UK Immigration Law Changes Could Force Care Homes to Close, Say Care Workers

In a move sending shockwaves through the UK care sector, new government proposals on immigration have sparked fear, frustration, and a looming crisis that care home operators say could result in widespread closures. The immigration law changes could force care homes to close, according to distressed bosses who depend heavily on overseas workers to staff vital roles.

Unveiled in a speech by the prime minister earlier this week, the white paper proposes a dramatic extension of the residency requirement for care workers on sponsored visas — from five years to ten — before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK. While the government claims the changes will restore “control” to the UK’s immigration system, those working in the heart of the care industry warn it may dismantle the very foundations of the sector.

UK: “A Betrayal of Trust”

Folake, a Nigerian national working on a care sponsorship visa in Rhondda Cynon Taf, said the news left her feeling heartbroken. Her visa ends in January, and she now fears her dreams of stability and a better future for her children are slipping away.

“I came here with the hope of settling and contributing to this society. I love my job, I love my community. It makes me happy,” she shared. “But now, it’s shocking and depressing. It’s dashing that hope. This feels like a betrayal of trust.”

Like Folake, many care workers who followed all legal routes to live and work in the UK are now plagued with uncertainty. “We don’t want to become illegal immigrants or asylum seekers. We just want to live our lives, work hard, and belong,” she added with a voice shaking from the weight of fear and frustration.

A Sector on the Brink

Across the UK, care homes rely heavily on foreign staff to fill roles that often struggle to attract domestic applicants. In Wales alone, Social Care Cymru estimates that up to 20% of the care workforce comes from overseas. For companies like Oakville Care Homes, which operates four homes in South Wales, the proposed immigration law changes could force care homes to close their doors permanently.

“It’s going to have a drastic effect,” said Mahesh Patel, general manager of Oakville. “We employ over 200 staff, and 65% are from overseas. If we lose even a fraction of them, we won’t be able to function. I wouldn’t be surprised if many homes end up closing.”

Patel revealed that internal meetings with staff have been emotional, with some managers reduced to tears. “We’re already preparing emergency recruitment campaigns,” he said. “We can’t wait to act when we’re already staring at a staffing cliff.”

Fear Among Care Staff

Mukesh, a care worker from India based in Cardiff, echoed the concerns. Arriving in 2022 as a dependent of his student wife, he now works under a care sponsorship visa set for renewal in September.

“We followed every rule, paid our taxes, integrated into society,” he said. “But now, it feels like we’re being punished. We came here legally, and yet we’re being made to feel unwelcome.”

The sense of betrayal is widespread. Care staff who have built relationships with vulnerable residents fear being uprooted from the lives they’ve invested in, both emotionally and professionally.

Sector Leaders Sound the Alarm

At Ely Court Care Home in Cardiff, general manager Rebecca Roberts described the proposed changes as potentially catastrophic.

“This isn’t just about losing numbers — it’s about losing skill, experience, compassion,” Roberts said. “Changing the employment route makes it harder for us to recruit and retain staff, and that directly impacts the quality of care residents receive.”

The Caron Group, which operates 18 homes, estimates that over 50% of its workforce are on sponsorship visas. Without a stable workforce, care providers say the impact will ripple through the NHS, local councils, and families relying on care homes to support their loved ones.

Political Divides and Public Consequences

Downing Street insists that it will not “shy away from direct conversations on immigration.” The prime minister warned the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” if it doesn’t curb migration, while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has defended the proposals, arguing they bring the system “back into control.”

Yet the human cost is undeniable. The Home Office predicts the proposed changes could lead to a drop of 100,000 in immigration per year by 2029 — but at what cost to vital services?

The Welsh government has responded with caution, stating that it is “analysing the immigration white paper and its impact on all sectors, including social care.”

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