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The Health and Care Worker visa is a specialised UK work visa that allows qualified medical professionals from outside the UK to work in eligible roles within the National Health Service (NHS), NHS suppliers, and adult social care. It is part of the Skilled Worker route but offers several advantages, including reduced visa fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Launched in August 2020, this visa is designed to attract highly skilled professionals in the health and care sectors to meet the UK’s growing workforce demands.

You can apply for a Health and Care Worker visa if you:

• Are a qualified health or social care professional

• Have a valid job offer from a UK employer approved by the Home Office

• Are employed in an eligible health or care sector occupation

• Meet the salary requirements

• Are proficient in English

Eligible occupations include (but are not limited to):

• Medical practitioners

• Nurses

• Midwives

• Paramedics

• Social workers

• Care workers and home carers

• Radiographers

• Physiotherapists

• Occupational therapists

• Speech and language therapists

A full, updated list is available on the official UK government website.

To apply for the Health and Care Worker visa, you must provide:

• A valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK employer

• Proof of identity (passport or travel document)

• Evidence of job title and salary

• Confirmation that your employer is approved by the Home Office

• Proof of English language proficiency

• Tuberculosis test results (if applicable)

• Criminal record certificate from any country where you've lived for 12 months or more in the past 10 years

You must prove your knowledge of English by either:

• Passing an approved Secure English Language Test (SELT)

• Holding a degree-level qualification taught in English

• Being a national of a majority English-speaking country

The minimum requirement is CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Step-by-step process:

1. Check eligibility for your occupation and salary level

2. Secure a job offer from a licensed sponsor

3. Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship

4. Gather required documentation

5. Apply online via the official UK visa portal

6. Pay the application fee

7. Provide biometric information (fingerprints and photo)

8. Await decision (typically within 3 weeks for applicants outside the UK)

One of the key benefits of the Health and Care Worker visa is reduced costs compared to other work visas.

Visa fees:

• Up to 3 years: £284

• More than 3 years: £551

No Immigration Health Surcharge:

Unlike other UK work visas, this visa waives the IHS, saving applicants over £600 per year.

Financial requirement:

You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account (unless your employer covers this in the CoS).

Holders of this visa can:

• Work in an eligible job in the health or social care sector

• Bring dependants (partner and children)

• Take on additional work under certain conditions

• Study

• Travel freely in and out of the UK

• Apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years

You can bring your:

• Spouse or partner

• Children under 18, or over 18 if they’re already in the UK as your dependants

Each family member must apply separately and pay the appropriate visa fee, but they are also exempt from the health surcharge.

You can switch to this visa from within the UK if you’re already on another eligible visa. You can also extend your Health and Care Worker visa as long as you:

• Continue to work in the same or eligible job

• Work for the same employer

• Still meet the salary and eligibility requirements

After 5 continuous years in the UK on a Health and Care Worker visa, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, provided you:

• Have not spent more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12-month period

• Still work in an eligible role

• Meet the English language and Life in the UK test requirements

Applying for a job not on the shortage occupation list

1. Submitting an incomplete or expired Certificate of Sponsorship

2. Failing to prove English proficiency

3. Not checking if your employer is Home Office-approved

4. Confusing the Health and Care Worker visa with the general Skilled Worker visa

The UK Health and Care Worker visa presents a valuable opportunity for qualified international professionals to live and work in the UK in a meaningful, essential sector. With lower costs, faster processing, and a path to permanent settlement, it is one of the most attractive immigration options for healthcare professionals worldwide.

Whether you're a nurse from the Philippines, a social worker from South Africa, or a radiographer from India, this visa can open the door to a rewarding career and a stable life in the UK.