Care workers: what the new rule means for you

No group has felt the tied visa harder than care workers. Thousands came, paid agents, and found the job did not match the promise. Because the visa belonged to the employer, complaining felt like choosing between the abuse and the plane home.

The change, published on 3 September 2026 and in force since 8 October 2026, is aimed squarely at that.

What changed for care workers

• A care worker recognised as a victim of modern slavery may work for any employer for the rest of their visa.
• No new certificate of sponsorship is needed to make that move.
• Leaving the abusive employer no longer ends the right to be in the UK.

What did not change

• Overseas recruitment into care worker roles is still closed. This rule is about people already here.
• The protection still needs a positive conclusive grounds decision through the National Referral Mechanism.
• A licence lost by your employer is a different problem with a different clock. That one gives you a short window to find a new sponsor.

If your employer lost its licence instead

That is not this rule. Revocations have run into the thousands, and the government hubs meant to help have placed only a small share of the people referred to them. If that is your situation, start looking immediately rather than waiting for a call.

You can check any company against today's Home Office register on our licence check page, free, before you apply anywhere.

We are a job alert service, not immigration advisers, and this is not legal advice. For your own case speak to a regulated adviser or a support organisation.