The UK care sector relies heavily on overseas recruitment, but the rules changed significantly in 2025. A care home still needs a sponsor licence to employ workers from outside the UK, but what you can sponsor has narrowed. This guide covers how to get a licence, the current costs, and the care-specific rules that now apply.
Important for care homes: since 22 July 2025 you can no longer sponsor a care worker (SOC 6135) or senior care worker (SOC 6136) from overseas. These roles can only be sponsored for workers already in the UK, until the route closes on 22 July 2028. You also need Care Quality Commission (CQC) registration to sponsor care roles in England. A licence still lets you sponsor eligible clinical and professional roles, such as nurses, on the Health and Care Worker visa.
What is a sponsor licence for a care home?
A sponsor licence lets a UK care home employ eligible workers from outside the UK and assign them a Certificate of Sponsorship. Care homes usually sponsor under the Worker route. We can run the licence application for you, or see our step-by-step guide.
Eligibility
To apply, your care home must be genuine and operating in the UK, show a real need for the roles, and have systems to monitor sponsored workers. In England you must also hold CQC registration to sponsor care roles. You appoint key personnel, including an authorising officer, to run the licence. Check the full eligibility criteria.
How to apply, step by step
Gather your documents (business registration, financial evidence, and the Appendix A documents), choose the Worker route, complete the online application and pay the fee.
Costs and timing
- Sponsor licence: £611 for small or charitable sponsors, £1,682 for medium or large, from 8 April 2026.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: £525 per CoS.
- Processing: around eight weeks, or about 10 working days with the priority service (£750).
On the Health and Care Worker visa, the Immigration Skills Charge does not apply and visa holders are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
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.
Your licence lasts ten years
A sponsor licence now lasts ten years, and there is no renewal application or renewal fee. The four-year renewal cycle was abolished in April 2024. Your licence stays active as long as you remain compliant.
Staying compliant
Keep accurate records, report changes through the Sponsor Management System (such as a change of circumstances), and meet your sponsor licence duties. The Home Office watches the care sector closely: more than 470 care sector licences have been revoked since July 2022. Falling short can mean a downgrade, suspension or revocation. We can keep your Home Office compliance in order.
How Borderless helps your care home
We support care homes through the licence application, Certificates of Sponsorship and ongoing compliance. See our health and care page, or get in touch.
Frequently asked questions
Can small care homes apply? Yes, care homes of any size can apply if they meet the eligibility criteria.
How much does a licence cost? £611 for small or charitable sponsors, £1,682 for medium or large, plus £525 per Certificate of Sponsorship.
Can I still recruit care workers from overseas? No. Since 22 July 2025 care workers and senior care workers can only be sponsored in-country, not from overseas.
Do I need CQC registration? Yes, to sponsor care roles in England.
