Home Care Worker Jobs in UK with Visa Sponsorship 2026

Home care worker jobs in the UK can include helping older people and adults with daily activities, personal care, meals, mobility, and household tasks. These roles are often grouped under the UK occupation code 6135: Care Workers and Home Carers.

However, there is an important immigration rule that overseas applicants must understand before applying. Since 22 July 2025, UK employers can no longer sponsor new care workers or senior care workers who are applying from outside the UK. A temporary in-country route remains available for eligible people already working in adult social care, subject to the immigration rules.

This means job seekers outside the UK should be careful with advertisements claiming that a care agency can currently provide direct visa sponsorship for a new overseas home care worker. Such offers may not match the current UK immigration rules.

What Does a Home Care Worker Do?

Home care workers support people who need assistance in their own homes or in social care settings. The exact duties depend on the employer and the person’s care needs.

Common responsibilities can include:

• Helping with washing, dressing and personal care
• Supporting people with mobility and daily activities
• Preparing meals and helping with eating
• Providing companionship and basic support
• Helping with household tasks connected to the person’s care
• Following care plans and reporting concerns
• Supporting people to remain independent where possible

The role requires patience, respect, reliability and good communication. Some employers may also provide workplace training for specific duties.

Can Overseas Applicants Get Sponsorship for Home Care Jobs?

For new applicants outside the UK, the answer is generally no for care worker and senior care worker roles under the current rules.

The UK government closed the overseas route for new applications in these occupations from 22 July 2025. Employers can no longer sponsor a new care worker or senior care worker who needs entry clearance from outside the UK.

There is a transition arrangement for some people who are already in the UK. Eligible workers may continue to apply from inside the country if they meet the specific requirements.

For example, current sponsor guidance states that a care worker or senior care worker sponsored under occupation code 6135 or 6136 must already be in the UK and applying for permission to stay. Certain workers must also have legally worked for the sponsoring employer for at least three months before the Certificate of Sponsorship is assigned.

Home Care Worker Occupation Code

Home care workers are generally covered by SOC 2020 occupation code 6135. The official occupation information includes care workers, home care workers, community support workers and residential care workers.

Job information	Current position
Occupation	Care Workers and Home Carers
SOC code	6135
Main work	Personal care and daily support
Overseas sponsorship for new applicants	Not available under the current care worker route
In-country transition	Available to eligible workers who meet the rules
England requirement	Sponsor must meet Care Quality Commission requirements

Requirements for Home Care Work

The requirements depend on the employer, job and immigration route. People already in the UK who want to move into sponsored care work must meet the relevant immigration requirements.

A genuine applicant should normally be prepared to provide documents such as:

• Valid passport or identity documents
• Evidence of current immigration status where applicable
• Employment information
• Certificate of Sponsorship if the employer is sponsoring the worker
• Evidence required for the relevant visa application
• English-language evidence where required by the immigration route

The employer also has responsibilities. In England, a sponsor employing care workers under code 6135 must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and be carrying on a regulated activity.

Salary for Care Workers

Salary requirements depend on the immigration rules that apply to the worker and occupation.

The current government guidance lists different salary requirements for occupation code 6135. For the relevant Health and Care Worker rules, the usual minimum salary is £31,300 per year or the lower going rate for the occupation, whichever is higher, while specific permitted discounts can apply in certain circumstances.

The salary rules can be complicated, particularly because care workers have special immigration restrictions. Applicants should therefore check the current official salary guidance rather than relying only on a job advertisement.

Where Home Care Workers May Work

Home care workers can work for organisations providing adult social care. Depending on the employer, the work may involve visiting people’s homes or supporting people in residential care environments.

Possible employers can include:

• Home care agencies
• Adult social care organisations
• Residential care providers
• Other approved organisations providing eligible care services

For sponsored employment, the organisation must have the appropriate sponsor status and the job must meet the relevant immigration requirements.

How to Find Genuine Care Jobs

People searching for UK care jobs should check the employer carefully before sending personal documents or paying money.

A safer job-search process is:

1. Search for vacancies on established UK job websites and employer career pages.
2. Check the employer’s legal name and business details.
3. If the job is in England, check whether the care provider is registered with the CQC where required.
4. Confirm whether the vacancy is actually eligible for the immigration route being advertised.
5. Never assume that the words “visa sponsorship available” mean an overseas applicant can currently obtain sponsorship.
6. Check the latest GOV.UK immigration guidance before making an application.

The UK government has also warned about exploitation in international care recruitment. It reported that hundreds of care providers had their sponsor licences suspended since 2022, highlighting the importance of checking employers carefully.

Beware of Fake Visa Sponsorship Offers

Care jobs have attracted scams because many international workers search for sponsorship opportunities. A person should be especially cautious if an agent or recruiter promises a guaranteed UK visa.

Do not rely on claims such as:

• “Guaranteed sponsorship”
• “Pay first and receive your Certificate of Sponsorship”
• “No interview required”
• “Guaranteed UK care visa from abroad”

A Certificate of Sponsorship does not by itself guarantee a visa. The applicant must meet the immigration requirements, and the job must qualify under the applicable rules.

Options for People Already in the UK

The current rules still allow certain people already in the UK to continue into sponsored care work during the transition period.

Government guidance states that there is a transition period until 2028, subject to the applicable conditions, during which some in-country applications can continue. This can include people already working in adult social care and certain workers changing from other immigration routes.

Anyone already in the UK should check their individual immigration status and the latest Skilled Worker requirements before changing jobs or applying for sponsorship.

Final Thoughts

Home care work remains an important part of the UK’s adult social care sector, but the immigration rules for new overseas care workers have changed significantly. New applicants outside the UK cannot currently receive sponsorship for care worker or senior care worker roles through the previous overseas recruitment route.

People already in the UK may have options under the transitional arrangements if they meet the required conditions. Before applying for any home care position, check the employer, occupation code, salary requirements and current GOV.UK immigration rules.

For the latest information, applicants should rely on official UK government guidance rather than recruitment advertisements or social media posts. The government guidance is also the best place to check whether any future rule changes affect eligibility.