Following the Government’s announcement yesterday that the National Minimum Wage (NMW) for over-21s will rise from £12.21 to £12.71 per hour on 1 April 2026, providers should begin considering how this may affect minimum salary requirements for sponsored care workers. The Home Office is not expected to confirm the updated minimum salary for Health and Care Worker Visa holders until March 2026.
The new NMW remains below the current minimum salary for sponsored care staff, which is £25,000 per annum (£12.82 per hour) as of 9 April 2025. Historically, the minimum hourly rate for sponsored care workers has been set above the NMW. If this approach continues, we estimate a likely new minimum of around £13.46 per hour, equivalent to an annual salary of £26,247.
If the rules remain unchanged, this uplift would apply only to care workers sponsored from 1 April 2026 onwards. Existing sponsored staff would remain on the current minimum. Providers should also be aware that paying newly sponsored staff more than current sponsored or non-sponsored workers may create fairness concerns and increase the risk of discrimination claims.
Key Considerations for Providers
• Financial planning: Begin budgeting for higher salary costs for new sponsorships from April 2026, with an estimated uplift of £1,200+ per worker.
• Pay alignment risks: Multiple pay levels across the workforce (existing sponsored, newly sponsored, and non-sponsored staff) may be lawful, but could lead to perceived unfairness and potential discrimination risks if not managed carefully.