A new report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has revealed that 42% of internationally educated nursing staff (IENs) in the UK plan to leave, citing low wages, high living costs, and restrictive immigration policies.
The findings come as the government announces plans to close the care worker visa route, despite ongoing staff shortages in social care.
The report, based on the views of over 3,000 IENs, highlights shockingly normalised levels of discrimination in the workplace. Two-thirds (64%) of respondents reported experiencing discrimination since moving to the UK.
Many IENs also struggle financially due to lack of access to benefits. Those on a Health and Care Worker visa are subject to no recourse to public funds (NRPF), meaning they cannot claim housing benefit, child benefit, or Universal Credit. Some have been forced to rely on food banks and charity assistance, with one nurse even sending their baby back to their home country due to financial hardship.
The report warns that recently proposed immigration measures by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could accelerate an exodus of migrant staff.
Currently, migrant nurses must wait five years before applying for indefinite leave to remain (ILR), paying yearly visa renewal fees and then over £3,000 per person to secure ILR. Ministers have suggested extending the wait to 10 years, though the impact on nursing staff remains unclear.
Other countries offer faster and more affordable routes to ILR, making them more attractive destinations for migrant nurses. Two-thirds of those planning to leave the UK intend to move to a third country rather than their home nation.
In her Congress keynote speech, Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, urged the government to stop making life difficult for nursing staff who want to work in the UK.
She called for:
- Lower immigration application costs
- Access to benefits for IENs
- Indefinite leave to remain for all nursing staff without delay
Commenting on the issue, Ranger said:
“Our report shows thousands of migrant nursing staff are ready to leave the UK. This situation is bad enough, but now the government’s cruel measures could do great damage to key services.
“They pay tax and work in our vital services, they deserve the same rights. Sadly, this government is intent on pushing people into poverty, away from the country, and with no credible plan to grow the domestic workforce in sight. Government must do all it can to get the next generation into nursing.
"Rather than pandering and scapegoating, ministers should focus on what patients and vulnerable people need – safely staffed services. Without the measures we’re calling for, our amazing colleagues from overseas will continue to leave.”
The RCN has sent its report to the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care, demanding urgent reforms to protect the UK’s nursing workforce.
With widespread vacancies in social care and thousands of migrant nurses planning to leave, the government must act now to improve pay, reduce immigration barriers, and tackle workplace discrimination.
Failure to do so could jeopardise patient care and worsen the NHS staffing crisis.
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