Starting 22 July 2025, the UK will end overseas recruitment of care and senior-care workers under the Skilled Worker route (SOC codes?6135/6136). Current sponsored workers can extend until 22 July 2028, but no new international applicants will be allowed after July 2025. This shift intensifies existing labour shortages: Skills for Care reported ~131,000 vacancies in 2024, and overseas staff turnover rates are 25?% lower than domestic hires.
The Home Office has raised the general Skilled Worker salary threshold from 38,700 to 41,700 effective 22 July, although health and education roles retain a 25,000 minimum. A new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) for key RQF-3 to 5 roles, including care, runs until 31 Dec 2026 (carers stay until 2028), with dependants barred from joining those on TSL roles