UK Shuts Door on Overseas Care Workers in Major Immigration Shake-Up

The UK government has unveiled plans to end overseas recruitment for care homes as part of a wider effort to curb migration and reshape the country’s immigration system. Under the proposed changes, the care worker visa route will be closed, meaning care providers will no longer be able to bring in new staff from abroad. Instead, they will need to recruit from within the existing foreign workforce already in the UK or extend the visas of current staff. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper emphasized that the policy is designed to prioritize investment in domestic workforce training and reduce the sector’s growing dependency on international labor.

These reforms are part of a broader immigration crackdown that includes stricter visa sponsorship rules, digital ID tracking for migrants, and a push to reduce net migration by at least 50,000 annually. The government argues that these measures are essential to restore public confidence in the immigration system, improve wages, and open up job opportunities for UK citizens. The new strategy also introduces time-limited work visas for non-graduate roles and enhanced enforcement to deport foreign criminals more swiftly.

However, the move has been met with strong criticism from care sector leaders and unions, who warn it could worsen the already severe staffing crisis in adult social care. Many care homes have come to rely heavily on overseas workers due to chronic domestic shortages, and providers fear that restricting recruitment will leave vulnerable patients without adequate support. The Homecare Association and other groups have called for a balanced approach that recognizes the vital role foreign workers play in maintaining essential services while still investing in local workforce development.