Health and Care Worker Visa in UK – Your Complete Guide
The Health and Care Worker visa allows qualified medical professionals to live and work in the UK. This visa applies to doctors, nurses, and social care workers employed by the NHS, NHS suppliers, or adult social care providers. If you’re looking for a career in the UK’s healthcare sector, this visa offers a direct pathway to long-term employment and potential settlement.
Eligibility Criteria for the Health and Care Worker Visa
To qualify for this visa, you must:
✅ Be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care worker
✅ Have a job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office
✅ Work in an eligible health or social care role
✅ Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer
✅ Meet the minimum salary requirement (varies by job role)
✅ Prove your English language proficiency
If you are applying as a care worker or senior care worker in England, your employer must also be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Knowledge of English
Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency by:
- Passing a Secure English Language Test (SELT) from an approved provider
- Holding a GCSE, A-Level, or equivalent qualification in English from a UK school
- Possessing a degree-level qualification taught in English (if studied abroad, confirmation from Ecctis is required)
Citizens from English-speaking countries, such as the USA, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, are exempt from this requirement.
How Long Can You Stay?
The Health and Care Worker visa is valid for up to five years. Before it expires, you can apply to extend or update your visa if you continue to meet eligibility requirements.
Settlement in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain)
After five years on this visa, you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which grants permanent residency in the UK. This allows you to:
✔ Live, work, and study in the UK without time restrictions
✔ Access public benefits if eligible
✔ Apply for British citizenship (after meeting residency criteria)
How to Apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa
1. Determine Your Application Type
You must apply online based on your situation:
🔹 Applying from outside the UK – If you’re moving to the UK for the first time
🔹 Extending your visa – If you are already in the UK and want to continue working
🔹 Switching from another visa – If you’re changing from a different UK visa type
🔹 Updating your visa – If you change jobs or employers
Your partner and children can apply to join you in the UK as dependants.
2. Application Process
📅 You can apply up to three months before your job start date (as stated on your Certificate of Sponsorship).
✅ Complete the online visa application
✅ Provide supporting documents (passport, CoS, proof of English, salary details)
✅ Verify identity through biometric appointment or app upload
✅ Pay application fees and meet financial requirements
Once submitted, standard processing takes three weeks, but priority services are available for faster decisions.
Health and Care Worker Visa Fees & Costs
💰 Application Fee:
- Up to £284 for visas lasting three years or less
- Up to £551 for visas longer than three years
💰 Financial Requirements:
- You must show at least £1,270 in personal savings unless your employer covers this cost.
💡 No NHS Health Surcharge – Unlike other work visas, Health and Care Worker visa holders and their families do not pay the NHS surcharge.
Salary Requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa
To qualify, you must earn:
💼 At least £29,000 per year or £11.10 per hour (whichever is higher)
Each healthcare occupation has a specific salary threshold based on its occupation code. Some roles may qualify for salary exemptions under shortage occupation rules.
🔎 Example: If the annual salary for your job role is £33,000, but your employer offers £30,000, you may not meet the requirements.
🔗 Check your occupation’s salary requirements here: Skilled Worker visa: immigration salary list
What You Can and Cannot Do with This Visa
✅ You Can:
✔ Work in your sponsored job role
✔ Take on additional work (within specific limits)
✔ Do voluntary work
✔ Study in the UK
✔ Bring your partner and children as dependants
✔ Travel abroad and re-enter the UK
✔ Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after five years
❌ You Cannot:
✖ Claim most public benefits or State Pension
✖ Change jobs or employers without updating your visa
Additional Work on a Health and Care Worker Visa
You may take extra paid work if:
- It is within the same profession and skilled worker occupation list
- It does not exceed 20 hours per week
If your second job is over 20 hours per week, you must update your visa by obtaining a new Certificate of Sponsorship.
🔹 Example: If you work as a nurse but want to take on a part-time care role, you can work up to 20 additional hours without changing your visa.
The Health and Care Worker visa is a valuable opportunity for medical professionals seeking to work in the UK. With fast-track processing, lower fees, and no NHS surcharge, this visa provides a straightforward route to employment and eventual UK settlement.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, apply now and take the first step toward your healthcare career in the UK!
Read: How to Apply for a UK Visa: A Step-by-Step Guide
Source / Ref.: Gov.uk Contains public sector information licensed under OGL v3.0.
