The UK government has rolled out new visa regulations affecting foreign workers and students, with significant changes set to take effect from April 9.
Under the new rules, employers seeking to recruit foreign care workers must first demonstrate efforts to hire individuals already residing in England before turning to overseas candidates.
This policy is part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on foreign labor and lower overall immigration numbers.
Additionally, the minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas will rise from £23,200 to £25,000 annually (equivalent to £12.82 per hour) in April, aligning with the increase in the national minimum wage.
Speaking on the reforms, Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, acknowledged the crucial role played by international care workers in supporting vulnerable individuals across the country.
He emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling the exploitation of foreign workers while ensuring the social care sector retains the professionals it needs.
“As we take action against rogue operators exploiting overseas workers, we must also focus on reintegrating victims into meaningful careers in adult social care,” Kinnock stated. “By prioritizing care workers already in the UK, we can reduce dependency on international recruitment while maintaining a strong care workforce.”
Further tightening measures have also been introduced for student visas. Immigration officials will now have increased authority to reject applications they suspect are not genuine, particularly for short-term English language courses.
In addition, companies that repeatedly violate immigration laws may face bans on hiring foreign workers.
Over the past 18 months, the government has revoked more than 470 care sector licenses for non-compliance.
Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, noted that these changes are designed to safeguard international workers from exploitation while ensuring that employment opportunities are directed toward those already in the UK.
The impact of these reforms is already evident, with applications for UK work and study visas dropping by 42% following the implementation of stricter immigration policies.
The decline has been even more pronounced in the health and care sector, where visa applications have plummeted by 79%.
