UK Ends Overseas Recruitment of Caregivers in Major Immigration Overhaul
The UK government has announced sweeping changes to its immigration system, with new rules set to take effect from July 22, 2025.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unveiled the reforms in Parliament on Wednesday, describing them as a “complete reset” designed to reduce migration and curb dependence on low-wage foreign labour.
A key change is the closure of the overseas recruitment route for social care workers. From July 22, new visa applications for care roles from abroad will no longer be accepted.
However, foreign care workers already in the UK will be permitted to switch visa categories internally until July 2028.
The revamped immigration framework will also raise both salary and qualification thresholds for skilled worker visas. Most new applicants will now be required to hold at least a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent. Existing permit holders currently working in the UK will be exempt from the updated requirements.
“The salary thresholds for work visas are being updated to reflect the latest data from the Office for National Statistics,” said Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship.
She noted that the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) would assess the new salary bands and related exemptions.
In addition, the reforms will significantly reduce the size of the shortage occupation list, which previously enabled easier access to work visas for high-demand jobs. Over 100 roles, including chefs and plasterers, will be removed.
A trimmed-down list of “critical” occupations will remain temporarily, but these roles will no longer benefit from reduced visa fees or the ability to sponsor dependents. The MAC has been asked to review the temporary list and advise on which roles, if any, should remain beyond 2026.
Only a small number of occupations will be eligible going forward, under stricter rules intended to promote domestic workforce development.
“These reforms will bring stronger migration controls, restore order to the immigration system, and prioritise investment in home-grown skills and training,” Cooper told lawmakers. “We are delivering a full reset of the immigration system to reverse the sharp rise in net migration seen under the previous government.”
Read Also: https://fusionchronicles.ng/policy-failures-enabling-monopoly-in-oil-sector-coran/
The Home Office stated that the changes are also intended to tackle abuse of the care visa route and to address longstanding concerns over the exploitation of foreign workers. Ultimately, the new system aims to reduce the UK’s reliance on lower-skilled migration.
