Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to paragraph A3 of the Tier 2 of the Points Based System – Policy Guidance, for what reasons care workers have not been included in that paragraph.

Those currently applying for the Health and Care Visa must meet the Tier 2 (General) immigration route requirements. Under the requirements of the current Tier 2 (General), a migrant worker must be filling a degree level job and meet the relevant salary threshold.

The UK’s new Points-Based Immigration System, which will come into effect from January 2021, will include changing the qualifying skill level – to A level and equivalent and above - and salary requirements.

Senior care workers will qualify under the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System and guidance on occupations eligible for the Health and Care Visa will be updated in line with the launch of the new Skilled Workers route and the expanded skills threshold.

As we implement our new global points-based immigration system we want employers in the care sector to focus on ensuring care workers are offered rewarding packages and career development opportunities which value the vital work they do, rather than the UK’s migration system providing them with an alternative to doing this.