UK Immigration White Paper 2025
On the 12th May 2025, the Government published the immigration white paper – Restoring Control over the Immigration System – and confirmed that recruitment from abroad via the Health and Care Worker visa route will come to an end later this year.
The decision aims to reduce net migration and address concerns over exploitation within the sector.
For a transition period until 2028, while the workforce strategy is being developed and rolled out, the Government will permit visa extensions and in-country switching for those already here. This will be kept under review.
Care workers currently in the UK on valid visas will be allowed to:
- Extend their visas
- Change sponsors
- Apply for settlement
What This Means for Care Providers
The UK government’s new immigration white paper is putting an end to overseas recruitment for care workers and urges providers to invest in domestic staffing strategies.
Existing international staff can stay and care providers can currently recruit international staff from the displaced worker pool, but future recruitment will shift significantly.
If you are interested in recruiting via the West Midlands displaced international care worker pool please visit www.lifted-talent.com/west-midlands
National Workforce Reform – Introduction of a Fair Pay Agreement for Adult Social Care
Alongside the closure of the visa route, the White Paper commits to the introduction of a Fair Pay Agreement (FPA) for the adult social care sector in England.
The proposed FPA will:
- Establish a new Adult Social Care Negotiating Body, comprising employers, worker representatives, and government.
- Set national minimum standards for pay and conditions, particularly for frontline care workers.
- Tackle long-standing issues around low pay, job insecurity, and lack of progression opportunities.
- Form the basis for future workforce funding, commissioning frameworks, and access to government programmes.
While the Fair Pay Agreement is still in development, it is intended to reduce reliance on overseas labour by making care work more attractive to UK residents. Legislation is expected in 2026, with implementation phased in over time.
