Health and Care Worker Visas may be available to medical professionals who are interested in working in the United Kingdom. These visas offer a valuable opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the healthcare sector of the country.
Find out the eligibility requirements and application process to advance in your career.
Contact our immigration lawyers at 02033939272 for expert guidance on your Health and Care Worker Visa application.
The Health and Care Visa applies to international employees interested in traveling to the UK to work for health care organizations authorised by the Home Office. It is targeted at certain occupations of the healthcare sector such as doctors, detachment registered nurses, pharmacists, and adult care workers.
The effect of this visa is to meet one of the principal shortages of skills in the UK, health care, by providing a realistic opportunity for the foreign worker to obtain employment in the UK along with the prospect of securing indefinite leave to remain.
Candidates who are selected have permission to work in the UK for up to five years; however, they can request an extension as long as they meet the requirements. After spending 5 years in the UK, holders of visa can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which is a permission enabling the persons to live, work and establish a business in the UK free of any immigration control or visa sponsorship requirements. It means that the holders of such visa can easily switch employers or even jobs within the country.
Under the health and care visa UK eligibility criteria, you must meet the requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration:
The requirements may also differ considering one’s situation. Because it may be complex for everyone to understand the law it is suggested that one consults an immigration lawyer for legal advice.
To be eligible for the Health and Care Visa in the UK, applicants must meet several criteria, including:
One of the criteria for applying for the healthcare worker visa UK is the English language proficiency, which has been outlined below for every category of applicant. These requirements help in guaranteeing that the healthcare professionals are sufficiently proficient to practice in the UK.
Those who cannot meet the language requirements should consider alternative eligibility routes or focus on meeting the necessary criteria before applying.
Applying for the UK Health and Care Visa can seem daunting, but with the right guidance, the process becomes much more straightforward.
To begin, you must apply online through the Skilled Worker route via the application form available on the gov.uk website. During your application, select “Yes” when asked if you are applying for a Health and Care Worker Visa.
Completing your application involves four key steps:
To prove your identity, you can either:
It is possible to apply up to 3 months before the intended start date in the UK, and most of the decisions are usually issued within 3 weeks.
For help with your application, document preparation and advice on how to avoid unnecessary time delay please call Ress Clayton at 02033939272.
Your Health and Care Visa can stay valid for up to five years before you may be asked to renew it. If you wish to stay in the UK after your visa expiry or if you changed your employer or type of activity, you need to apply for the visa renewal or change.
You may apply to renew your visa many times without any restrictions if you are still compliant with the requirements of the renewal program.
After 5 years of your living in the country, you may be able to apply for ILR also known as permanent residency. It grants you permission to be in the UK with no restriction to duration and also enjoy certain benefits if applicable.
You can apply for your care worker visa UK up to 3 months before your start date in the UK which is specified in your certificate of sponsorship.
It is still compulsory for you to show your identification and present your documents when applying. If an appointment is necessary to complete this step, you will be informed during your application, and additional time may be required.
After submitting your online application, proving your identity, and providing the required documents, you will typically receive a decision within 3 weeks.
For a quicker outcome, you may have the option to pay for a priority processing service.
You may be eligible to pay for an expedited decision on your visa or settlement (indefinite leave to remain) application. There are two services available:
The time frame starts from:
For Family visa applications from outside the UK (partner, spouse, parent, child, or adult needing care), processing may take up to 30 working days.
When applying with family members, each individual must pay an additional fee for a faster decision:
Each family member must pay the fee for expedited processing. Decisions for all applicants in your group will typically be issued at the same time.
If any family members are required to provide their fingerprints and photograph in person, the processing time may be extended.
Once a decision has been made, you will receive a letter or email from the Home Office detailing the outcome and the next steps you need to take.
When applying for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must ensure you have sufficient funds to:
You’ll be informed of the exact amount to pay during the application process.
The standard fee depends on the length of your stay:
The fee remains the same whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to demonstrate financial self-sufficiency.
You’ll typically need to provide evidence of this unless:
Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while in the UK. Check the specific amounts required for dependents.
For detailed guidance on financial requirements and evidence, consult the official gov.uk website.
If your employer agrees to support you, this must be stated in your certificate of sponsorship. The employer should complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section under Additional Data.
You and your dependents are exempt from paying the healthcare worker visa surcharge as part of this visa.
| You Can | You Cannot |
| Work in an eligible job. | Apply for most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension. |
| Take on additional work in certain circumstances. | Change jobs or employer unless you update your visa. |
| Do voluntary work. | |
| Study. | |
| Bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants,’ if they’re eligible. | |
| Travel abroad and return to the UK. | |
| Apply to settle permanently in the UK (indefinite leave to remain) after 5 years, if eligibility is met. |
Upon approval of your application, you’ll receive a complete list of what is permitted and restricted under the Health and Care Worker visa.
When applying for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must provide specific documents. Below is a detailed list to ensure clarity and completeness:
Depending on your circumstances, you might also need to provide:
If you’ve lived in multiple countries, additional criminal record certificates may be required:
You will receive detailed instructions on the next steps after submitting your application.
You can typically apply to extend your Health and Care Worker visa if all the following conditions apply:
You must not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until you receive a decision on your visa extension application. If you do travel outside these areas, your application will be withdrawn.
You may hold a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa if:
If you hold a Tier 2 Health and Care Worker visa, you may be subject to different eligibility requirements.
If you were sponsored under a Tier 2 (General) or Health and Care Worker visa before 1 December 2020, the going rate for your occupation may differ:
Occupation Code | Going Rate for Health and Care Worker Visa | 90% of Going Rate (Relevant STEM PhD) | 80% of Going Rate (Relevant Non-STEM PhD/Immigration Salary List) | 70% of Going Rate (New Entrants) |
2114 Physical Scientists | £29,000 (£13.94 per hour) | £26,100 (£12.55 per hour) | £24,750 (£11.90 per hour) | £24,750 (£11.90 per hour) |
If you have changed your job or employer, you will need to apply for a visa update instead of a standard extension.
Check the applicable fees for your type of visa.
You will need to provide your biometric information (fingerprints and photograph), which has no additional fee.
As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. The method for doing so depends on your nationality and the type of passport or residence permit you hold.
You will either need to:
You will be instructed on what to do once you begin your application.
You must apply to update your Health and Care Worker visa if:
These conditions also apply to Tier 2 Health and Care visas issued before 1 December 2020.
As part of your application, you must prove your identity. The process depends on your nationality and the type of passport you hold.
You will be guided on the exact steps you need to take when you apply and instructed on how to provide any necessary supporting documents.
It may be possible for you to apply for a Health and Care Worker visa if you are currently in the UK on a different form of visa. You cannot move outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man until your case is decided. If you do that, your application will be cancelled.
To be eligible to switch to a Health and Care Worker visa, you must meet the following requirements:
If you are currently in the UK on a student visa, you must also satisfy one of the following additional requirements:
This visa is not available for conversion if you are presently in the United Kingdom on one of the following visas:
You are required to depart the UK and submit an application for a Health and Care Worker visa from another country if you are classified under one of these categories.
The duration of your stay in the UK will depend on how long your employer is sponsoring you, up to a maximum of 5 years. The length of your stay will be specified on your certificate of sponsorship.
As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity. The process varies based on your nationality and passport type.
You will be informed of the exact steps you need to take when you apply.
If your job falls under one of the following occupation codes, you will need to meet different salary requirements for this visa:
For all other eligible occupation codes, you must meet the salary requirements as outlined in the “Your job” section.
Example: If your salary is £30,000 but the lower going rate for your job is £33,000, you do not meet the salary requirement.
You can find the lower going rate for your job in the going rates table.
If your salary is lower than £29,000 or the lower going rate, you may still apply if your salary is between 70% and 90% of the going rate, provided you meet one of the following conditions:
Note: You cannot get a discounted salary if your job is on the immigration salary list.
If your job is on the immigration salary list, the salary requirements are as follows:
If you’re under 26, studying, or a recent graduate, you may qualify for a discounted salary of 70% of the lower going rate, provided your salary is at least £23,200 per year. You must also meet one of the following criteria:
Your stay in the UK cannot exceed 4 years for this category, including any time on a Tier 2 (General) work visa.
If you hold a relevant PhD-level qualification:
You must have a UK PhD or an overseas qualification equivalent to a UK PhD, verified through Ecctis. Additionally, your employer must confirm that your qualification is relevant to the job.
View the list of jobs qualifying for the PhD salary discount to determine the specific salary requirements.
If you hold a postdoctoral position in the following occupation codes, you may be paid 70% of the lower going rate, provided your salary is at least £23,200 per year:
Your total stay in the UK cannot exceed 4 years if applying for a postdoctoral position at this salary rate, including any time spent on a Tier 2 (General) work visa.
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