In recent years, the UK has experienced increasing demand for carers to provide support for its aging population. Carer jobs in UK with visa sponsorship is one of the most popular visa routes due to a skills shortage throughout the country. The most popular visa route is the Health and Care Worker but there is other options available. Normally you will have to find an eligible employer that will sponsor you once you meet the minimum requirements, but other visas don’t require this.
- Why Move to the UK as a Carer?
- How to become a registered care worker in the UK?
- I am already based in the UK, can I work as a care worker?
- Visa Options for Carers
- How much will it cost when applying?
- Can I bring my family with Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship?
- Permanent Residency after Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship
- Latest Related Articles
Why Move to the UK as a Carer?
The UK is currently facing a growing shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in the social care sector. Latest figures from Skills for Care the UK in the year ending March 2023 shows the UK has a shortage of 152,000 care workers which is a decrease of 7% on the previous 12 months. This is expected to increase due to the shortage of care workers across the world. The UK is competing with countries such as Australia and Canada for skilled carers. This shortage has created significant opportunities for carers from overseas to find carer jobs in UK with visa sponsorship
Competitive Salary and Benefits
While salaries in the social care sector vary depending on location, employer, and level of experience, carers can generally expect a competitive wage. As of 2024, the average annual salary for a full-time care worker in the UK is around £25,000. Employers often offer additional benefits, including pension schemes, holiday entitlements, and sometimes accommodation, particularly if you are providing live-in care.
Opportunities for Career Growth
The UK offers a wide range of opportunities for professional development within the care sector. Carers can undertake additional training to gain qualifications, such as the Care Certificate, NVQs (National Vocational Qualifications), or specialised training in areas like dementia care or palliative care.
How to become a registered care worker in the UK?
There are no essential qualification to become a carer in the UK. Although prior experience in the UK or abroad can increase your chances of finding carer jobs in UK with visa sponsorship
You must demonstrate that you have enough funds to support yourself upon arriving in the UK. This usually means showing proof of at least £1,270 in your bank account unless your sponsor has agreed to cover your first month’s costs.
Job Offer for Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship
You need a job offer from a licensed UK employer. The employer must be approved by the UK Home Office to sponsor foreign workers. Carer roles eligible for this visa include senior care workers, care assistants, home care workers, and live-in carers.
You must now work for an employer registered with the Care Quality Commission
Salary Threshold for Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship
The minimum salary requirement is £23,200 per year for carer jobs in UK with visa sponsorship. This is for both Care Workers and Senior Care Workers.
English Language Requirement for Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship
You must prove your ability to speak, read, write, and understand English by passing an approved English language test (like IELTS) or have a degree taught in English.
I am already based in the UK, can I work as a care worker?
If you hold a valid visa that permits you to currently work in the UK, then you may be able to transfer to a Health and Care Worker. Or if you are on a visa that doesn’t require job sponsorship such as the Youth Mobility and UK Ancestry visa.
Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship?
- 6135: care workers and home carers
- 6136: senior care workers
Finding a job as a care worker in the UK is similar to any other occupation, although a role within the NHS you have to apply directly. Finding a job in the NHS can be a relatively straight forward process, but you have to be flexible with your preferences from location to job role. The NHS Careers website is the best place to find vacancies, you will have to create a profile before applying for jobs. We do not recommend agencies.
We recommend using Indeed to begin your job search, also adding “sponsorship” in to your search query will provide you with employers you know will hire people from overseas. Once you are on Indeed, take note of employers and contact them directly and ask them if they offer sponsorship if not mentioned in the job post.
Care workers must earn at least £23,200 per year to qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa, this applies to all 4 nations of the United Kingdom. Senior care workers must earn at least £23,200 to qualify.
Visa Options for Carers
There are multiple visa routes to become a carer in the UK.
Health and Care Worker visa
Secure a job offer from a licensed employer such as the NHS.. It’s important to ensure that the employer is registered with the Home Office and is willing to sponsor you.
Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) – Once you’ve accepted the job, your employer will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship. This document is essential for your visa application.
Submit Visa Application – After receiving your CoS, you can apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa online via the UK government’s official immigration portal.
Provide Biometric Information – As part of the visa process you will need to visit a Visa Application Centre to provide your biometric details (fingerprints and a photograph).
Visa applications are generally processed within three weeks. If your visa is approved, you’ll be issued a visa that allows you to live and work in the UK for up to five years.
Graduate Visa
The Graduate Visa UK is a popular visa with recent graduates within the UK. It allows students to stay in the UK after their studies for up to three years. It is sometimes referred to as a Post-Study Work visa or PSW UK visa. You do not need to be sponsored by an employer on this visa, this makes it a popular gateway to other visas such as Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker.
UK Ancestry Visa
The Ancestry Visa UK is a popular route to work or study in the UK if you have at least one grandparent born in the United Kingdom. You must be a citizen of a Commonwealth nation and provide evidence that you can support yourself financially. The Ancestry Visa UK cost is lower than other work visas and you do not need sponsorship in UK by an employer to live here.
British National Overseas Visa (Hong Kong)
The Hong Kong British National Overseas Visa (BNO) is a route for citizens of HK that are looking to start a new life in the UK. This visa does not require any companies that offer sponsorship UK in order to work and study. You must have registered as a British National before July 1997 and own a permanent home in KH when applying.
Youth Mobility Scheme
The Youth Mobility Visa UK is a working holiday visa that allows young people aged between 18-35 to live and work in the UK for up to three years. You must be from an eligible country and can only enter the UK on this visa once. You can work without job sponsorship and is a good pathway to switch to a longer term visa such as the Skilled Worker.
India Young Professionals Scheme
The India Young Professionals Scheme is a great way for young Indian graduates to live and work in the UK for up to two years. You must have a graduate degree and apply through a ballot. In 2023, there were 3000 places available in which all were taken. You do not need to be sponsored by an employer or meet a minimum salary threshold.
How much will it cost when applying?
If you apply for the Health and Care Worker visa the current application cost is £551 for five years. You need to prove you have £1,270 in your bank account on arrival and pay for any administrations fees from gathering documentation and paying for potential English language tests.
Care workers who have applied through the Health and Care Worker visa are exempt from the Healthcare surcharge.
Other visas will cost more as you will need to pay for the Healthcare surcharge upfront which is currently £1,035 per year. For example, if you are applying for a 2-year visa you will have to pay £1,035 each year, therefore you will have to pay a total of £2,070.
Can I bring my family with Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship?
The Health and Care worker visa allows you to bring your family members to the UK, they are known as “dependants”.
But changes made in March 2024 exclude care workers and senior care workers from bringing family members on the Health and Care Worker visa.
You can bring family members on other visas used by care workers such as the UK Ancestry visa and British National Overseas visa.
Family members are not allowed on the Youth Mobility or India Young Professionals schemes.
Permanent Residency after Carer Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship
Yes, the first step to becoming a British citizen is being granted a visa that contributes towards the 5 year requirement for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
There are 3 main stages to being granted British citizenship.
Live and Work in the UK for 5 years on a work visa
Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)
Apply for Naturalisation/British citizenship
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