Health and Care Worker Visa UK

The Health and Care Worker visa allows qualified medical professionals to work in the UK for the NHS, NHS suppliers, or in adult social care.

To qualify, applicants must be qualified doctors, nurses, or health professionals, have a job offer from an approved UK employer, and possess a certificate of sponsorship that details the job position.You must have adequate English language proficiency and a clear criminal record.  Partners and children can join as dependants if they are eligible.

The visa can last up to five years, after which holders may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain.

Visa decisions are typically made by the Home Office within three weeks of application, although fast track options may be available. Applicants can apply up to three months before they are due to start their job the date of which must be indicated on their Certificate of Sponsorship.

Eligible Occupation Codes for Healthcare Skilled Worker Visa

Jobs eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa are listed under the following occupation codes:

• 1171: health services and public health managers and directors
• 1231: health care practice managers
• 1232: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: physical scientists
• 2211: generalist medical practitioners
• 2212: specialist medical practitioners
• 2221: physiotherapists
• 2222: occupational therapists
• 2223: speech and language therapists
• 2224: psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists
• 2225: clinical psychologists
• 2226: other psychologists
• 2229: therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2231: midwifery nurses
• 2232: registered community nurses
• 2233: registered specialist nurses
• 2234: registered nurse practitioners
• 2235: registered mental health nurses
• 2236: registered children’s nurses
• 2237: other registered nursing professionals
• 2251: pharmacists
• 2252: optometrists
• 2253: dental practitioners
• 2254: medical radiographers
• 2255: paramedics
• 2256: podiatrists
• 2259: other health professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2461: social workers
• 3111: laboratory technicians
• 3211: dispensing opticians
• 3212: pharmaceutical technicians
• 3213: medical and dental technicians
• 3219: health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
• 6131: nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6132: ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
• 6133: dental nurses
• 6135: care workers and home carers
• 6136: senior care worker

The application process for the UK Health and Care Worker visa is similar to other visa applications in that it requires comprehensive preparation and evidence in order to receive a successful decision.

The most important aspect of the Health and Care worker visa process is being issued with your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by your employer. This unique code is required to submit your visa application.

A certificate of Sponsorship is a document that confirms you are employed by or have a job offer from that employer. It includes an explanation of how you meet the Health and Care Visa eligibility requirements, employer details and personal details, including your name, your job and salary details, job start date.

The employer must have authorisation from the Home Office to sponsor the job, which means they should have a sponsor license. The employer may be NHS or an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, adult social care, or services commissioned by the NHS with proof of such contractual arrangements.

Once a qualified doctor, nurse, adult social care professional, or other eligible health professional has completed the online application form for the Health and Care Visa and submitted their supporting documents (see below), they should pay the application fee.

Following the receipt of your Health and Care Worker visa application, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) should request that you either attend an in-person biometric information appointment or provide the relevant information using a smartphone app.

The way that you apply depends on whether you are outside the UK or inside the UK (whether extending or switching the visa). If you wish to change your job or employer, you should submit an application to update the visa.

You must secure a job offer from an approved UK employer prior to applying for a Health and Care Worker visa. These approved employers, also referred to as sponsors, are responsible for sponsoring your entry to or stay in the UK.

Your job offer must come from one of the following:

• The NHS
• An organisation providing medical services to the NHS
• An organisation delivering adult social care

You can refer to the UK government’s guidance for a complete list of eligible employers.

If an employer is not currently approved, they can apply for a sponsor licence if they meet the eligibility criteria. The processing time for a licence application takes approximately eight weeks.

If you are a care worker (SOC code 6135) or a senior care worker (SOC code 6136), your employer must also be registered with the Care Quality Commission if you are working in England.

The Health and Care Worker visa requires a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a registered employer as part of your application. Both the sponsor (employer) and sponsored employee must meet certain eligibility conditions to be accepted for the visa.

CoS Eligibility Criteria for Employers

To be issued a CoS, employers must fulfill the following criteria:

• A valid sponsor licence from UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), demonstrating they are a legitimate business with genuine job opportunities.
• Proof of compliance with UK immigration law, such as conducting Right to Work checks and maintaining records of sponsored workers.
• Demonstrate financial capability to meet sponsorship obligations, including paying the worker’s salary.

Employers with previous non-compliance or immigration rule breaches may be disqualified from obtaining a sponsor licence.

CoS Eligibility Criteria for Employees

For an employee to receive a CoS, they must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate they are qualified for the role being offered, including skill level and minimum salary thresholds.
• Meet all visa requirements of the Health and Care Worker visa, including language proficiency and any required health checks.
• Have a clear criminal record.

The Health and Care Worker visa has strict salary requirements that must be met in order to apply, and the requirements differ based on the occupation code and how long you have been working in the UK on the visa.

In general, applicants must earn at least £29,000 a year or meet the “going rate” for their specific job, whichever is higher. The going rate is determined by the UK government and varies by profession. Failure to meet this salary threshold can lead to visa refusal, so it’s crucial that you check this thoroughly before applying.

Variability of Salary Thresholds

In April 4, 2024, the minimum salary requirement for the Health and Care Worker visa increased to £29,000.

However, in some cases, applicants may qualify with a salary lower than £29,000. Different salary requirements apply to this visa if your job falls under one of the following occupation codes:

• 1171: Health Services and Public Health Managers and Directors
• 1231: Health Care Practice Managers
• 1232: Residential, Day, and Domiciliary Care Managers and Proprietors
• 2113: Biochemists and Biomedical Scientists
• 2114: Physical Scientists
• 3111: Laboratory Technicians
• 3211: Dispensing Opticians
• 3212: Pharmaceutical Technicians
• 6135: Care Workers and Home Carers
• 6136: Senior Care Workers

Other reasons for qualifying for a lower salary include:

• being under 26
• You are studying in the UK
• holding a relevant STEM PhD
• having a postdoctoral position
• the occupation is listed on the immigration salary list. If your job is listed, you must earn a minimum of £25,000 or the full going rate for your position, whichever amount is higher.

For those under 26, you can earn 70% of the lower going rate if you meet certain conditions, including being on a Student visa or working towards a recognised qualification. Your total stay in the UK cannot exceed four years under these conditions.

If you have a relevant PhD, you can be paid 80% or 90% of the lower going rate, depending on whether your qualification is STEM-related. You must have a UK PhD or an equivalent from abroad and prove its relevance to your job.

Postdoctoral positions in specific scientific roles may also allow for a salary of 70% of the lower going rate, with similar stay limitations.

To meet the eligibility criteria for a Health and Care Worker Visa, you must be able to fulfill the English language proficiency requirements by one of the following means:

• Prove you have passed an approved language test that assesses your reading, writing, speaking and understanding of English at a minimum level of B1 on the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) scale.
• Hold a GCSE, A Level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, Scottish Higher, or Advanced Higher in English
• Have a degree-level qualification that was taught and conducted in English
• Being a citizen from an exempt country (i.e. your country of origin includes English as one of its official languages).

To be eligible for the Health and Care Worker Visa, you must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK, which means having at least £1,270 in your bank account for a minimum of 28 consecutive days. This requirement is waived if you have been in the UK for one year or longer on a valid visa.

If you do not have the required funds, you can request a letter of support from your employer who is sponsoring you.

The minimum salary requirement varies based on the type of job. Generally, you must earn at least £29,000 annually or the “going rate” for your position, whichever is higher. The going rate is determined by the government and reflects the average pay in each profession.

In certain situations, you may still qualify for a Health and Care Visa with a salary below the standard amounts. Specifically, you can earn between 70% and 90% of the going rate if you receive at least £25,000 per year and meet one of the following criteria:

• You have a job offer in a shortage occupation.
• You are under 26, a student, a recent graduate, or in professional training.
• You have a relevant PhD in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
• You hold a postdoctoral position in a scientific field.

When submitting your application for the Health and Care Visa, some of the following documents may be required:

• A valid passport or travel document
• Expired passports to show your travel history (where relevant)
• Tuberculosis test results (where relevant)
• Statement from your bank confirming that you have enough personal savings to maintain yourself
• Proof of your level of English language skills (at least level B1 on the CEFR scale)
• Criminal record certificate (where relevant)
• Job title, Occupation code and annual salary

There are some exceptions for some people who are nationals of a majority English-speaking country, or who have a degree qualification taught through English. If these situations do not apply to your situation, you should hold a Secure English Language Test result to prove your level.

However, it may be the case that if your language level is already certified by your professional standards body, you may not need to submit further proof of your language abilities when applying for the Health and Care Worker visa.

There is a reduced fee for people who wish to apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa. Below is the cost for the visa for applications made outside the UK:

• Where the applicant chooses to stay for three years or fewer: £324
• Where the applicant chooses to stay for three years or more: £628

Dependents of a healthcare worker in this visa category will also be eligible for reduced visa fees and all are exempt from paying the immigration health surcharge.

For assistance with the health and care visa, reach out to us. We can advise you on the best documents and help prepare a high standard application on your behalf. Call 0191 303 8965 today.

The Health and Care visa category has one of the fastest visa processing times. The majority of applicants for this skilled worker visa can expect to receive a decision within three weeks from the date of submission of their biometric information.

Because this is a valuable visa category, there are dedicated people within the NHS who can support with the application process.

If you are a healthcare professional looking to obtain a health and care visa, our lawyers can help. For more information about how we can assist you, contact us today on 0191 303 8965.

It is important to abide by the conditions of your stay and not undertake any employment that is not permitted by your approved Health and Care Worker visa.

However, it may be the case that you wish to change your job or employer. In these cases, it will be necessary to update your visa by submitting an application.

You will be issued a new Certificate of Sponsorship by your employer if you are undertaking a new job or changing employers. When you are in receipt of this number, you can then submit your application.

You can also add a second job to your existing visa, but this must be an eligible role and you must receive a new CoS to outline the nature of the work.

In most cases, you should update your visa up to three months before the start date of your new job. You will be asked to submit evidence of your identity and your biometric information. You can apply to update your visa at the Gov.uk link.

You may be eligible to switch to Health and Care Worker visa category under certain circumstances. If you are in the UK on an eligible visa, you and your dependents may be able to apply.

Note that if you plan to switch to this visa from a Student visa, one of the following must apply to you:

• You’ve completed the course you were sponsored to study on your Student visa
• The start date of your job is after the completion date of your course
• You’ve been studying for a PhD for at least 24 months

To be considered, you should ensure that your job meets the eligibility requirements and that you have the appropriate skill level in English.

There are some circumstances where you may not switch to this category. This includes the following reasons:

• You hold a Visitor Visa
• You are on a short-term Student Visa or the Parent of a Child Student Visa
• You are on a seasonal worker or domestic worker in a private household visa
• You are on immigration bail
• You were given leave to remain outside immigration rules (e.g., on compassionate grounds)

If the above situations apply to your case, you should first leave the UK and start the Health and Care worker visa process from overseas. You can use the Gov.uk site to switch to a Health and Care Visa.

In most cases, you can extend your Health and Care Worker visa without hassle if you hold the same job, work under the same occupation code, are employed by the same sponsor, and continue to meet the salary requirements.

When applying for a visa extension, it’s important not to travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until a decision is made, as doing so will cause your application to be withdrawn.

Please note that your partner and/or children’s visas will not automatically extend with yours; they must apply separately at the same time or before their current visas expire.

If you are sponsored as a Care Worker or Senior Care Worker, you may not be able to have your partner and/or children stay as dependents during your visa extension and may need a different visa route.

If you have a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa, your eligibility requirements may differ. If you obtained your certificate of sponsorship after 24 November 2016 and apply before 1 December 2026, you may have some allowances regarding salary eligibility.

If you change jobs or employers, you must apply to update your visa before it expires.

The Health Care Worker visa allows most holders to bring eligible dependants to join them in the UK. However, as of March 2024, care workers (SOC codes 6135) and senior care workers (SOC codes 6136) can no longer bring family members under the dependant visa route. Family members of care and senior care workers must apply for alternative visas, such as work or student visas. This change does not affect those already working in the UK on the Health Care Worker Visa before March 2024.

Eligible Dependants

Dependants eligible to apply include:

• Legally recognised spouse or civil partner
• Unmarried partner who can prove the relationship
• Children of the visa holder under 18
• Children over 18 with permission to be in the UK as dependants

Evidence of the relationship must be provided. Care workers and senior care workers can only bring dependants if employed before 11 March 2024 and meeting specific criteria. If approved, the dependant’s visa typically begins and expires on the same dates as the primary holder’s visa.

Financial Requirements

You must demonstrate the following in a bank account for at least 28 consecutive days:

• £1,270 for the primary holder
• £285 for a dependant partner
• £315 for a dependant child

Rights of Dependants

If their application is successful, adult dependants can:

• Work, except as sportspersons or coaches
• Study
• Travel abroad and return to the UK
• Apply for settled status after 5 years

Dependants will not be entitled to most public funds, so the primary visa holder must ensure they have enough income or savings to support them.