Switching Into Care Roles: The 3-Month Requirement Explained
As of HC 997 (effective 22 July 2025), a new restriction has been introduced for Skilled Worker applicants who want to switch into the care sector (SOC codes 6135/6136 – i.e., care workers and home carers) from within the UK.
What the Rule Says
If someone is already in the UK on a different visa (e.g. a student visa, graduate visa, or dependant visa) and wants to switch into a Skilled Worker visa for a care role, they must:
Have already worked for that same care employer for at least 3 months immediately before applying.
Why This Rule Was Introduced
The UK government introduced this rule to:
Prevent abuse of the care visa route.
Ensure that employers are not offering sponsorships casually or exploitatively.
Prioritise workers who are already integrated into the care system.
Who This Affects
This rule applies to:
Students or graduates in the UK who are switching to a Skilled Worker visa in a care job.
Dependants of other visa holders who wish to change their own visa into a care role under Skilled Worker.
Anyone already in the UK on another valid visa trying to switch into a care worker job.
Who This Doesn’t Affect
People applying from outside the UK (i.e. applying directly from overseas).
People already on Skilled Worker visas switching between different care providers.
People switching into non-care Skilled Worker roles (e.g. engineering, teaching).
Example
Tanaka is in the UK on a Student visa that expires in August 2025.
He receives a job offer as a care assistant from a CQC-registered sponsor.
Before he can apply to switch to a Skilled Worker visa under this care job, he must:
Be employed by this same care employer.
Have worked there for at least 3 months, before applying for the Skilled Worker visa.
So if he starts working on 1 August, he cannot apply for the Skilled Worker visa until at least 1 November.
Proof Required
The Home Office expects to see:
Payslips showing 3 months of employment.
An employment letter confirming start date and role.
A clear contract of employment.
The job being genuine and matching the sponsorship certificate.
Need Help?
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