RCN Warns Health and Care Worker Sponsorship Leaves Migrant Nurses at Risk
16 Aug 2026
If you're on a Health and Care Worker visa, a new Royal College of Nursing report is worth knowing about. The RCN looked at 383 cases reported by its members working in adult social care between January 2023 and December 2025, covering 1,280 separate incidents of poor treatment tied to the visa sponsorship system.
The RCN found that tying your immigration status to a single employer's Certificate of Sponsorship "reinforces power imbalances and increases the risk of exploitation." Substandard working conditions were the most common problem, showing up in 203 cases, and a third of those involved "severe bullying or harassment, including verbal abuse, intimidation and discriminatory treatment." Repayment demands from employers featured in 197 cases, and in more than half of those (53%), employers asked for over £3,000, above what NHS Employers recommends as a maximum. Threats related to immigration status were recorded in 90 cases, though the RCN believes this is likely under-reported.
Because of this, the RCN is calling on the Home Office to extend the time Health and Care Worker visa holders get to find a new sponsor after losing a job, from 60 days to 180 days, and to make it easier to switch employers generally. This hasn't happened yet, it's a recommendation, not a rule change. If you're currently between sponsors, you still only have 60 days to find a new Certificate of Sponsorship, so if your job ends, act quickly to line up a new employer. If you're facing repayment demands or threats from your current employer, the RCN's findings show you're not alone, and it may be worth seeking advice from your union or an immigration adviser.
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