Health and Care Worker Visa UK

What is Health and Care Visa?

The Health and Care Visa is a visa category created for overseas medical professionals who wish to come to the UK to work for either the NHS directly, an NHS supplier or in the adult social care sector. This visa category was created to make it cheaper, quicker and easier for healthcare professionals to come to work in the UK, as well as allow businesses within the sector to fill skill gaps.

Under new rules effective from April 2025, employers must try to recruit international employees who are already in the UK before recruiting and sponsoring overseas healthcare workers.

Similar to the Skilled Worker Visa, the Health and Care Worker Visa allow holders to live and work in the UK. However, the Health and Care Worker Visa is only open to certain medical professionals and people in eligible health and care roles. Health and Care Visa holders pay reduced visa fees and are also not required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

The Health and Care Visa is valid for up to 5 years. After this time you can apply to extend your visa if you wish to continue working in the UK. Providing that you continue to meet the eligibility requirements then you can extend your Health and Care visa as many times as you like. If you want to make the UK your permanent home then you may also be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after residing in the country for at least 5 years on this visa.

Who is eligible for a Health and Care Visa in the UK?

The Health and Care Visa is only open to qualified doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who will be working in eligible roles in the UK health sector. As well as meeting the job requirements there are also a number of other criteria you must meet to qualify for the visa including:

• Be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
• Working in one of the eligible occupations in the health or social care sector
• Have a job offer from an employer in the UK who has been approved by the Home Office
• Have a Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer that provides information about the role you have been offered
• Meet the salary requirements – this varies depending on the type of role you will be doing
• Read, write, speak and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. You don’t need to meet this requirement if you are from a majority English speaking country or your have an eligible degree level academic qualification that was taught in English.

Salary requirements for the Health and Care visa

You’ll usually need to be paid at least £29,000 per year, or the lower ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.

Each occupation code has its own going rate. You must earn at least the going rate for your role. For example, if your salary is £29,000 per year but the going rate for your occupation is £30,000 then you must earn at least £30,000 to meet the minimum salary requirement.

There are different salary guidelines for certain occupation codes, which are outlined below.

Alternative salary requirements for certain occupation codes

You will need to meet different salary requirements if your role is in one of the following occupation codes (as of 2025):

• 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

If you work as any of the above in your role, you’ll usually need to be paid at least £29,000 per year, or the lower ‘going rate’ for your job, whichever is higher.

You might still be able to apply for this visa if your job is eligible but your salary is less than the minimum threshold.

You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the lower going rate for your job if one of the following applies to you: 

• You’re under 26, studying or a recent graduate, or in professional training
• You have a science, technology, engineering or maths (STEM) PhD level qualification that’s relevant to your job
• You have a postdoctoral position in a scientific role

If your job is on the immigration salary list, you will need to be paid at least £25,000 a year or your job’s going rate, whichever is higher.

How to Apply for the UK Health and Care Visa

Applying for the Health and Care Visa can be challenging and there are a number of requirements that need to be met.

You must apply online for the Health and Care Worker Visa. You can do so using the application form available on the gov.uk website. You apply for this visa using the Skilled Worker route; when applying you will be asked if you are applying for a Health and Care Worker Visa as part of your application. Make sure that you tick yes on this question.

To complete your application you must submit the application form, prove your identity, submit your supporting documents and pay the application fee.

As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity. You can do this in one of two ways. You can either use the UK Immigration: ID Check app to scan your identity document or you can attend an appointment at a visa application centre near you to have your biometric information taken – this is your photograph and fingerprints.

You can apply for your visa up to 3 months before the date you intend to start work in the UK. You will usually receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks.

For further supporting in submitting a UK work visa application, reach out to IAS for help. We can ensure you submit the correct paperwork and reduce the risk of lengthy delays or even visa rejection. Call us on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or reach out to us online.

Certificate of Sponsorship Requirements

To obtain your Health and Care Worker Visa you must hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) issued by a government-approved employer in the UK. A Certificate of Sponsorship is not a physical document – it is an electronic record.

The Certificate of Sponsorship requirement differs slightly for Health and Care Workers than for Skilled Worker Visa applicants. If applying for a visa under the Health and Care route, then your employer must also include a brief explanation in your Certificate of Sponsorship giving details about how you meet the Health and Care Worker requirements.

If your employer is an organisation that provides medical services for the NHS then they may also need to submit evidence of their contract with the NHS. Employers must seek to employ from inside the UK before sponsoring workers from overseas.

Approved Employers for UK Health and Care Visa

It is essential to be employed or engaged by a UK health and care sector employer that has been approved by the Home Office and has the correct permissions to employ overseas workers:

• NHS Foundation Trusts, NHS Trusts, and other healthcare-related agencies in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland
• Institutions providing regulated activities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and registered with the Care Quality Commission
• Organisations regulated under the Care Standards Act 2000 or the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016
• Providers of care services in Scotland which are registered with Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland, or providing in NHS-related services
• General Practitioner Federations and those contracted by the Northern Ireland Regional Health and Social Care Board for Family Practitioner Services
• Bodies registered with or monitored/inspected by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority
• Many key regulatory bodies including the General Chiropractic Council, General Medical Council

Required Documents for Health and Care Visa Application

When making your application for a Health and Care Worker Visa you will need to submit certain documents and information to prove that you meet the eligibility criteria. You will need to provide:

• Your Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• Proof of your knowledge of English – this may be your Secure English Language Test (SELT) results or proof of an eligible academic qualification taught in English.
• A valid passport or another national identity document
• The occupation code for your job
• Your job title and annual salary
• Who your employer is and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your CoS
• Your tuberculosis test results if you are from a country where the test is required
• Evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK

For certain job roles where you will work directly with vulnerable people you may also need to submit a criminal record certificate. Your potential employer will be able to advise if the job role you are wanting to take up is subject to the criminal record check.

If you are eligible to being family members to the UK with you then you will need to provide documents proving your relationship with them such as marriage or birth certificates.

All of your documents should be in English or Welsh. If your documents are in another language then you will need to get them translated and certified.

Criminal record certificate requirement

Most applicants for the Health and Care visa will need to provide a criminal record certificate, with the exception of those applying in the following occupation codes:

• 2113: Biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: Physical scientists
• 3111: Laboratory technicians
• 6132: Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)

You may be asked to provide a certificate from every country you’ve lived in, depending on your age and how long you stayed in each country.

If you’re under 28, you’ll need a certificate from any country you’ve lived in for a total of 12 months or more since the date you turned 18.

If you’re 28 or over, you’ll need a certificate from any country you’ve lived in over the past 10 years.

Financial Requirement for Health and Care Visa

To qualify for the Health and Care Worker Visa applicants must meet financial requirements.

You must have £1,270 in your bank account and prove you’ve had this money for 28 consecutive days in the last month before applying. If you’ve been in the UK for 12 months or more, you don’t need to show funds.

Your employer can cover your first month’s expenses – at least £1,270 if necessary. Your sponsor will confirm this on your Certificate of Sponsorship.

English Language Requirement for Health and Care Worker Visa

To qualify for the UK health and care worker visa, you must demonstrate that you can read, write, speak and understand English at least at B1 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale.

To prove you meet that level, you must do one of the following:

• Pass a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
• Have a GCSC, A level, Scottish National Qualification level 4 or 5, or Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English that you obtained through studying at a UK school from when you were under 18
• Have studied at a degree level for a course taught in English. If the course was done outside the UK, you must apply through Ecctis to confirm your qualification is equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or PhD
• Are from an English-speaking country that is exempt from proving their language ability through any of the above

How much is the UK Health and care visa fees?

The cost of applying for a Health and Care Worker Visa varies depending on how long you will be in the UK for. If you plan to stay for up to 3 years then the application fee is £304 . If you plan to stay for more than 3 years then the application fee is £590. The application fee is the same whether you apply from inside or from outside the UK.

As well as the application fee, you will also need to show that you have at least £1,270 in your bank account to support yourself in the UK and have funds to cover additional costs such as document translation.

Applicants for the Health and Care Work Visa do not need to pay the Health Immigration Charge and are able to access the NHS for free.

What can I do on a Health and Care Worker Visa?

When living in the UK on the Health and Care Visa there are certain immigration rules that you must adhere to. This visa allows you to do the following:

• Work in an eligible job
• Do voluntary work
• Take on additional work (only in some circumstances)
• Study
• Travel in and out of the UK
• Apply for ILR after 5 years

Whilst this visa permits you to do many things in the UK there are some restrictions, you cannot access most public funds or the state pension and you cannot change employer unless you update your visa.

Working a Second Job as a Health and Care Worker Visa Holder

Health and Care Worker Visa holders are able to take on additional work as long as they continue to be employed in the role on their CoS.

However, you may have to update your details with the Home Office depending on the nature of the second job and how many hours you work each week.

You do not need to update your visa if you are working additional hours for your current employer or if you undertake “bank shifts” with the NHS.

If you are working on the same occupation code but for a different employer or in a self-employed role for 20 hours or less you do not need to let the Home Office know.

However, you must contact the UK immigration services if you plan to work more than 20 hours per week or if the work you plan to do is not in the same occupation code or role as detailed on your CoS.

Eligible Jobs for Health and Care Worker Visa

The role you plan to undertake must be covered by one of the following occupation codes in order to be eligible for the Health and Care Worker Visa:

• 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 workers

When Does a Health and Care Worker Visa Expire?

Health and Care visa holders may enjoy a duration of five years staying in the UK, as long as they continue to fulfil the requirements and job description on their Certificate of Sponsorship.

How to Extend the Health and Care Worker Visa in UK

As long as you consistently meet the eligibility criteria, you can renew your Health and Care visa without limitations. The criteria are as follows:

• You must still have same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• Your job must still be in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• You must still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship
• You must still meet the salary requirements

Note that you will have to meet different eligibility criteria if you have a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa.

You can apply to extend your visa online through the gov.uk website. You will normally receive a decision on your application within 3 weeks.

Can I Bring Dependants on a Health and Care Worker Visa?

Main visa applicants for the Health and Care visa may be permitted to bring dependant family members along with them depending on their job role.

A dependant partner or child is defined as one of the following:

1. Your spouse, civil partner, unmarried partner, or legal spouse.
2. Your child under the age of 18, including those born in the UK while you are residing there.
3. Your child over the age of 18, provided they are currently in the UK as your dependent.

If you are coming to the UK as a care worker or senior care worker you are unable to bring dependents to the UK if your visa was granted after March 2024.

For those eligible to bring family members to the UK, they must be able to prove they can support themselves while in the UK. Each dependent will need to show they have financial support equal to:

• £285 for partner
• £315 for one child
• £200 for each additional child

Health and Care Worker Visa Refusal: What to Do

If your application for a Health and Care Worker visa is refused, then you will receive a letter explaining why your application has been refused or rejected.

Any original documents you submitted, such as your passport, will be returned to you.

The letter you receive will also detail if you are eligible for an appeal or administrative review.

You should only pursue these options if you believe that your application has been unfairly refused, or that the Home Office did not fairly consider details or information that should have affected the outcome of your application.

You also have the option to submit another application after your refusal or rejection, though it is advisable to ensure that you have fully identified and rectified the issues that led to the refusal or rejection in the first place before applying again.

Switch to the Health and Care Worker Visa

If you’re currently on the UK on a different visa, it may be possible for you to apply to switch to the Health and Care Worker visa.

To be eligible, you must meet all of the normal eligibility criteria for the visa, including the salary, job and English language requirements.

Note that you cannot switch to this visa if you’re in the UK on one of the following:

• A visit visa
• A short-term student visa
• A Parent of a Child Student visa
• A seasonal worker visa
• A domestic worker in a private household visa
• Immigration bail
• Permission to stay outside the immigration rules, for example on compassionate grounds

Also note that if you wish 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
• Your job start date is after your course has finished
• You’ve studied for a PhD for at least 24 months

You can apply to switch to a Health and Care Worker visa online through the gov.uk website. You must apply before your current visa expires.

Settle in the UK: Health and Care Worker Visa to ILR

After spending 5 years in the UK with a Health and Care Worker visa, you may be eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

To be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have lived and worked in the UK for 5 years
• You must still meet the salary requirements for your job
• You must still continue to be needed for your job. You must provide a document from your employer confirming this
• You must pass the Life in the UK test

You can apply for ILR no earlier than 28 days before the date you will have been in the UK for 5 years.

It costs £3,029 to apply for ILR.

Employers Guide to Employ Overseas Healthcare Workers

Employers Must Issue Certificates of Sponsorship

To issue prospective Health and Care workers a Certificate of Sponsorship, as the employer, you must have official authorisation from the Home Office to sponsor the specific job position your prospective applicant is applying for under the Health and Care Worker route. Typically, organisations with this authorisation include the NHS, those providing medical services to the NHS, or those actively engaged in adult social care. In cases where a company is not currently authorised, you will have the option to apply for a Sponsor Licence provided you meet the necessary eligibility criteria.

You will be responsible for including a concise explanation within the Certificate of Sponsorship, clearly detailing how you fulfil the eligibility requirements for the Health and Care Visa. If your organisation offers services commissioned by the NHS, you may also need to disclose any existing contractual arrangements with the NHS.

The Certificate of Sponsorship should adhere to several key guidelines. It must contain essential information, such as applicant name, job particulars, and salary details. There is a cost for issuing each Certificate.

The start date specified in the Certificate must not exceed 3 months after their visa application date. Additionally, the Certificate must confirm that it has not been utilised in any previous application, whether granted, refused, or withdrawn.

Immigration Skills Charge

The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a fee the employer must pay when you sponsor workers under the Skilled Worker or Senior/Specialist visa routes. This fee, which is either £1,000 per sponsored worker per year for larger companies or £364 per year per sponsored worker for smaller companies and charities, must be paid when you issue the Certificate of Sponsorship. It’s crucial to pay the Immigration Skills Charge because failing to do so will lead to the worker’s visa application being denied.

Applying for Sponsor Licence

To get a Sponsor Licence for your company and hire foreign workers, you must meet certain requirements:

• Check that your business is eligible by ensuring your staff has no history of immigration offenses or crimes.
• Determine the type of licence you need based on the type of workers you want to sponsor, including skilled workers, religious workers, and temporary workers in various categories.
• Choose employees from your company who will be responsible for managing sponsorship. They cannot be shareholders and should hold senior positions in the company. You’ll need at least two members to use the Sponsorship Management System (SMS).
• Apply online and pay the Home Office fee, which varies based on the type of visa you want to sponsor and the size of your business. The fees range from £574 to ££1,579.

How can IAS help?

The Health and Care Visa has a number of requirements and it can be difficult to know whether you are eligible. Our lawyers are trained in all of the latest updates to UK immigration law, including the Health and Care Visa, we can assess whether you meet the criteria for the UK work visa.

Visa application processes are complex but our team are here to help. If you decide to apply for the Health and Care Visa we will be there to support you throughout the process. Our lawyers can fill in the application form on your behalf, help you to gather all of your supporting documents and can liaise with the Home Office on your behalf.

If you are an employer, IAS can help you navigate the process of becoming a sponsor of overseas workers and ensure you are compliant with all UK immigration laws.

For more information about our visa application services, contact us today on +44 (0)333 414 9244 or use our online chat.