Here to support you
The Government is committed to helping providers make more effective use of international recruitment to help grow the adult social care workforce alongside wider action to improve domestic recruitment and retention.
We recognise that many providers find international recruitment difficult and experience various barriers, including administrative complexity and cost, together with issues around pastoral support, housing and travel. Our International Recruitment Tab contains guidance and resources, as well as signposting to support services, to help our providers overcome these barriers, whilst upholding an ethical approach.
The immigration system is constantly changing, and although our Hub is updated from time to time, the GOV.UK website provides official, up to date guidance.
International Recruitment for you?
Recruiting from overseas is an effective way to strengthen your workforce, but it is not a quick fix. The Government supports overseas recruitment and has added care roles to the Skilled Worker Visa.
Overseas recruitment isn’t for everyone. It’s a serious commitment with significant responsibilities on you, the employer. However, most say the benefits outweigh the challenges, cost and effort involved.
Take a look at the steps below to find out whether you are ready to get started.
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Can you offer?
- Permanent vacancies for roles that pay in line with minimum requirements? (i.e. £23,200 or £11.90 per hour, based on a 37.5 hour week – as of 4th April 2024)
- Capacity to support the whole process?
- Dedicated people in your organisation who will take responsibility for the end-to-end process?
- A long-term workforce plan?
Costings
Sponsor licence cost
Employer sponsor licence costs vary depending on size of business, from £536 for an organisation employing 50 people or less and with assets under £5m, to £1,476 for larger organisations.
The UKVI (UK Visas and Immigration) processing time for a sponsor licence is normally up to eight weeks
Certificate of sponsorship
Before an overseas worker can apply for a health and care worker visa, the employer must assign them a certificate of sponsorship. This costs £239.
Immigration skills charge
An immigration skills charge is payable for each worker sponsored under the health and care worker visa.
The cost is either £364 (smaller companies and charities) or £1,000 (large companies) per sponsored worker per year.
This charge does not apply to international students switching to a health & care worker visa.
Health and care worker visa
Where roles fall under the health and care worker visa, the visa application fees are £284 (up to 3 years), or £551 (up to 5 years).
It normally takes 3 weeks for UKVI to process a visa, although you can pay extra for priority services, which can turn around applications in as little as one working day.
Visa Processing Times
The visa processing times provided are based on current Home Office guidance. However, feedback from care providers suggests that applications can often take longer than expected. Delays may result from errors made by the care provider or external factors, such as a high volume of applications. It is advisable to consider engaging a legal specialist to ensure accuracy in the application process. Being prepared for potential delays is recommended.
You’ll need a sponsor licence to employ someone to work for you from outside the UK. The process to apply is as follows:
Step 1
Check that your business is eligible. The UK Government has eligibility criteria for employers for visa sponsorship. Find out more here.
Step 2
Check if the job you are recruiting to is suitable for sponsorship. Find out what is needed for a Skilled Worker Visa. Check eligibility for a Health and Care Worker Visa.
Step 3
Decide who will manage the application. There are three roles required by the application; Authorising officer, key contact, and Level 1 user. This can be performed by the same person.
Step 4
Complete the online application form. This requires various supporting documents including covering letter and hierarchy chart. The process should take eight weeks to complete, but it can take longer.
Compliance
It’s important that you understand the ongoing compliance duties under the sponsorship licence.
UKVI conduct unannounced site audits and an organisation found to be falling short
of the required standards may face enforcement action.
Compliance responsibilities continue throughout the lifetime of the Sponsorship Licence,
and there are strict deadlines for reporting via the SMS.
You will need to ensure that you have the right personnel, HR systems, and processes in place to handle this.
The main compliance duties include:
Record keeping
You must maintain up-to-date records for any worker you sponsor, including contact details, right to work documents and copies of pay slips.
Monitoring
You must track and record employee attendance to ensure compliance with the terms of their visa.
Complying with immigration rules
Such as conducting regular right to work checks on all prospective and existing employees.
Cooperating with UKVI
You must report activities via the SMS, such as regular non-attendance.
Where can I find more information?
Comprehensive International Recruitment section and great Becoming a Visa Sponsor help sheet.
Definitive, real-time guidance and regulatory information from the Department of Health, including the Code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England and the Health and Care Worker Visa application process.
For a concise overview with lots of helpful links, see the Overseas Recruitment Bite-size Guide for Social Care Providers in England.
