UK HEALTH AND CARE WORKER VISA

The Health and Care Worker visa permits medical professionals to travel to or remain in the UK and work in adult social care, the NHS, or one of its suppliers. The visa is valid for up to 5 years, after which you must apply to extend or update it if it has expired or if you change employer or job.

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, you can apply to extend your visa multiple times. If you have been in the UK for 5 years on this visa, you may also be eligible to apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain’, which grants you the right to live, work, and study in the UK for as long as you want, as well as to access benefits if you qualify.

Who can apply for a UK Health and Care Worker Visa?

• be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
• have a job or job offer in an eligible health or social care role
• be working for a UK health and care sector employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
• be able to speak, read, write and understand English
• have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer
• be paid a minimum salary of £26,200 (or £20,960 for certain occupations or applicants) or the ‘going rate’ for the type of work you’ll be doing

Check your eligibility for this visa

UK Health and Care Worker Visa – Language Requirements

You may need to prove your ability to read, write, speak, and understand English to at least level B1 on the CEFR scale unless you’ve done this in a previous successful visa application.

How to Apply for a UK Health and Care Worker Visa

The precise application process for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa will depend on whether you are applying from outside the UK, extending your current visa from inside the UK, or are inside the UK and intending to switch from a different visa. You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you intend to start work in the UK.

If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa.

You can include your partner and children in your application to stay in the UK, if they are eligible.

UK Health and Care Worker Visa – Document Requirements

When you apply you will need to provide:

• your certificate of sponsorship reference number
• proof of your knowledge of English
• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
• your job title and annual salary
• your job’s occupation code
• the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number

Check your eligibility for this visa

UK Health and Care Worker Visa – Costs

The standard application fee for a UK Health and Care Worker Visa depends on how long you intend to be working in the UK. For visas valid for up to 3 years, the fee is £284 per person; for more than 3 years, the fee is £551 per person.

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

You must also have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

If unsure how to apply or whether this visa is right for you, seek advice from qualified migration agents.