The Health and Care Worker visa is a specialised route within the UK’s Skilled Worker visa category. It allows qualified medical professionals from around the world to work in the NHS, an NHS supplier, or in adult social care. This visa offers faster processing, reduced fees, and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.

At Sincere Immigration, we support health professionals and sponsoring employers through the entire visa process from eligibility to successful approval.

Who Can Apply?

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

• You are a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional
• You have a job offer from a UK employer that is approved by the Home Office
• Your job is on the list of eligible occupations
• You have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your UK employer
• You meet the salary requirements for the role
• You can speak, read, write, and understand English to the required level

Eligible Roles

The Health and Care visa covers a wide range of occupations, including:

• Nurses
• Midwives
• Paramedics
• Care workers and home carers
• Senior care workers
• Social workers
• Dentists
• Medical radiographers
• Occupational therapists
• Physiotherapists
• Doctors in specific medical roles
• Speech and language therapists
• And many more allied health professionals

Note: The full list of eligible roles is outlined in Appendix Skilled Occupations of the Immigration Rules.

What Are the Salary Requirements?

The job must meet the minimum salary threshold, which is the higher of the general threshold £25,000 or the going rate for that occupation. In some cases, a lower salary can be paid where the role is listed on the Immigration Salary List or the worker qualifies as a new entrant.

Application Process

1. Secure a job offer with a UK sponsor licensed by the Home Office
2. Receive a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer
3. Apply online for the Health and Care Worker visa
4. Submit supporting documents, including proof of English language, TB test and criminal record certificate (if applicable)
5. Receive a decision within 3 weeks (if applying from outside the UK) and 8 weeks (if applying from inside the UK)

Can you Bring Dependants under this visa?

Health and Care Worker visa holders can bring dependants if:

• They are not working in a role classified under “care workers and home carers” (SOC code 6145), unless, they were granted their visa before 11 March 2024 and are applying to extend or switch visa routes. These applicants are still allowed to bring dependants.

Dependants include:

• A spouse, civil partner or unmarried partner
• Children under the age of 18 (or over 18 if already in the UK as a dependant)

Changes Affecting Care Workers

As of 11 March 2024, new applicants under the Health and Care visa in the care worker or home carer roles are no longer permitted to bring dependants to the UK.

This restriction was introduced as part of the UK government’s efforts to reduce net migration and applies only to new applications in these specific roles.

Applicants applying under Health and Care visa benefit from the reduced visa fees and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge and will be eligible to settle in the UK once they have completed 5 years under the Skilled Worker route.

How We Can Help

At Sincere Immigration, we guide you through every step of the visa process, including:

• Confirming your eligibility and job role
• Advising employers on sponsorship duties
• Preparing and submitting visa applications
• Assisting dependants with their applications
• Supporting long-term settlement planning

Start your healthcare journey in the UK today.

Book a free 30-minute consultation to speak with one of our expert immigration lawyers.