The Health and Care Worker Visa
The UK is facing a critical shortage of care workers, resulting in the creation of the Health and Care Worker Visa. This visa route offers fast-tracked processing, lower application fees, and lower salary thresholds compared to the standard Skilled Worker Visa.
However, recent changes in 2024 restricted care workers from bringing dependents to the UK, and mandated that care providers must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England to sponsor workers.
How to Find Licensed Care Homes
Because there are thousands of care homes and domiciliary care agencies across the UK, finding the ones actively sponsoring can be difficult. Our Healthcare Sponsor Directory allows you to filter specifically for these companies.
1. Search by Care Groups (Large Sponsors)
Large corporate care groups are the most consistent sponsors because they have the HR infrastructure to handle international recruitment at scale. Examples include:
- Barchester Healthcare
- HC-One
- Care UK
- Bupa Care Services
2. Search by Region
If you have a preference for where you want to live, you can search our database by city or region. For example, search for care homes in Birmingham, Manchester, or Edinburgh.
WARNING: Care Sector Scams
The care sector has seen a surge in fraudulent agencies charging workers exorbitant fees (£5,000 to £15,000) for a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). This is illegal. Legitimate care homes will never ask you to pay for your job or your CoS. Always use our Sponsorship Checker to verify the agency is a real, licensed sponsor.
Key Roles Being Sponsored
The most commonly sponsored occupation codes in this sector are:
- 6145: Care workers and home carers
- 6146: Senior care workers
- 2231: Nurses
How to Apply
Instead of using generic job boards, use our directory to find licensed care homes, visit their official websites, and apply directly through their careers portals. Ensure your CV highlights any relevant care experience, mandatory training (e.g., manual handling, safeguarding), and your English language proficiency.