Applying from Overseas

Becoming a carer from overseas

Around 16% of adult social care workers do not identify as British. Compared to the national average of 8% , this suggests that there is a high proportion of homecare workers that have been employed from overseas*. However, securing employment in the UK from overseas is not as a simple as it is for a British citizen.

*The State of the Adult Social Care Sector and Worksforce 2021 (skillsforcare.org.uk)

Right to work in the UK

All employers are required by law to check their employees have the right to work in the UK.

The following determine who has the right to work in the UK as a carer:

• A British citizen
• A certificate of registration or a naturalisation as a British Citizen together with an official document showing their national insurance number
• Right of Abode in the UK or a UK Ancestry visa due to grandparents, parents or spouse being born in the UK
• EU Pre Settled or Settled status
• UK Government Share Code, proving the right to work in the UK
• Frontier Worker Permit
• If none of these apply, then to work in the UK, the employer will need to be licenced by the Home Office to sponsor a Skilled Worker Visa.

Most companies will require a professional carer to have a UK bank account and a registered address or PO Box in the UK.

Private households cannot acquire a licence to sponsor Skilled Worker applications, although an individual registered as a sole trader can. However, this very rarely occurs.

Unless specifically agreed in advance with the care company or client, a carer from overseas will be expected to pay for their own flights or transportation to and from the UK.

Working self-employed

Any agency that a self-employed carer chooses to work with will ensure that the carer has the right to work in the UK and a valid DBS. It is the carer’s responsibility to ensure they are appropriately insured and that they are paying tax on their earnings in accordance with UK law.
Clients or their representatives may choose to request a carer’s documents directly before they agree to any assignments. This may include the carer’s references, COVID vaccination status, evidence of their Driving Licence, insurance policies, and evidence of their self-employment status.

A carer from overseas should have a UK bank account as often they will be unable to complete their DBS application without one.

How do I find care jobs in the UK?

Carers form overseas can find out about jobs in the UK in same way that those in the UK can. They won’t be able to check the notice board in the local village hall, but they will have access to all the same websites.

Most reputable care providers and agencies list job vacancies on online jobs boards such as:

• CV library
• Total jobs
• Indeed

Each of the care companies on these sites will normally also have their own website which will provide more information on what it is like to work there.

Foreign driver’s licences

This varies from country to country. Make sure to check the UK’s DVLA and DVSA websites. For example, a South African full driver’s licence can be used to drive small vehicles for 12 months from their last entry to the UK.

Registering a UK address

A carer cannot register themselves at a client’s address. A carer without an address in the UK should set up an easily accessible PO Box for post to be delivered to.

Overseas training certificates

Any foreign qualifications are not equivalent to UK based qualifications and the UK equivalents will need to be taken.

Paying tax in the UK

Overseas carers working in the UK must pay tax and National Insurance in the UK. Employers will deduct these automatically from pay each month. However, self-employed carers should register with HMRC and complete a yearly tax return through the UK’s Government Gateway.

Our next section lists some useful resources for those seeking a job as a carer and for those currently working as a professional home carer. Download our complete Guide to Becoming a Carer for free. Everything you need to know about becoming a carer in one handy pdf which you can print out or read digitally.