You can apply for switching into Care Worker visa from inside the UK if you are already in the UK under a visa category which allows you to switch your immigration status to Care Worker visa category. To successfully apply for switching into Care Worker visa, you must be sponsored by a UK Care Home or Domicialiary Care holding skilled worker sponsor licence and registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
An application for switching into care worker visa from inside the UK is submitted by meeting the requirements as set out in Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules. An application for switching into care care worker visa is made using an undefined Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned under Skilled Occupations Code 6145 whereas an application for Senior Care Worker is submitted to UKVI using an undefined Certifiate of Sponsorship (CoS) assigned under Skilled Occupation Code 6146. The job positions of care workers and senior care workers fall under the Shortage Occupations as per Appendix Shortage Occupations of the UK Immigrtion Rules and therefore the applicants are eligible to pay the reduced UKVI fees for the application. Also, Care workers and Senior Care Workers are exempt from payment of Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) when applying for switching into care worker visa from inside the UK.
Care workers and Senior Care Workers who applied for their initial care worker visa before 11 March 2024 are still eligible to sponsor their depenants (partner and children under the age of 18) to stay with them in the UK and those who submitted their initial application for switching into care worker visa on or after 11 March 2024 can no longer sponsor dependants under this route.
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Free Immigration Advice For Care Worker Visa
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Eligibility Requirements For Switching Into Care Worker Visa
To be eligible for switching into Care Worker visa from inside the UK, you need to:
- be in the UK with leave to enter or remain from which switching into Care Worker visa is permitted by the Immigration Rules;
- score 50 points from mandatory non-tradable points;
- score at least 20 points from tradable points;
- have funds for maintenance in the UK or your Care Worker sponsor has certified your maintenance as per requirements of the Immigration Rules;
- meet the suitability criteria and not fall for refusal under the general grounds for refusal.
What Are The Mandatory Non-Tradeable Points For Switching Into Care Worker Visa UK?
The applicant must score 50 mandatory non-tradeable points to succeed in an application for switching into Care Worker visa and the remaining 20 points can be scored from tradeable points. The mandatory non-tradeable points are given in the table below:
| Characterstics | Points |
| Sponsorship | 20 |
| Job at appropriate skill level | 20 |
| English language skills at level B1 (intermediate) | 10 |
What Are The Tradeable Points For Switching Into Care Worker Visa?
To successfully switch into Care Worker visa, an applicant must get 20 tradeable points. As the job position of care worker and senior care worker is in shortage occupations list, the applicants can score 20 points for care worker visa by fulfilling the requirements stated in paragraphs SW 11.1. to SW 11.6. and SW 14.1. to SW 14.6. of Appendix Skilled Worker of the Immigration Rules, if their their salary meets or exceeds:
- £20,960 per year;
- £10.75 per hour; and
- 80% of the going rate for the occupation code, for occupation codes where a going rate is specified.
Who Cannot Switch Into Care Worker Visa From Inside The UK?
You cannot apply to switch to Care Worker visa from inside the UK if you are currently in the UK:
- on a visit visa
- on a short-term student visa
- on a Parent of a Child Student visa
- on a seasonal worker visa
- on a domestic worker in a private household visa
- on immigration bail
- because you were given permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds
You must leave the UK and apply for a Care Worker visa from abroad if you’re in one of these categories.
Requirements For Students Switching Into Care Worker Visa
According to changes to the Immigration Rules introduced on 17 July 2023, a student switching into Care Worker visa from inside the UK must fulfil one of the Conditions A, B or C below on the date of application:
Condition A:
- the applicant must have completed the course of study for which the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies was assigned (or a course to which ST 27.3 of Appendix Student applies); or
Condition B:
- the applicant must be studying a full-time course of study at degree level or above with a higher education provider which has a track record of compliance; and
- the Certificate of Sponsorship must have a start date no earlier than the course completion date; or
Condition C:
- the applicant must be studying a full-time course of study leading to the award of a PhD with a higher education provider which has a track record of compliance; and
- the Certificate of Sponsorship must have a start date no earlier than 24 months after the start date of that course.
Financial Requirement (Mandatory) For A Care Worker Worker
- If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK with permission for 12 months or longer on the date of application, they will meet the financial requirement and do not need to show funds.
- If the applicant is applying for permission to stay and has been in the UK for less than 12 months on the date of application, either:
- the applicant must have funds of at least £1,270 and the the applicant must show that they have held the required funds for a 28-day period and as specified in Appendix Finance; or
- the applicant’s A-rated sponsor must certify that they will, if necessary, maintain and accommodate the applicant up to the end of the first month of their employment, to an amount of at least £1,270.
Period and Conditions of Grant For Care Worker Visa
The applicant will be granted leave to remain as a Care Worker until 14 days after the end date of their certificate of sponsorship (which may be up to a maximum of 5 years after the start date of their certificate of sponsorship).
The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:
- no access to public funds; and
- work is permitted only in the job the applicant is being sponsored for; and
- supplementary employment is permitted, providing the person continues to work in the job for which they are being sponsored; and
- voluntary work is permitted; and
- working out a contractual notice period is permitted, for a job the applicant was lawfully working in on the date of application; and
- study is permitted, subject to the ATAS condition in Appendix ATAS.
