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The short answer
Care workers (code 6135) and senior care workers (6136) can no longer make new visa applications from overseas, but a transition period runs until 22 July 2028 for people already in the UK to extend or switch. NHS Employers, summarising the July 2025 rules, gives the floor for these roles as £25,000 a year (£12.82 an hour) or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher.
Thousands of Nigerians came to the UK as care workers. The rules have since changed twice: new overseas recruitment into care roles has ended, and the pay a sponsor must offer is set by a formula. If you are in care work now, or a relative in Nigeria is asking whether to apply, this is what the published rules say.
Can new applicants still come as care workers?
NHS Employers, in a September 2025 summary of the July 2025 immigration rule changes, says care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) will no longer be able to make new applications for visas. It adds that a transition period is in place until 22 July 2028, during which people can extend or switch from other visa routes.
Switching from another visa
NHS Employers says people switching into a care role from another route must have been legally employed by their sponsor for at least three months before the application. Only providers registered with the Care Quality Commission can sponsor care workers in England, which GOV.UK's Skilled Worker page also states for code 6135.
The pay a sponsor must offer
GOV.UK's Skilled Worker job page sets the general minimum as the higher of £41,700 a year or the going rate for the job, as at October 2026. Care roles do not follow that figure. NHS Employers explains that because they sit on the Immigration Salary List, the threshold is £25,000 a year or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher. The hourly equivalent it gives is £12.82.
Worked example
Example: a contract of 37.5 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, at £12.82 an hour:
- 37.5 × 52 = 1,950 hours a year
- 1,950 × £12.82 = £24,999 a year
That sits at the £25,000 floor. A contract of fewer guaranteed hours at the same rate would fall below it. If your contract says 'hours as required' or relies on shifts that are not guaranteed, ask your employer in writing how the sponsored salary is met, because a salary that only works with optional overtime is a weak base for a visa.
Pay versus what lands in your account
A £25,000 salary is the figure before tax, National Insurance and pension contributions. Read your payslip line by line; our payslip guide walks through each deduction. Any deduction you do not understand is worth querying in writing.
- Check the hourly rate on the contract against the sponsored salary.
- Check travel time between home visits: how it is paid matters for domiciliary care.
- Keep every payslip and rota; they are your evidence if pay falls short.
- If you want extra income, read the second job rules first.
Extending, switching and moving to another employer
Most Nigerians in care work today are already in the UK, so the transition rules matter more than the closure. Three situations come up often:
- Extending with the same sponsor: the transition period to 22 July 2028 allows extensions, per NHS Employers. Start early and check your certificate of sponsorship shows the right code and salary.
- Changing employer: a new sponsor needs a new certificate and an application to update your visa. The new employer must be CQC-registered for care worker roles in England.
- Switching in from a dependant or student visa: possible during the transition, but only after three months of lawful employment with the sponsor.
If your sponsor loses its licence, act quickly and read the GOV.UK guidance on what that means for your permission; you are likely to need a new sponsor or another route. Keep copies of your contract, payslips and certificate of sponsorship somewhere you can reach them.
What changes these figures
Salary thresholds are set in the Immigration Rules and have moved several times. GOV.UK's Skilled Worker pages state that the minimum depends on your job type and the date you got your certificate of sponsorship, so two care workers in the same home may be under different rules. Check GOV.UK when you renew, and ask your sponsor which rules your certificate falls under.
Where Pryme fits
Pryme has no role in sponsorship or pay. It helps with what happens after payday: a Pryme account with GBP and NGN details, and sending to Nigeria with the rate and fee shown before you approve.
Immigration rules here are information, not advice. If your status depends on a decision, speak to a regulated immigration adviser.
Questions people ask
Can I still apply for a UK care worker visa from Nigeria?
NHS Employers says care workers and senior care workers can no longer make new visa applications. A transition period to 22 July 2028 lets people already in the UK extend or switch.
What is the minimum salary for a sponsored care worker?
NHS Employers gives £25,000 a year (£12.82 an hour) or the occupation-specific threshold, whichever is higher, for care roles on the Immigration Salary List.
Can I switch to a care worker visa from a student visa?
During the transition period people can switch from other routes, but NHS Employers says you must have worked for the sponsor legally for at least three months first.
Does overtime count towards the salary threshold?
The threshold is checked against guaranteed pay in the sponsored role. Ask your employer how your contract meets it rather than counting on overtime.
Sources
- Immigration rule changes July 2025 (NHS Employers) · accessed Oct 2026
- Skilled Worker visa: Your job (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
- Skilled Worker visa (GOV.UK) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.