The UK government has officially ended the international recruitment route for social care workers as part of sweeping immigration reforms aimed at drastically cutting what it describes as “low-skilled migration.” The move, outlined in an 82-page Immigration White Paper titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System,” marks the most significant overhaul of Britain’s immigration policy in decades.
According to the Home Office, all new overseas applications for care worker visas have been halted immediately. Existing foreign care workers already in the UK may only renew or switch their visas up until 2028, after which a new domestic workforce strategy is expected to take full effect.
The White Paper emphasizes a fundamental redefinition of “skilled work” under the points-based immigration system. Salary thresholds, qualification levels, and English language requirements are all being raised across most visa categories. The paper criticizes the previous system for “loopholes” that allowed low-wage roles to be classified as skilled.
In another bold move, the controversial Immigration Salary List which had permitted lower wages for certain foreign hires will be abolished. Employers must now prove they have attempted to fill vacancies locally before turning to international recruitment.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the reforms as a “bold, necessary reset,” stressing the need to restore public confidence and reduce dependency on foreign labor in essential sectors like health and social care. “Skilled must mean skilled,” the paper asserts, signaling a tougher stance on what qualifies for work-based migration.
