Effective from 4th April 2024, there will be increases to the minimum salaries for overseas carers sponsored on the Health and Care Worker (HCW) visa.
As a reminder, the current minimum salary is £20,960 per annum, or £10.75 per hour (based on a 37.5 hour working week).
Under the new immigration rules, the salary threshold for newly sponsored HCW visa holders will increase to £23,200 per annum, or £11.90 per hour.
Existing HCW visa holders will be exempt from this increase. However, they will be required to meet a minimum salary of £22,308 per annum, or £11.44 per hour, aligning with the National Minimum Wage, which also comes into effect on 4th April 2024.
Whilst we appreciate the need to minimise cost increases, we would recommend bringing all sponsored care worker rates in line at a minimum of £23,200 per annum, to prevent potential discrimination claims.
These changes are based on the Home Office’s recent Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules: HC 590, issued on 14th March 2024.
It’s important to note that the new immigration rules and accompanying Home Office guidance will be released on 4th April 2024.
We will be updating the guidance in the “International Recruitment Hub” section of our website and issuing further news updates, once the new immigration rules have been published.