Care jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship have become a major attraction for immigrants seeking high-paying caregiver roles in 2025. With thousands of vacancies across full-time and part-time positions, healthcare facilities and care homes are actively hiring skilled and entry-level caregivers to meet growing demand.
UK care jobs not only offer competitive salaries ranging from £23,000 to over £32,000 annually but also come with employer-sponsored work visas, making relocation easier for overseas applicants.
This article explores entry-level requirements, top-paying regions, salary structures, and step-by-step guidance for immigrants seeking UK caregiver jobs with visa sponsorship opportunities in 2025.
Entry-level Skills and Experience Required
For many immigrants seeking care jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship, one of the first questions is whether prior experience is required. In 2025, the UK healthcare sector faces an acute shortage of caregivers, creating opportunities for both skilled professionals and newcomers entering the field for the first time.
Entry-level caregiver roles do not always demand years of experience. Many care homes and private healthcare providers provide on-the-job training, particularly for positions such as domiciliary care workers, residential care assistants, and healthcare support workers.
Certified Care Training Programs
Although formal qualifications are not always mandatory, candidates with certifications like NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Health and Social Care often earn higher salaries and secure sponsorship faster.
For instance, caregivers with NVQ Level 3 certification frequently start with annual salaries between £25,000 and £27,500, while those without formal training may begin at around £23,000.
Short online training programs on dementia care, first aid, or palliative care can also boost employability and salary prospects.
Language Proficiency for Immigrants
Another essential requirement for most visa-sponsored caregiver jobs is English language proficiency. Immigration rules under the UK Skilled Worker Visa program often require candidates to demonstrate English skills through IELTS or equivalent tests.
Employers prefer caregivers who can communicate effectively with patients, families, and healthcare staff, making language proficiency a critical factor in selection.
Experience Versus No Experience Roles
Care homes facing urgent staffing shortages frequently hire immigrants with zero experience, offering starting salaries around £23,040 per year for full-time roles.
In contrast, candidates with two or more years of caregiving experience or nursing assistant backgrounds can negotiate salaries closer to £26,000 annually. For part-time roles, hourly wages typically range from £10.50 to £13.50 depending on experience and location.
Workplace Training and Apprenticeships
Many NHS Trusts and private care facilities now provide apprenticeships where immigrants earn while they learn. Apprenticeship wages begin around £19,000 to £21,000 annually but quickly increase after certification.
This pathway allows newcomers to secure a UK work visa while progressing towards better-paying roles, making it a practical option for immigrants seeking long-term healthcare careers.
Regions with the Highest Payment Structures
Caregiver salaries vary significantly across the UK, with some regions offering higher pay due to demand, cost of living, and staffing shortages. Immigrants seeking care jobs with visa sponsorship in 2025 can maximize earnings by targeting areas known for competitive pay scales.
London and Greater London Area
London consistently tops the salary chart for caregivers due to its high cost of living and healthcare demand.
Full-time caregivers in London often earn between £27,000 and £32,000 annually, with some specialized roles like live-in carers exceeding £34,000 per year. Part-time positions also pay generously, offering hourly rates from £13 to £15, making London attractive despite its living expenses.
Scotland and Northern England
Regions like Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Newcastle also offer competitive caregiver salaries due to workforce shortages in rural and urban care facilities.
In Scotland, caregiver salaries average £26,500 annually, while some private care homes pay above £28,000 for experienced staff willing to work night shifts or weekends.
Midlands and Wales
In the Midlands, particularly Birmingham and Leicester, caregiver salaries range from £24,500 to £27,000 annually. Wales follows closely with averages between £24,000 and £26,500 for full-time care assistants. These regions often provide affordable housing compared to London, allowing immigrants to save more despite slightly lower pay rates.
Regional Pay VS Accommodation
Certain care homes in rural areas offer free or subsidized accommodation to attract immigrant caregivers. While salaries in such areas may range from £23,000 to £25,000 annually, free housing benefits can save workers up to £6,000 yearly in living expenses, effectively boosting net income.
Salary Expectations for Caregivers
Understanding salary expectations helps immigrants negotiate better pay packages when applying for UK caregiver jobs with visa sponsorship in 2025. Salaries depend on factors like experience, location, working hours, and employer policies.
Full-time Salaries
The average annual salary for full-time caregivers in the UK currently stands at £25,600 under the Skilled Worker Visa threshold. However, many employers now offer between £26,000 and £29,000 to attract overseas workers, especially in high-demand locations such as London and Manchester.
Part-time and Hourly Pay Rates
Part-time caregivers typically earn hourly wages ranging from £10.50 to £14.50. For example, working 25 hours per week at £13 per hour generates around £16,900 annually, while full-time caregivers at the same rate can earn over £27,000 yearly.
Specialized Care Roles
Live-in caregivers and dementia care specialists command higher salaries, often exceeding £30,000 per year. Some palliative care roles even reach £32,000 annually, particularly in private healthcare settings.
Overtime and Weekend Pay
Care homes frequently offer overtime pay at rates 1.5 times the standard hourly wage. Weekend shifts can add £50–£100 extra per day, allowing caregivers to increase annual earnings by £2,000–£3,000 through additional hours.
Companies Hiring Caregivers in the UK
In 2025, multiple NHS Trusts, private care agencies, and residential homes actively sponsor visas for immigrant caregivers due to the ongoing workforce shortage. Some organizations have dedicated international recruitment programs offering relocation support, free training, and initial accommodation assistance.
NHS Trust Hospitals
The National Health Service remains the largest employer of healthcare assistants and support workers in the UK. NHS caregiver roles typically start at £23,040 but can rise above £27,500 after two years of service. Many NHS Trusts also cover visa fees, making them a top choice for immigrants.
Private Care Agencies
Agencies like Helping Hands, Care UK, and Prestige Nursing recruit international caregivers regularly, with starting salaries ranging from £25,000 to £28,000. Some even provide flight reimbursements and initial settlement allowances for overseas staff.
Residential Care Homes
Organizations such as Barchester Healthcare and HC-One operate hundreds of care homes across the UK, offering visa sponsorship for full-time live-in and live-out caregiver roles. Salaries here vary between £24,000 and £29,000 annually depending on shift patterns and experience levels.
Visa Types and Options for Caregivers
For immigrants seeking care jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship, understanding the right visa option is essential. In 2025, the UK government continues to prioritize healthcare recruitment under the Skilled Worker Visa program.
This initiative allows thousands of overseas applicants to work legally in the UK while enjoying full employment rights, competitive salaries, and, in many cases, a path to permanent residency.
Skilled Worker Visa
The Skilled Worker Visa remains the most common route for caregivers. To qualify, applicants must have a confirmed job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office.
The employer must provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) showing job details, including salary and employment length. For most care roles, the minimum annual salary requirement stands at £23,040, although many employers offer above £25,600 to remain competitive.
Health and Care Worker Visa
The Health and Care Worker Visa specifically targets healthcare professionals, including care assistants and senior caregivers. It offers reduced visa fees, fast-track processing, and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, saving workers over £624 annually.
Salaries under this visa often range from £24,500 to £28,000 for entry-level roles, while experienced caregivers in urban areas can earn up to £30,000.
Temporary Work Visa Options
Some care homes use temporary work visa routes for short-term hires, especially for seasonal care projects. While these visas typically last 6 to 12 months, they provide valuable UK work experience, allowing caregivers to later switch to long-term Skilled Worker Visas when permanent roles become available.
Visa Processing Times and Costs
Visa applications for healthcare workers are processed quickly, with standard timelines between 3–8 weeks depending on the country of application. Skilled Worker Visa fees range from £625 to £1,423, but many employers fully reimburse these costs as part of recruitment incentives.
Some companies even offer relocation bonuses between £500 and £1,000 to support immigrant workers settling in the UK.
Pathway to UK Permanent Residency
Caregivers on Skilled Worker Visas become eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after five years of continuous employment.
This leads to permanent residency status, allowing workers to stay in the UK without visa restrictions while opening access to public funds and citizenship opportunities after an additional year.
Where to Find Care Jobs Opportunities
Immigrants seeking high-paying care jobs with visa sponsorship in the UK often wonder where to find reliable openings. Fortunately, the healthcare sector’s ongoing staffing shortages mean multiple recruitment channels actively advertise opportunities for both full-time and part-time roles.
UK Government’s Official Jobs Portal
The UK government’s “Find a Job” service remains one of the most trusted platforms for healthcare vacancies. Thousands of care homes, NHS Trusts, and private employers post job listings here, with filters for visa sponsorship opportunities, salary ranges, and job locations.
International Recruitment Agencies
Agencies specializing in healthcare recruitment, such as HCL Workforce and Medacs Healthcare, partner with UK employers to recruit caregivers from countries like Nigeria, India, and the Philippines.
These agencies often assist with visa documentation, interview preparation, and relocation logistics, making them valuable for first-time applicants.
NHS Careers Website
The NHS maintains a dedicated careers portal advertising healthcare assistant roles across multiple Trust hospitals.
NHS caregiver roles frequently offer free training, pension benefits, and career progression opportunities, making them popular among immigrants seeking stable, long-term employment.
Direct Applications to Care Homes
Many care homes across the UK, including HC-One, Care UK, and Barchester Healthcare, list vacancies directly on their official websites.
Applying directly often speeds up recruitment since employers handle visa sponsorship paperwork internally. Salaries at these care homes typically start from £24,000 and may reach £29,000 for experienced live-in caregivers.
Online Job Boards and Social Platforms
Websites like Indeed, TotalJobs, and Glassdoor feature thousands of caregiver job postings. Additionally, platforms like LinkedIn allow candidates to network directly with recruiters, join healthcare job groups, and receive real-time vacancy alerts.
How to Apply for Care Jobs as an Immigrant in the UK
Once immigrants identify suitable caregiver job opportunities, the next step is understanding the application process. In 2025, applying for UK care jobs with visa sponsorship involves several essential steps, from preparing documents to attending interviews and securing visas.
Step 1: Preparing the Right Documents
Applicants need an updated CV highlighting caregiving experience, certifications like NVQ Level 2 or 3, English language test results, and a valid passport. Many employers also request references from previous workplaces or volunteering roles in healthcare.
Step 2: Applying Through Approved Employers
Only Home Office–approved employers can sponsor work visas. Candidates must confirm that the care home or recruitment agency advertising the role appears on the official sponsor list to avoid scams or rejected applications.
Step 3: Attending Online or In-Person Interviews
Most UK employers conduct interviews via Zoom or Microsoft Teams for overseas applicants. Interviews typically assess caregiving knowledge, communication skills, and willingness to work flexible shifts such as nights or weekends.
Step 4: Receiving a Certificate of Sponsorship
Once successful, employers issue a Certificate of Sponsorship containing job details, salary, and visa eligibility confirmation. This document is mandatory when applying for the Skilled Worker Visa or Health and Care Worker Visa.
Step 5: Visa Application and Relocation
With the CoS in hand, applicants submit visa applications online, pay applicable fees, and schedule biometric appointments at their nearest visa center. Once approved, workers receive visas valid for up to five years, with options for renewal or permanent residency after eligibility periods.
Step 6: Settling into the UK Workforce
After arriving in the UK, most care homes provide orientation sessions covering patient care standards, workplace safety, and healthcare regulations. This support helps immigrants quickly adapt to UK healthcare systems while advancing towards higher-paying roles over time.