Care assistant jobs in the UK with visa sponsorship were, for three years, the single most accessible route from Nigeria to Britain. That route has now closed, and a great deal of the advice still circulating online — and a great deal of what agents are still charging for — describes a visa that no longer exists for new overseas applicants.
This guide sets out exactly what changed, who is still eligible, and which realistic alternatives remain.
Critical 2026 status — read before paying anyone. The UK closed overseas recruitment for care worker (SOC 6135) and senior care worker (SOC 6136) roles on 22 July 2025. Care providers can no longer sponsor a care worker applying from outside the UK, and this remains the position throughout 2026. On the official GOV.UK job eligibility page these codes now appear only under extending, updating or switching — not under new applications. Any agent offering you a UK “care assistant sponsorship visa” from Nigeria today is selling something that cannot be issued.
Quick summary: Overseas care worker sponsorship is closed. Those already in the UK on a sponsored care visa can extend or switch employers until 22 July 2028, subject to the three-month prior-employment rule. The Health and Care Worker visa remains open for clinical roles — nurses, doctors, allied health professionals. Check any job code on GOV.UK and any sponsor on the official Register of Licensed Sponsors.
What Changed and Why
The care worker route opened in February 2022 and was, by any measure, heavily exploited. Large numbers of workers paid illegal recruitment fees overseas, arrived to find no genuine job waiting, or were left without status when the Home Office revoked their sponsor’s licence. Nigerian applicants were among the most affected.
The Migration Advisory Committee recommended in March 2025 that international recruitment for non-clinical care roles be phased out. The government accepted that recommendation, and the route closed to new overseas applicants on 22 July 2025.
The uncomfortable irony: the route closed largely because of the fraud committed against people like the readers of this article. Understanding that history is the best protection against the agents still selling it.
Who Can Still Use the Care Route
| Your Situation | Can You Be Sponsored as a Care Worker? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Applying from Nigeria, new applicant | No | Closed since 22 July 2025 |
| Already in UK on a care worker visa | Yes — extend or switch employer | Until 22 July 2028; 3-month rule applies |
| In UK on another visa, switching in-country | Limited | Conditions apply; check current rules |
| Nurse or clinical professional | Yes — different route | Health and Care Worker visa remains open |
| Applying via a Nigerian agent promising sponsorship | No — likely fraud | Report it |
What Remains Open: Health and Care Worker Visa
The Health and Care Worker visa itself has not closed. What closed is its use for non-clinical care roles. Clinical occupations remain fully sponsorable, and the NHS continues to recruit internationally.
| Role | Sponsorable From Overseas? | Typical UK Salary | Registration Needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered nurse | Yes | £29,000–45,000 | NMC registration |
| Doctor | Yes | £36,000–100,000+ | GMC registration |
| Midwife | Yes | £29,000–45,000 | NMC registration |
| Radiographer | Yes | £29,000–42,000 | HCPC registration |
| Physiotherapist | Yes | £29,000–42,000 | HCPC registration |
| Paramedic | Yes | £29,000–42,000 | HCPC registration |
| Care worker (SOC 6135) | No | — | — |
| Senior care worker (SOC 6136) | No | — | — |
The practical implication for Nigerian care workers: the most realistic route to the UK now runs through clinical qualification. A Nigerian nurse who completes NMC registration is fully sponsorable. A care assistant without clinical registration is not.
Visa Requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa
- A Certificate of Sponsorship from a Home Office licensed sponsor.
- An eligible occupation code — confirm yours on GOV.UK, not from a recruiter’s claim.
- Professional registration with the NMC, GMC or HCPC as applicable.
- English language at the required level — typically B1 for the visa, with higher requirements for professional registration.
- Salary at or above the applicable threshold and the going rate for the role.
- Tuberculosis test certificate — mandatory for Nigerian applicants.
- Criminal record certificate for roles working with vulnerable people.
- Valid international passport.
How to Verify a UK Sponsor Before You Pay Anyone
This section is the most useful thing on this page. The Home Office publishes a complete, public Register of Licensed Sponsors. If an employer is not on it, they cannot sponsor you, whatever they claim.
- Search “Register of Licensed Sponsors: workers” on GOV.UK and open the official register.
- Find the employer by exact legal name.
- Check the route listed beside them — being licensed for one route does not mean licensed for yours.
- Confirm the employer is CQC-registered if the role is care-related in England.
- Contact the employer through the address on their own website, not details given to you by an agent.
It is illegal for a UK sponsor to charge you for a Certificate of Sponsorship. Sponsors must bear those costs. Payments demanded for a CoS, a “job slot” or “sponsorship processing” are unlawful and are the exact practice that got the care route closed.
Employment Agencies and Official Resources
| Resource | What It Is | Official Website |
|---|---|---|
| Register of Licensed Sponsors | Definitive list of employers licensed to sponsor | gov.uk |
| NHS Jobs | Official NHS vacancy portal | jobs.nhs.uk |
| Nursing and Midwifery Council | Registration for nurses and midwives | nmc.org.uk |
| Care Quality Commission | Regulator of care providers in England | cqc.org.uk |
| Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority | Report exploitation and illegal fees | gla.gov.uk |
| UKVI | Official visa information and applications | gov.uk |
Settlement Benefits on the Health and Care Worker Visa
| Benefit | Available? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration Health Surcharge exemption | Yes | A significant saving unique to this visa |
| NHS healthcare access | Yes | From arrival |
| Bring dependants | Yes, for clinical roles | Dependant rules tightened for care roles |
| Children in state schools | Yes | Free at point of use |
| Indefinite Leave to Remain | Yes | Generally after 5 years continuous residence |
| Change employer | Requires new sponsorship | Not automatic |
| British citizenship | Yes | Usually 12 months after ILR |
British High Commission Contacts in Nigeria
| Office | Address | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| British High Commission, Abuja | Plot 1137, Diplomatic Drive, Central Business District, Abuja, FCT | +234 (0)20 12770780 / 0781 / 0782 |
| British Deputy High Commission, Lagos | 11 Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos | Contact via official FCDO online form |
Mistakes to Avoid
- Paying for care worker sponsorship in 2026. The route is closed to new overseas applicants. This is now the leading UK-related scam targeting Nigerians.
- Trusting an agent’s claim that an employer is licensed. Check the official register yourself.
- Paying for a Certificate of Sponsorship. Illegal.
- Relying on articles published before July 2025. Most UK care visa content online is now obsolete.
- Assuming a CQC-registered employer can sponsor. CQC registration and sponsor licensing are different things.
- Ignoring the TB test requirement. Mandatory for Nigerian applicants.
- Overlooking clinical qualification as the realistic alternative route.
Realistic Alternatives for Nigerian Care Workers
- Qualify clinically. NMC registration as a nurse converts you from ineligible to fully sponsorable.
- Consider other destinations. Canada, Ireland and Australia still recruit care and support workers from overseas under their own rules.
- Study route. A UK health-related qualification can lead to sponsorable clinical employment, though it requires funds and carries no guarantee.
- Skilled Worker visa in another occupation where you hold relevant experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still get a UK care assistant job with visa sponsorship from Nigeria?
No. Overseas recruitment for care worker (SOC 6135) and senior care worker (SOC 6136) roles closed on 22 July 2025 and remains closed. A UK employer cannot sponsor you for these roles if you are applying from outside the UK.
Is the Health and Care Worker visa completely closed?
No. It remains open for clinical roles including nurses, doctors, midwives, radiographers, physiotherapists and paramedics. Only the non-clinical care worker codes were removed for new overseas applicants.
What if I am already in the UK on a care worker visa?
You can extend your visa or switch employers until 22 July 2028, provided you meet the three-month prior-employment condition. Confirm your position on GOV.UK or with a regulated adviser.
An agent says they can still get me a UK care visa. Is that possible?
No, and you should treat it as fraud. The route is closed for new overseas applicants. Report such offers to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority.
How do I check if a UK employer can sponsor me?
Search the official Register of Licensed Sponsors on GOV.UK for the employer’s exact legal name and confirm they are licensed for the route relevant to your job. If they are not listed, they cannot sponsor you.
Can a UK employer charge me for sponsorship?
No. Sponsors must bear the cost of a Certificate of Sponsorship. Charging workers for sponsorship is illegal and was central to the abuse that led to the route closing.
Do I need a TB test to apply from Nigeria?
Yes. Nigeria is on the UK’s list of countries where applicants must provide a tuberculosis test certificate from an approved clinic for visas longer than six months.
How can a Nigerian care worker still reach the UK?
The most realistic route is clinical qualification, most commonly nursing with NMC registration. Alternatively, consider Canada, Ireland or Australia, which still recruit care workers internationally.
Will the care worker route reopen?
No reopening has been announced. The Migration Advisory Committee recommended phasing out international recruitment for non-clinical care roles and the government accepted that in full. Plan around what exists today.
Can I bring my family on the Health and Care Worker visa?
Clinical roles generally permit dependants. Dependant rules were tightened for care worker roles specifically, which is part of the wider restriction on that route.
Final Word
This is one of the few articles on this site that must tell readers a route is shut rather than how to use it. Overseas care worker sponsorship to the UK ended in July 2025, and the agents still selling it are exploiting the gap between the rule change and public awareness.
If the UK is your objective, clinical qualification is the honest path. If care work specifically is your skill, Canada, Ireland and Australia remain open in ways Britain no longer is.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Immigration rules change frequently — confirm all requirements on gov.uk before acting. See our Disclaimer.