New Immigration Rules Introduced by the UK Government
On 4 December 2023, new immigration rules were introduced by the UK government. These changes to the immigration system will take effect from Spring 2024.
The upcoming changes to the Health and Care Visa route will specifically impact the care sector in the UK. Under these changes, care workers and senior care workers will no longer be allowed to bring their dependents when moving to the UK, and only CQC-registered providers in England can sponsor Health and Care Visa applicants. It’s important to note that these changes do not apply to the NHS. There are no changes to the policy on dependants for NHS staff. They will be able to bring partners and childrens as dependants if eligible. A dependant partner or child is any of the following:
Evidence of the relationship to the dependant needs to be provided when applying for the visa. Workers and dependants account for some of the highest proportion of visas being issued.
The Health and Care Visa route will not be affected by changes to salary thresholds and will still exempt holders from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). The government plans to review the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) and Graduate Visa route. While the government aims to reduce net migration, it acknowledges the importance of internationally educated health and care workers.
The measures announced are possible because the government is prioritising growing the domestic workforce through the Back to Work Plan – a package of employment-focused support that will help people stay healthy, get off benefits and move into work.
International Recruitment at Servisource
Our team recruits Nurses across all disciplines and Allied Healthcare Professionals from across the world. We manage all aspects of the recruitment process including interview scheduling, compliance checks, and even welcome international candidates by meeting them at the airport.
We operate regionally, nationally and globally, providing access to the right people with the right skills and knowledge in the right place.
As the government makes changes to immigration policies, the Health and Care Visa remains a distinct and important route for healthcare professionals. While some aspects are evolving, such as the review of occupation lists and graduate visas, it’s reassuring that key benefits like exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge persist.
These changes may raise many questions, especially for internationally educated staff and those involved in recruitment. By regularly checking Servisource’s latest blogs, professionals can receive the most up-to-date information and guidance in this evolving landscape.
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