In a decisive shift in immigration policy, the UK government has announced it will no longer permit the recruitment of care workers from abroad, a move designed to curb net migration and bolster domestic employment opportunities in the adult social care sector.
The new direction, which will be laid out formally in the Immigration White Paper presented to Parliament today Monday, 12 May 2025, represents a significant change in how the care industry sources its workforce. The Home Office has confirmed that the updated laws will end all future overseas recruitment of care workers and reinforce measures introduced earlier in the year.
Key developments from the Immigration White Paper
The policy change follows a gradual tightening of immigration regulations. In March 2024, care workers from abroad were prohibited from bringing dependent family members to the United Kingdom. From 9 April, further controls were enacted requiring care providers to demonstrate efforts to recruit from within England before applying to hire international workers.
Now, the government is taking its most definitive step yet by eliminating any route for new foreign care worker hires, with the Immigration White Paper acting as the legislative vehicle to finalise the transition to a comprehensive plan to bolster domestic care workers workforce.
According to government data, since 2022, more than 470 care providers have had their sponsorship licences suspended. These suspensions have directly impacted approximately 40,000 overseas workers, many of whom are reportedly ready and willing to return to the workforce under compliant conditions.
What happens to current foreign care workers?
While the UK will no longer allow the recruitment of new foreign care workers, existing sponsored employees will not be forced to leave. They may remain lawfully in the country, apply to extend their stay, transfer sponsorships, or seek permanent settlement. Special consideration will be given to those who have lost their sponsors due to licence revocations.
A senior Home Office source stated that the intention is to “balance immigration numbers while ensuring a fair and lawful pathway for those already contributing to the care system in the UK.”
The domestic alternative: UK’s Workforce Pathway
The decision marks the next phase in the government’s strategy to reshape the labour market. The Workforce Pathway for adult social care, launched in January 2025, aims to reduce reliance on foreign labour by investing in training, upskilling, and better retention of UK-based workers.
Ministers argue that the long-term sustainability of the sector depends on improving conditions for homegrown talent and prioritising job creation for those already in the country, particularly individuals previously displaced from the UK workforce.
The Home Secretary reiterated the government’s broader goal to address the record-breaking net migration figures, which peaked at nearly one million in the year ending June 2023. The new policies are part of a wider effort to restore balance while protecting vital public services.
Industry reaction and wider implications
The announcement is likely to spark concern among care providers, many of whom have struggled to fill vacancies and maintain staffing levels without access to international labour. However, ministers have indicated that additional support for domestic recruitment drives and workforce incentives will follow as part of the Workforce Pathway implementation.
The Workers Union Says…
“While no immediate changes will affect care workers currently employed under lawful sponsorship, the overall message from Whitehall is clear: the UK care sector must now look inward to build its future. As the legislation takes shape, care organisations, local authorities, and jobseekers will need to adapt to this new reality, one that favours domestic placement, stricter compliance, and a renewed focus on long-term staffing solutions.”
