workers need to understand care plans, medication instructions, risk assessments, and communicate clearly with service users, many of whom may be vulnerable or have communication difficulties. Better English proficiency leads to better care and fewer safety incidents.
For preparation tips, see our IELTS guide and B2 English requirement guide.
Salary Threshold Update
Good news for care workers: the Health and Care Worker visa salary threshold has NOT increased in line with the general Skilled Worker visa. While the Skilled Worker minimum jumped to £38,700, the care visa threshold remains at £23,200 per year (£11.90/hour).
Care Visa Protected
The Government recognised that increasing the salary threshold for care workers would devastate the sector, which already faces chronic staffing shortages. The care visa salary threshold is therefore maintained separately from the general Skilled Worker threshold.
However, care workers should be aware of the National Living Wage (NLW), which applies to all workers in the UK. The NLW for 2025/26 is £11.44 per hour for workers aged 21 and over. As the NLW rises, the effective hourly minimum for care workers on sponsored visas also rises if the NLW exceeds the visa minimum.
For detailed salary information including after-tax calculations, see our salary guide for 2026 and visa salary requirements.
Sponsor Compliance Crackdown
The Home Office has dramatically increased its enforcement of sponsor compliance in the care sector. This crackdown has affected thousands of care workers whose employers have had their sponsor licences revoked or suspended. Key issues include:
- Fake job offers: Some sponsors were issuing CoS for jobs that did not genuinely exist, charging workers fees for sponsorship
- Underpayment: Employers paying below the minimum salary threshold or not providing the contracted hours
- Poor record-keeping: Sponsors failing to maintain proper records of workers' attendance, addresses, and contact details
- Failure to report: Not reporting workers who left employment or changes in circumstances
Protect Yourself
Before accepting a job offer, verify your employer's sponsor licence is active and has no compliance issues. Never pay recruitment fees to an employer for sponsorship — this is illegal under UK law. Use the CareVisa database to find verified sponsors. Read our rights guide.
If your employer loses their licence, you typically get 60 days to find a new sponsor. Use our switching sponsors guide for help.
Expected Future Changes
While nothing is confirmed, industry observers and immigration lawyers expect the following changes may come in late 2026 or 2027:
Salary threshold review
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is expected to review care sector salaries. Any increase would likely be gradual and linked to National Living Wage rises rather than a large jump.
Workforce strategy
The Government is developing a long-term workforce strategy for adult social care. This may include investment in domestic recruitment and training, which could eventually reduce reliance on international recruitment.
Digital right to work
Further digitalisation of the right-to-work process and eVisa system. Employers will increasingly verify workers' status online rather than checking physical documents.
We update this page as new information becomes available. Bookmark this page and check back regularly.
What This Means for You
The changes have different implications depending on your situation:
If you are applying for the first time
You need to be prepared for B2 English, you cannot bring dependants, and you should thoroughly verify your employer before accepting an offer. The visa route is still open and thousands of care workers continue to be granted visas every month. Start preparing your application with our application process guide.
If you are already on a care visa
Your existing visa and conditions are not affected by the new rules. You can continue working, extend your visa, and progress towards ILR. If your dependants are already in the UK, they can stay. Make sure your employer maintains their sponsor compliance.
If you want to switch sponsors
Switching remains possible. The new rules on dependants apply based on your original visa grant date. If you were granted before March 2024 with dependants, switching employers does not affect your dependants' status. See our switching guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new care visa rules in 2026?
Key changes include dependant restrictions (no dependants for new care workers), B2 English requirement, increased sponsor compliance enforcement, and eVisa transition. Salary threshold remains at £23,200.
Can care workers still bring dependants in 2026?
New care worker applicants from March 2024 cannot bring dependants. Those granted before March 2024 with dependants are unaffected. Nurses and other healthcare professionals can still bring dependants.
Has the salary threshold changed?
No. The care visa threshold remains £23,200/year. The general Skilled Worker visa increased to £38,700 but care visas were protected.
Is the UK stopping care worker visas?
No. The route remains open. The Government has introduced stricter rules but continues to grant thousands of care worker visas monthly due to chronic sector shortages.
What is the B2 English requirement?
From April 2025, new care worker applicants need IELTS 5.5 in each component (up from 4.0). This does not affect extensions or those already on the visa.