IN a sweeping reform of its immigration policy, the United Kingdom has officially ended overseas recruitment for social care positions, declaring a firm crackdown on what it describes as “low-skilled migration.”
According to the UK Home Office, the changes—outlined in an 82-page white paper titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System” aims to redefine the concept of skilled work and reduce dependency on foreign labor.
“The social care visa route will be closed to new international applicants,” the statement confirmed, citing concerns over misuse and the need for long-term workforce sustainability.
The reforms, which take immediate effect, mean current foreign care workers already in the UK can extend or switch their visas only until 2028.
Beyond that, the sector is expected to rely on domestic workforce strategies.
It read further, “The health and social care sector must move away from reliance on low-wage overseas recruitment,” the document declared.
“We will instead support long-term workforce planning and training within the UK.”
The government is raising thresholds on salary, qualifications, and English language across most routes, removing what it calls “loopholes for low-skilled migration under a skilled label.”
“We are tightening the definition of skilled work — skilled must mean skilled,” the White Paper insists. “Work that does not meet the bar will not be eligible for a visa, no matter the sector.”
The controversial Immigration Salary List — which allowed employers to hire workers below the general salary threshold — will be abolished.
“We will remove the Immigration Salary List to prevent undercutting of UK wages and to ensure that migration supports, rather than suppresses, the labour market,” it declared.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the move as a “bold reset” of immigration policy, intended to cut numbers, restore public trust, and prioritize local skills development.
“We will not allow temporary migration routes to become permanent. These reforms are about ensuring immigration works for Britain — not the other way around,” she said.
This development is expected to significantly impact sectors that have traditionally relied on migrant labour, particularly healthcare and social services.
