When the 2025 Immigration White Paper landed, it brought a wave of headlines, worry, and speculation—especially for the care sector. For employers, there’s no denying the sense of déjà vu: another policy pivot, more uncertainty, and the ever-present tension between politics and practical workforce needs.
But beneath the surface of rhetoric and reform lies something more important: a call to adapt.
At Borderless, we’ve been at the frontlines of these changes. And I believe the organisations that will thrive through this moment aren’t the ones with the most resources—but the ones that move fastest to understand the rules, build internal resilience, and keep their workers informed.
Here’s what the White Paper really means—and why the care sector, in particular, needs to act now.
The End of Overseas Recruitment in Care: It's Real. And It’s Coming.
By 2028, the door will close to international recruitment in social care. The Health and Care Worker visa route is already shut to new overseas applicants in frontline care roles. Defined Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are no longer being approved.
But this isn’t the end—yet. Employers can still:
- Extend existing visas
- Switch sponsorships within the UK
- Hire people already on Student, Graduate, or Skilled Worker visas
There’s a window to adapt—but it’s shrinking.
And new barriers have emerged. Since 9 April, care providers in England must contact their Regional Care Partnership (RCP) before assigning a CoS, check for displaced workers, and document their decisions. It’s a cumbersome process, but it's the new reality.
The Sector’s Contribution Is Ignored—But That Doesn’t Mean We Stop
Social care has recruited over 185,000 international workers since 2021. It is the reason many families have access to dignified, at-home support. Yet the government’s language has shifted toward restriction, not recognition.
There are now over 130,000 vacancies in care. We’ll need 540,000 new workers by 2040. And yet—providers are being asked to train up domestic staff in a labour market that is already stretched thin.
As Professor Martin Green (CEO, Care England) put it:
The Government is kicking us while we’re already down… Without care, the NHS, our communities, and countless families will fall apart.
Automate Home Office Audits with Borderless
The Borderless platform provides a centralized system for all sponsorships, automating reminders for key tasks and ensuring best practices across your organization, simplifying audit preparation and ongoing compliance.
Immigration Rules Are Changing. Enforcement Is Rising.
- 1,494 sponsor licences were revoked in 2024—mostly in care
- New compliance duties require detailed right to work logs, job ads, salary records, and more
- Civil penalties can now reach £60,000 per offence
This is no longer about good intentions. It’s about system-level scrutiny. If you’re not audit-ready, you’re exposed.
The Cost of Inaction Is Growing
Visa costs, salary thresholds, and the Immigration Skills Charge are all rising—by as much as 32 percent in some cases. The path to settlement (ILR) is stretching from 5 to 10 years. And the English language requirement will increase from B1 to B2.
The longer you wait, the harder and more expensive it becomes to recruit, retain, and regularise your workforce.
What Should Employers Do Now?
We laid this out clearly in our recent webinar on 15 May, but to recap:
- Audit your sponsor licence and HR records
- Understand which job roles still qualify under RQF6+
- Prepare for a higher salary baseline
- Communicate with sponsored workers—fear spreads fast
- Get ahead of the displaced worker rules with structured systems
- Explore domestic recruitment pipelines and document every step
At Borderless, we’re also launching a National Displaced Worker Portal to connect providers with eligible workers already in the UK. It’s free, fully searchable, and aligned with the new Home Office guidance. Register your interest now.
The Path Forward: Not Just Compliance—Confidence
This is not about surviving the next compliance audit. It’s about building immigration practices that are predictable, ethical, and future-proof.
Borderless was founded with a vision of a world without barriers. That’s more than a slogan. It means fighting for fair rules, helping employers adapt, and always standing with the workers who move across borders to build a better life.
Join Us on 20 May
For a deeper breakdown of these changes and what they mean for employers, join our webinar:
20 May 2025
11:00 AM BST
“The 2025 Immigration White Paper Unpacked: What UK Employers Need to Know”
Register here
Let’s make sense of this moment—together.
