---
title: "UK Care Worker Visa Closed: Facts and Scam Warning Signs"
description: "Since 22 July 2025 the UK has closed care worker visas to new overseas applicants. Learn to spot sponsorship scams and the routes still open."
lang: en
canonical: "https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/united-kingdom/care-workers/"
datePublished: "2026-10-07"
dateModified: "2026-10-07"
sources:
  - "https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad/part-1-applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad"
  - "https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/your-job"
  - "https://polri.go.id/layanan/spkt"
  - "https://iasc.ojk.go.id/"
  - "https://kp2mi.go.id/"
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf"
  - "https://peraturan.go.id/files/permen-p2mi-no-17-tahun-2025.pdf"
---

> Markdown version of https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/united-kingdom/care-workers/. Cite that HTML page and its update date.

# Working as a care worker in the UK: the route from abroad closed on 22 July 2025

Written by KarirAman editorial team Approved by [Kaiser Khan](https://kariraman.com/en/authors/kaiser-khan/) (editor), 8 October 2026 Updated and verified 7 October 2026

Closed **Care worker and senior care worker visa** since 22 July 2025

**Closed to new applicants from outside the UK since 22 July 2025.** Codes 6135 and 6136 are only for extending or switching inside the UK under certain conditions.

Status as of 7 October 2026 [Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad/part-1-applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad)

## Summary

- Since 22 July 2025 the care worker and senior care worker route has been closed to new applications from outside the UK.
- UK employers can no longer sponsor new care workers or senior care workers from abroad.
- A transition period to 2028 applies to people already in the UK, not to new applicants from Indonesia.
- Paying a 'sponsor fee' risks losing your money or receiving a fake certificate of sponsorship that gets your visa refused.

**Official routes, who runs them, and their legal basis**

| Route | Run by | Official link | Who pays placement costs | Legal basis |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Care worker and senior care worker visa<br>Health and Care Worker visa (care worker 6135, senior care worker 6136) · Health and Care Worker visa (care workers and senior care workers) | No legal placement channel at present | [Official source](https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/your-job) | There is no legal placement through this route, so any request for a placement fee is a red flag. See the cost rules | [Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) 7 October 2026<br>[Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)](https://peraturan.go.id/files/permen-p2mi-no-17-tahun-2025.pdf) 7 October 2026 |

[See this route in the comparison table](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/compare/#inggris-care-workers)

## What do you need to work in the United Kingdom through Care worker and senior care worker visa?

There is no legal placement channel for working in the United Kingdom through Care worker and senior care worker visa at present.

- **Placement channels from Indonesia:** No legal placement channel at present
- **Job types:** Care workers and home carers (occupation code 6135), Senior care workers (occupation code 6136)

## What does working in the United Kingdom through Care worker and senior care worker visa cost, and who pays?

There is no legal placement for working in the United Kingdom through Care worker and senior care worker visa at present, so anyone asking for a placement fee for it should be treated as suspect.

1. Law 18/2017 Article 30(1): Indonesian migrant workers may not be charged placement costs. [Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) 7 October 2026
2. Ministerial Regulation P2MI 17/2025: the employer bears placement costs. A worker may be charged only costs that are written and itemised in the Placement Agreement. [Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)](https://peraturan.go.id/files/permen-p2mi-no-17-tahun-2025.pdf) 7 October 2026
3. **Any request for money outside that document, in cash or to a personal account, is a red flag.**

## What is the minimum pay for working in the United Kingdom through Care worker and senior care worker visa?

Not enough data: we have not found an official pay floor for this route that we could verify.

## Which schools or training lead to the United Kingdom?

The education and training routes linked to working in the United Kingdom through Care worker and senior care worker visa: D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia, Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia, Language tests for working abroad.

- [**D3 vocational diploma in Indonesia: how it differs from a degree and how to check a campus**](https://kariraman.com/en/education/vocational-diploma/)
- [**Bachelor's degree (S1) in Indonesia: when jobs require one and how to check a university**](https://kariraman.com/en/education/bachelors-degree/)
- [**Language tests for working abroad: JFT-Basic, JLPT, EPS-TOPIK, IELTS, OET and telc**](https://kariraman.com/en/education/language-tests-for-work-abroad/)

## Is there still a legal route to the UK for health workers?

Yes. Registered nurses, doctors and listed health professionals can still use the Health and Care Worker visa with a licensed sponsor, once they meet the registration and English requirements. Only the care worker and senior care worker route for new applicants from abroad has closed. See the nurse route guide under Related guides.

## How can you spot a care worker sponsorship scam?

The scam usually starts with a 'UK care worker visa with sponsorship' offer, followed by requests for money for a certificate of sponsorship, training or a 'guarantee'. According to the UK government, the care worker route from abroad closed on 22 July 2025, sponsorship costs must be paid by the employer, and UK agencies may not charge recruitment fees. So such an offer from Indonesia is almost certainly not legitimate.

- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** [0800-1000](tel:08001000) [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)
- **Police call centre 110** [110](tel:110) [polri.go.id](https://polri.go.id/layanan/spkt)
- **Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC)** [157](tel:157) [WhatsApp 081157157157](https://wa.me/6281157157157) [iasc.ojk.go.id](https://iasc.ojk.go.id/)

## What are the warning signs of offers to the United Kingdom through this route?

- A UK care worker job offer for applicants in Indonesia, often with a 'sponsor fee'. This route is closed to new applicants from outside the UK.
- You are asked to pay for a certificate of sponsorship or 'sponsorship'. The UK government says the employer must pay this, and paying risks a fake CoS.
- A UK-based agency asks for a recruitment fee. The UK government says this is illegal. [Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad/part-1-applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad) 7 October 2026
- An individual recruiter claims they can send or place you. Law 18/2017 Article 69 bars individuals from placing Indonesian migrant workers. [Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id)](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) 7 October 2026

[How to check a P3MI agency in 5 steps](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/check-a-licensed-agency/) [Learn the signs of trafficking through job offers](https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/human-trafficking/)

- **Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (KP2MI)** Overseas recruitment, illegal agents and migrant-worker protection [0800-1000](tel:08001000) [+62-21-29244800](tel:+622129244800) [WhatsApp 0811-8080-141](https://wa.me/628118080141) [kp2mi.go.id](https://kp2mi.go.id/)
- **Peduli WNI (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)** Help for Indonesian citizens in trouble or danger abroad [+62-812-9007-0027](tel:+6281290070027) [WhatsApp +62-812-9007-0027](https://wa.me/6281290070027) [peduliwni.kemlu.go.id](https://peduliwni.kemlu.go.id/beranda.html)

**KarirAman is 100% free. We never ask for money. [Our no-fee policy](https://kariraman.com/en/no-fees/)**

Not legal advice. Always check SISKOP2MI before you sign up.

## Frequently asked questions

**I already paid a 'sponsor' for a UK care worker job. What should I do?**

Keep all payment records and messages. Report it to KP2MI and make a police report at the SPKT desk of your nearest police station. If you paid by bank transfer, contact your bank and report it to OJK's IASC as soon as possible. Do not pay again to 'arrange' or 'speed up' a visa.

**Can care workers already in the UK still extend their visa?**

According to GOV.UK, the care worker (6135) and senior care worker (6136) codes can still be used to extend, update or switch to this visa from inside the UK under certain conditions. This does not apply to new applicants from Indonesia.

## Who wrote and reviewed this page?

Written by KarirAman editorial team Published 7 October 2026 Updated 7 October 2026

Prepared with AI assistance. Checked against official sources and approved for publication by Kaiser Khan (editor). Approval date: 8 October 2026.

## Sources

The facts on this page come from these sources. Dates show when we opened them.

1. [Applying for health and social care jobs in the UK from abroad, part 1 (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad/part-1-applying-for-health-and-social-care-jobs-in-the-uk-from-abroad) Department of Health and Social Care (GOV.UK) · accessed 7 October 2026
2. [Health and Care Worker visa: your job (GOV.UK)](https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/your-job) UK Home Office (GOV.UK) · accessed 7 October 2026
3. [Sentra Pelayanan Kepolisian Terpadu (SPKT)](https://polri.go.id/layanan/spkt) Kepolisian Negara Republik Indonesia · accessed 7 October 2026
4. [Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC): Tentang, Langkah Pelaporan dan FAQ](https://iasc.ojk.go.id/) Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (IASC) · accessed 7 October 2026
5. [Kementerian P2MI/BP2MI: beranda dan kontak pengaduan](https://kp2mi.go.id/) Kementerian Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia/BP2MI · accessed 7 October 2026
6. [Undang-Undang Nomor 18 Tahun 2017 tentang Pelindungan Pekerja Migran Indonesia](https://peraturan.go.id/files/uu18-2017bt.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · UU 18/2017 · accessed 7 October 2026
7. [Peraturan Menteri P2MI/Kepala BP2MI Nomor 17 Tahun 2025 tentang Biaya Penempatan Pekerja Migran Indonesia](https://peraturan.go.id/files/permen-p2mi-no-17-tahun-2025.pdf) Kementerian Hukum RI (peraturan.go.id) · Permen P2MI 17/2025 · accessed 7 October 2026

**How to cite**

KarirAman (2026). Working as a care worker in the UK: the route from abroad closed on 22 July 2025. Updated 7 October 2026. https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/united-kingdom/care-workers/

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## Related guides

- [**United Kingdom**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/united-kingdom/)
- [**Health and Care Worker visa for nurses and health professionals**](https://kariraman.com/en/work-abroad/united-kingdom/health-and-care-worker-visa/)
- [**Caregiver**](https://kariraman.com/en/careers/caregiver/)
- [**Human trafficking (TPPO) through job offers**](https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/human-trafficking/)
- [**Fees for training, medical checks, uniforms or ID cards**](https://kariraman.com/en/job-scams/job-offers-that-ask-for-fees/)
- [**Job checker: is this job offer a scam?**](https://kariraman.com/en/check-a-job/)