The United Kingdom has unveiled a major immigration overhaul that includes plans to abolish the care worker visa route—used extensively by Nigerian and other foreign workers—in a bid to slash migration numbers and reassert control over the country’s borders.

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the move on Tuesday, confirming that the care visa pathway would be phased out in the coming months, alongside new measures to accelerate the deportation of foreign criminals.

The changes, outlined in a White Paper set to be published today, reflect a dramatic shift in immigration policy by the Labour government and follow mounting public concern over record migration figures and the role of low-skilled visa routes in driving them.

“This marks the end of a failed free market experiment,” Cooper told the BBC, referring to the widespread overseas recruitment that has filled staffing gaps in health and social care sectors. “We saw a huge rise in care workers being brought in from abroad, but the underlying problems in the system were never fixed.”

What Does the Ban Mean?

The care visa route has been a lifeline for tens of thousands of foreign workers—particularly from Nigeria, Ghana, India, and the Philippines—seeking jobs in the UK’s health and social care sector. Under this pathway, care workers were allowed to migrate and bring dependants, including spouses and children.

But under the Labour government’s new plans, this low-skilled worker route will be scrapped entirely.

Cooper said the goal is to cut migration by 50,000 people a year, especially in sectors that are heavily reliant on low-wage, foreign labour. While she did not set a new net migration target, she stressed that annual arrivals must come down significantly from the 2023 peak of over 900,000.

This crackdown comes amid rising pressure from the anti-immigration Reform UK party, which made strong gains in recent local elections and has overtaken Labour in some polls.

Labour leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed Cooper’s tough stance, posting on X:

“I promised to restore control and cut migration—and I’m delivering with tough new measures. British workers, I’ve got your back.”

Sector Pushback Over Staffing Crisis

The decision has sparked backlash from within the care sector, where providers are already grappling with critical staff shortages.

Jane Townson, CEO of the Homecare Association, questioned the logic of banning a visa route without a viable alternative, asking:

“Where will these workers come from if neither the funding nor the migration route exists?”

Cooper acknowledged the sector’s staffing woes but insisted providers could hire from the 10,000 migrants already in the UK under care visas. She added that many of these workers had taken jobs “that weren’t actually there or were below acceptable standards.”

To offset the fallout, the government promised a new “fair pay agreement” for care workers, intended to improve pay and working conditions and reduce the need for foreign staff.

Broader Visa Reforms

Beyond the care sector, the White Paper outlines sweeping changes to other visa categories:

• Skilled worker visas will now be limited to graduate-level roles, effectively narrowing eligibility and focusing on high-skilled industries.

• Non-graduate visas will be restricted to strictly time-limited roles linked to urgent industrial needs.

• International students will face tighter compliance checks, though the restrictions are less severe than previously feared.

• Universities will be held responsible for ensuring student visa holders comply with conditions.

The government also plans to revise family-based immigration, tightening eligibility to curb abuse of dependent pathways.

Fast-Tracked Deportation of Foreign Offenders

A core element of the immigration reforms is a robust new system for the swift removal of foreign criminals, regardless of sentence length.

Previously, the Home Office focused only on foreign nationals who received prison terms of more than 12 months. Under the new rules:

• The Home Office will be notified of all criminal convictions involving foreign nationals.

• All offences—including violent crimes, sexual offences, and knife-related crimes—will be considered grounds for immediate removal.

• Anyone placed on the Sex Offenders Register will be automatically barred from claiming asylum in the UK, regardless of sentence length.

• Offenders may now have their visas cancelled, even before serving time, to prevent them from gaining long-term residency.

Cooper said the overhaul reflects the government’s commitment to “restore order, uphold standards, and remove those who break the law.”

“It’s a basic requirement—those who come to the UK should abide by our laws,” she said. “The system for removing foreign criminals has been far too weak for too long.”

Immigration Enforcement to be Streamlined

The White Paper also introduces new powers to refuse visa applications for any individual who commits a crime while holding a short-term visa. Repeat offenders or those with recent convictions could face automatic bans from reapplying.

Additionally, the Home Office will explore real-time visa cancellation mechanisms, enabling authorities to act swiftly against offenders before they can establish permanent roots in the UK.

Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice responded to the announcement by accusing the Labour government of moving too slowly:

“This plan doesn’t go far enough. We need a dedicated Department of Immigration and a total reset of the system.”

What This Means for Nigerians and Other Migrants

The care visa ban will likely have the most immediate impact on Nigerian nationals, who make up a significant share of new care workers in the UK. Many had viewed the route as a gateway to stable employment and long-term residency.

Now, they face growing uncertainty, and new applicants will likely be turned away unless they qualify for graduate-level skilled jobs.

Those already in the UK on care visas may retain legal status until the end of their visa term, but renewal options could be limited. The government has not yet clarified transitional arrangements.

Looking Ahead

The immigration changes are part of a broader political shift as the Labour government seeks to distinguish itself from the Conservatives—whom Starmer accused of losing control of migration.

The reforms are expected to face legal and political challenges, especially from migrant rights groups and care associations, who argue the measures may exacerbate labour shortages and violate human rights.

Nonetheless, with record migration figures driving public discontent, the government appears determined to follow through with the crackdown—delivering on its promise to cut numbers, raise standards, and restore order to the immigration system.