Health and Care Visa Guide

Section A: What is the Health and Care Visa?

The Health and Care Visa is for healthcare professionals and workers from around the world to come to work in the UK’s health and social care sector. For UK healthcare employers facing staffing shortages, the Health and Care Visa offers a recruitment solution. Applicants benefit from fast-tracked entry to the UK, reduced visa fees, and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Support is also available from a dedicated UKVI application processing team.

Key benefits:

• Fast-tracked processing
• Lower fees
• Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge
• Pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR)

Section B: Who Can Apply for a Health and Care Visa?

The visa is open to overseas workers applying under the Skilled Worker Visa route who will take up eligible roles in healthcare or social care. Eligible roles include:

• Doctors
• Registered nurses
• Social workers
• Care workers
• Paramedics
• Allied health professionals

Applicants must have a job offer in an eligible occupation and a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from a UK-licensed sponsor. Sponsors include NHS bodies, medical service providers, and adult social care organizations.

Section C: Health and Care Worker Visa Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Hold a valid CoS from a UK-licensed sponsor.
2. Have a job offer meeting the minimum salary thresholds.
3. Demonstrate sufficient personal savings, if required.
4. Meet the English language requirements.
5. Provide a criminal record certificate and tuberculosis test results, if applicable.

Salary thresholds (as of April 2024):

• General minimum: £23,200 per year or the national pay scale for the role.
• Special cases include reduced thresholds for certain conditions, such as holding a STEM PhD.

Section D: How to Apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa

1. Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship from your sponsor.
2. Apply online via the Home Office website.
3. Pay the visa fee.
4. Submit required documents: 
   • Passport
   • Certificate of Sponsorship details
   • Proof of personal savings (if applicable)
   • English language proficiency evidence
   • Tuberculosis test results (if required)
   • Criminal record certificate
5. Attend a biometric appointment or use the ID app.

Section E: Health and Care Worker Visa Costs and Processing Times

Visa costs:

• For up to three years: £284.
• For over three years: £551.

Processing time: Most applications are processed within three weeks. Applicants benefit from fast-tracked processing and support from a dedicated NHS team.

Section F: Health and Care Visa Dependants

Dependants may join or accompany visa holders, provided the primary applicant’s role is eligible. Dependants include:

• Spouses or partners
• Children under 18
• Children over 18 already in the UK as dependants

From March 2024, certain care workers (SOC codes 6135 and 6136) are restricted from bringing dependants.

Section G: Visa Conditions

Visa holders can:

• Work unlimited hours in their sponsored role.
• Take on additional work (up to 20 hours per week) in specific occupations.

Changes in employment or employers must be reported to the Home Office.

Section H: Extending a Health and Care Visa

Visa holders can extend their visa provided they:

• Continue to work for the same sponsor.
• Remain in the same role and meet salary thresholds.

After five years, applicants can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).

Section I: Applying for ILR with a Health and Care Visa

To apply for ILR, visa holders must:

1. Complete five years in the UK under the Health and Care Visa or eligible work visas.
2. Pass the Life in the UK test.
3. Meet English language requirements.
4. Have no breaches of immigration laws or visa conditions.

Section J: Need Assistance?

At Worldwide Immigration Ltd., led by Vikas Dhankhar, we provide specialized support to healthcare professionals navigating the Health and Care Visa process. From eligibility checks to application management, our team ensures a seamless experience.

Contact us for personalized assistance.

Section K: Health and Care Visa FAQs

What is the Health and Care Visa? 

The Health and Care Visa is a specific category within the UK’s points-based immigration system designed to attract healthcare professionals from around the world to work in eligible health and social care roles in the UK.

Who is eligible for the Health and Care Visa? 

The visa is open to workers in certain healthcare and adult social care roles with an eligible job offer for an authorized sponsor.

Does the NHS offer visa sponsorship? 

NHS organizations can sponsor workers provided they have a valid sponsorship licence and that the visa conditions are met by the worker and the role.

What is the minimum salary for the Health and Care Visa UK? 

From 4 April 2024, most health and care workers have to earn at least £23,200 or the national pay scale for the role, whichever is higher. Workers applying for a role that is not on a national pay scale will have to meet a general annual salary threshold of £29,000. Lower thresholds may be available for certain applicants.

Can a dependent apply for a Health and Care Visa in the UK? 

Health and Care workers applying after 11 March 2024 are not permitted to be joined in the UK by family members as visa dependants. The family members would need to secure alternative permission to come to the UK, such as applying for their own work visa.

Do health workers pay the healthcare surcharge? 

Health and care workers are exempt from the UK Immigration Health Surcharge.

Are care workers eligible for the Health and Care Visa? 

Only workers employed in eligible roles are eligible for the Health and Care Visa. Carers are included on the Immigration Salary List – previously known as the Shortage Occupation List – but this status remains subject to government review and change.

Section L: Glossary

• Health and Care Visa: A UK visa for healthcare professionals.
• NHS: The National Health Service.
• Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): Permanent residency in the UK.
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): A document issued by UK employers to support visa applications.

Section M: Additional Resources

• UK Government: Health and Care Visa Guidance
• NHS Careers: Working in the NHS
• Home Office: Immigration Rules