Health and Care Worker Visa

A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to do an eligible job in the UK with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

If you are planning to apply for a UK Health and Care Worker visa, our immigration solicitors can provide legal advice assistance with your Health and Care Worker visa application.

Please contact our immigration solicitor at 0158 235 9990 or fill in the enquiry form to take the first step towards your successful UK Health and Care Worker visa application.

What is the Health and Care Worker visa?

The UK's Health and Care Worker Visa is a vital pathway for overseas healthcare professionals to work in the UK's National Health Service (NHS), care sector, and other eligible health and social care organisations.

This visa not only offers an opportunity for skilled workers to contribute to the UK's healthcare system but also provides several benefits, including a fast-track process, reduced visa fees, and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Benefits of the Health and Care Worker visa

1. Fast-Track Process: Applicants benefit from a streamlined application process.
2. Reduced Visa Fees: Significantly lower than standard Skilled Worker Visa fees.
3. Exemption from Immigration Health Surcharge: Unlike other visa categories, Health and Care Worker Visa holders do not need to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.
4. Path to Settlement: After five years of continuous residence in the UK, visa holders can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR).

Eligibility criteria

To qualify for the Health and Care Worker visa, applicants must meet specific criteria:

1. Job Offer: You must have a confirmed job offer from an approved UK employer in the health or care sector.
2. Eligible Occupation: Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations. These include doctors, nurses, health professionals, and senior care workers, among others.
3. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your UK employer must provide you with a valid Certificate of Sponsorship.
4. Salary Requirements: The job offer must meet the minimum salary requirements - how much depends on the type of work you do.
5. English Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate a good command of the English language, typically by passing an approved English language test or holding a degree taught in English.
6. Sufficient Funds: You must show that you have enough money to support yourself unless you are exempt due to your sponsor covering your maintenance.

Health and Care Worker visa salary requirements

The general salary threshold for a Health and Care Worker visa is £29,000 gross per year, or the 'going rate' for the particular job, whichever is higher. 

Your employer must make sure your job pays at least the minimum wage and follows the UK rules for how many hours a week you work. If your employer does not do this, your application will be refused.

When you can be paid less

You can be paid between 70% and 90% of the lower going rate for your job if your salary is at least £23,200 per year and you meet one of the following criteria: 

• 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 (if you have a relevant PhD level qualification in any other subject your salary must be at least £26,100)
• you have a postdoctoral position in a scientific role

You cannot get a discounted salary rate if your job is on the immigration salary list.

Your job is on the immigration salary list

The immigration salary list is a list of skilled jobs which have lower salary requirements.  

If your job is on the immigration salary list, you need to be paid at least £23,200 or your job's full going rate, whichever is higher.

English language requirement

You need to demonstrate your ability to speak, read, write, and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale. You can prove this through an approved English language test or by having a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English.

Documents required for Health and Care visa 

When applying for a Health and Care Worker visa to the UK, you'll typically need the following documents:

• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Issued by your UK employer.
• Job Details: your job title, occupation code and annual salary.
• Proof of Identity: Such as a valid passport or travel document.
• Proof of English Language Proficiency: This can be an English language test result or a degree taught in English.
• Proof of Finances: To show you can support yourself in the UK unless your sponsor is covering your costs.
• Tuberculosis Test Results: Depending on your country of residence.

Criminal record certificate

You'll need to provide a criminal record certificate if you're applying from outside the UK unless your job is in one of the following occupation codes:

• 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114: physical scientists
• 3111: laboratory technicians
• 6132: ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)

Health and Care Worker visa application process

Applying for a Health and Care Worker visa involves several steps:

1. Online Application: Fill out the online application form on the UK government's official website.
2. Supporting Documents: Submit the required documents, including your certificate of sponsorship, proof of English proficiency, and proof of funds.
3. Pay Fees: Pay the visa application fee and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS).
4. Biometrics: Book and attend your biometric appointment. Provide your biometric information (fingerprints and a photo) at a visa application centre.
5. Wait for a Decision: You should receive a decision within 3 weeks if applying from outside.

Health and Care Worker visa processing times

The decision on your visa application usually takes around three weeks if you're outside the UK and eight weeks if you're inside the UK. However, priority services are available for faster processing.

Health and Care Worker visa application fees

The standard application fee depends on whether you'll be in the UK for:

• up to 3 years - £284 per person
• more than 3 years - £551 per person

The fee is the same whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.