From 15 February 2022 the Immigration Rules will change to allow sponsorship of carers and support workers for nursing homes from overseas. Carer workers and home carers will come under the Skilled Worker route, SOC code 6145, and will be added to the shortage occupation list. Related job titles will include care assistant, care worker, carer, home care assistant, home carer, support worker (in a nursing home). It is expected that similarly to SOC code 6146 (senior carer workers), SOC code 6145 will be eligible for Health and Care Worker visa, the perks of which are the lower visa fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Here is an outline of the costs that you may need to bear in mind when considering recruitment of a care worker from overseas. They are split into government costs – which cannot be reduced – and other costs that you may or may not incur and which offer more flexibility depending on your circumstances and the level of service you need.
|
Irreducible costs – government fees and salary |
Cost |
Comment |
|
Sponsor licence fee |
£536 (for small companies meeting two of the following requirements: less than 50 employees, less than £5.1mln assets, less than £10.2mln turnover) |
This is a one-off fee. The licence is valid for four years and has to be renewed at the same cost (the renewal cost has never changed in the past, but it may change in the future). |
|
Assigning the certificate of sponsorship |
£199 |
This cost is incurred before the visa application process begins. It applies for visa extensions as well. |
|
Visa fee |
£232 for up to 3 years or £464 for longer (up to five) |
You can sponsor the worker for less than three years, but the visa fee will not be reduced in proportion to the length of sponsorship |
|
Immigration Health Surcharge |
– |
This is waived for Health and Care workers |
|
Immigration Skills Charge |
£364 per year for small sponsors, or £1000 per year for large companies |
You will be exempt if you employ a person switching from a Student route to the Skilled worker route |
|
Salary to your employee |
At least £10.10 per hour and £20,480 per year |
This cannot be reduced |
Other costs offering more flexibility:
• The cost of travelling to the UK
• The employee has to be adequately accommodated at least for the first month on arrival – they may or may not be able to cover the cost themselves
• The cost of living for the first month on arrival
• Meeting the employee at the airport and help with settling down and orientation
• Recruitment costs
• Immigration compliance and operation of the Sponsor Management System