Changes to Immigration Rules for Adult Social Care Workforce: Key Updates

On the 1st July 2025, the Home Office published a major Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997), which marks the start of the implementation of the immigration reforms set out in the Government’s Immigration White Paper, published in May 2025.

These changes will take effect from 22 July 2025, and include important updates for the adult social care sector, particularly around international recruitment and in-country visa switching.

The full documents are available here:

• Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 997)
• Explanatory Memorandum
• Ministerial Written Statement

Summary of Key Changes for Adult Social Care

End of Overseas Recruitment

The updated rules confirm that overseas recruitment into adult social care roles will end on the 22nd July 2025. A transition period will remain in place to allow for in-country applications, for those switching from other visa routes, to continue until 22 July 2028.

Transitional Arrangements

During the transition period, individuals already in the UK may still switch into the Health and Care visa route, but only under the following conditions:

They must currently hold a Health and Care visa and have most recently been sponsored under:

• SOC 6145 (or 6135 since April 2024): Care workers and home carers, or
• SOC 6146 (or 6136 since April 2024): Senior care workers

Alternatively, they must be switching from another visa route and have been legally employed by the care provider sponsor in a relevant role for at least three months at the time of application (e.g. a student working part-time in care).

Ongoing Visa and Settlement Rights

International care workers who are legally sponsored and working in the UK on 22 July 2028 will continue to be eligible to:

• Extend their visa
• Switch sponsors
• Apply for settlement (subject to the rules in place at that time)

The Government has confirmed that it will consult on settlement rule changes later in 2025.

Changes Effecting the Displaced Worker Pool

Whilst the requirement for care providers to evidence engagement with the regional pool of displaced international care workers has been formally removed, this remains a vital source of information about candidates who are already in the country and available to work in the adult social care sector.

None of the above changes the requirement for regional partnerships, including the West Midlands, to support displaced international care workers to find suitable employment opportunities.

For more information about the West Midlands pool of displaced international care workers and associated support please visit: www.irwestmids.co.uk/hire-sponsored-care-workers

Strategic Planning Required

Care Providers may need to:

• Invest in domestic recruitment and training
• Reassess workforce models
• Engage with local partnerships to access displaced international care workers

Next Steps

DHSC has confirmed that it will meet with regional partnerships over the coming days to discuss the operational impact of these changes and we will share any updates as soon as we can. In the meantime, care providers and local authorities are encouraged to review the published documents and raise any questions through their regional partnership leads.

IR Leads can reach out to the regional programme leads and care providers can send any questions through to hello@wmca.international