The UK Home Office has introduced a new temporary arrangement for foreign care workers whose employers have had their sponsor licences revoked. This change affects care workers under SOC 6135 and senior care workers under SOC 6136. According to the Home Office guidance, caseworkers must not cancel a worker's permission solely because their sponsor's licence has been revoked. This means that affected workers may not automatically lose their immigration permission.
The new arrangement is subject to specific conditions and could have implications for affected visa holders. Care workers and senior care workers are advised to seek professional immigration advice based on their individual circumstances. The Home Office clarified that this arrangement does not prevent caseworkers from considering other grounds for cancelling a worker's permission. Where there are additional reasons for cancellation, the case can be considered under the usual immigration rules.
The temporary arrangement comes as a relief to care workers who might have been worried about their immigration status due to their employer's sponsor licence issues. However, the position could change following future assessments by the Home Office, as the arrangement is subject to regular review. This development is crucial for care workers in the UK, especially those from countries like Ghana.
The UK government has been making several changes to its immigration rules. Recently, they amended the Immigration Rules in September 2026 to broaden what visitors are permitted to do under the standard Visitor route. Visitors entering the UK can now participate in workshops, debates, and Skills Competitions. Erasmus+ participants also received a dedicated sub-section granting them access to traineeships, job shadowing, and coaching assignments at UK organisations.
The Home Office's decision to introduce this temporary arrangement demonstrates its efforts to balance the needs of the healthcare sector with the requirements of the immigration system. The UK's care sector relies heavily on foreign workers, and this change aims to minimise disruptions to the sector. Care workers who are affected by this change are advised to stay informed and seek professional advice to ensure they comply with the new rules.
Salifu Bagulube Moro, a Current Affairs Editor at YEN.com.gh, reported on this development. He has over five years of experience in journalism and graduated from the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 2018. Salifu previously worked with Opera News, Ghanatalksbusiness.com, and the Graphic Communications Group Limited.
The new visa arrangement for care workers is a significant development for foreign workers in the UK. Key points to note include:
Key points
- The temporary arrangement applies to care workers under SOC 6135 and senior care workers under SOC 6136.
- Affected workers may not automatically lose their immigration permission solely because their sponsor's licence has been revoked.
- The arrangement is subject to regular review, and the position could change following future assessments by the Home Office.
