UK Health and Care Worker Visa

Looking to work in the UK’s healthcare sector? The Health and Care Worker Visaoffers a streamlined pathway for qualified medical professionals.

UK Health and Care Worker Visa Overview

Key Feature	Details
Visa Type	Temporary work visa (part of Skilled Worker route)
Eligible Professions	Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, care workers
Minimum Salary	£20,960 - £26,200 (varies by role)
Visa Duration	Up to 5 years (extendable)
Settlement Pathway	Eligible after 5 years
Processing Time	3 weeks (standard), 5 days (priority)

Eligibility Requirements

For Applicants:

• Job offerfrom UK NHS, social care provider, or licensed sponsor
• Occupationon eligible jobs list (e.g., nurse, doctor, physiotherapist, senior care worker)
• Salarymeets threshold (typically £20,960+)
• English proficiency(B1 level IELTS or equivalent)
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from employer

For Employers:

• Must hold valid UK sponsor license(NHS trusts automatically qualify)
• Exempt from Immigration Skills Charge(saving £364-£1,000/year)

Benefits Over Standard Skilled Worker Visa

• Lower application fees(£247 vs. £719 for 3-year visa)
• Exempt from Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)(£624/year savings)
• Priority processingfor NHS roles
• No resident labor market test

Eligible Professions

Medical Roles:

• Doctors (all specialties)
• Nurses (registered with NMC)
• Paramedics
• Psychologists
• Occupational therapists

Care Roles:

• Senior care workers
• Care assistants (if sponsored by CQC-registered employer)

Salary Requirements

Role	Minimum Salary
Nurses (Band 5)	£28,407 (NHS pay scales)
Doctors (Foundation Year 1)	£32,398
Senior Care Workers	£20,960
Allied Health Professionals	£26,200+

Note: Must meet either NHS pay band or general threshold

Bringing Family Members

• Spouse/partner and childrencan apply as dependents
• Dependents can work/studywithout restrictions
• Must show £285-£1,560 fee + £630 maintenance per dependent

Switching & Extending

Can Switch From:

• Student visa
• Graduate visa
• Other work visas

Extensions:

• Can extend multiple times
• aximum stay before settlement: 5 years

Settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain)

After 5 years, you can apply if:

• Still working in healthcare
• Meeting salary requirements
• Pass Life in the UK test
• Prove B1 English

Comparison With Other UK Work Visas

Visa	For	IHS Fee?	PR Pathway?
Health & Care	Medical professionals	No	Yes
Skilled Worker	Other sponsored jobs	Yes	Yes
Graduate	Recent UK graduates	Yes	No

Common Reasons for Refusal

• Incorrect CoS details
• Missing English proof
• Salary below threshold
• Criminal record issues