Health and Care Worker Visa

The Health and Care Worker Visa is a specialized category designed to facilitate the relocation to the UK of international individuals with healthcare expertise. This visa applies to positions within the NHS, organizations providing services to the NHS, and roles such as senior caregivers in adult social care. On obtaining this visa, you can live and work in the UK for up to five years with the option to renew it for a longer stay. After five years, visa holders may apply for ‘indefinite leave to remain,’ offering permanent residence in the UK. Permanent residency comes with several advantages, such as the freedom to change employers, access to public funds, and no further need for visa renewals.

Updated Health and Care Worker Visa Rules for 2024

Effective from 11 March 2024, Care Workers and Senior Care Workers will no longer be eligible to bring dependents, such as spouses or children, to the UK.

From 4 April 2024, Health and Care Worker Visa applicants must meet a minimum annual salary threshold of £29,000.

Differences Between the Health and Care Visa and the Skilled Worker Visa

The Health and Care Worker Visa is tailored specifically for professionals in the healthcare sector, whereas the Skilled Worker Visa caters to a wider spectrum of occupations, excluding health and care roles.

Here are some reasons why the Health and Care Worker Visa offers certain benefits over the Skilled Worker Visa:

• The application process for the Health and Care Visa is expedited, with UK Visa and Immigration services giving it priority handling. They aim to complete processing within three weeks of receiving your biometric information. Meanwhile, processing times for other work visas may range from eight to twenty weeks.

• Applying for the Health and Care Visa is more cost-effective, with a fee of £464, in comparison to the Skilled Worker Visa which costs £1,220 for applications that span more than three years.

• Applicants for the Health and Care Visa are exempt from paying the immigration health surcharge, which is generally priced at £1,035 per annum for the duration of your intended stay.

Who Can Get the Health and Care Worker Visa?

The UK’s Health and Care Worker Visa is designed for certain healthcare positions, including doctors, nurses, various other health professionals, and adult social care workers. Each eligible occupation is assigned a unique four-digit code:

1181: health services and public health managers and directors

1242: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors

2112: biological scientists and biochemists

2113: physical scientists

2211: medical practitioners

2212: psychologists

2213: pharmacists

2214: ophthalmic opticians

2215: dental practitioners

2217: medical radiographers

2218: podiatrists

2219: health professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as audiologists and occupational health advisers

2221: physiotherapists

2222: occupational therapists

2223: speech and language therapists

2229: therapy professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as osteopaths and psychotherapists

2231: nurses

2232: midwives

2442: social workers

3111: laboratory technicians

3213: paramedics

3216: dispensing opticians

3217: pharmaceutical technicians

3218: medical and dental technicians

3219: health associate professionals not elsewhere classified

6141: nursing auxiliaries and assistants

6143: dental nurses

6146: senior care workers

Requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa in the UK

To be eligible for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A job offer and a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK employer associated with the NHS, a healthcare service provider to the NHS, or an adult social care provider is essential.
• A minimum salary threshold applies, which will be set at £29,000 starting from 4 April 2024. Depending on the standard ‘going rate’ for the job, the required salary may be higher.
• English language proficiency is mandatory, which can be proved by passing a B1 level English test, possessing certain English qualifications, or being a national of a predominantly English-speaking country.
• Applicants must have sufficient personal savings, typically £1,270, to support themselves for their first month in the UK. This amount should be in their bank account for at least 28 days unless they have been in the UK for a year with a valid visa or their employer can provide a support letter.

Details of the Job Offer

The job offer must correspond with the occupation codes designated for the Health and Care Visa. For clarity on your job offer’s specific code, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) provides useful tools, or you may consult your prospective employer. The employer must be licensed to sponsor Health and Care Visas.

Salary Requirements

Your salary must at least match the ‘going rate’ for your profession if it exceeds £29,000. In some cases, a lower salary might be acceptable, for example, if the position is listed as a shortage occupation, or if you are under 26 years old, a student or recent graduate, in professional training, hold a STEM PhD, or are being offered a postdoctoral scientific role.

English Language Requirement

To satisfy the English language requirement, applicants can either pass an approved English language test at the B1 level, possess certain academic qualifications taught in English, or be from a country that is exempt.

Proof of Financial Means

Applicants must demonstrate financial capability by having the necessary level of personal savings, except if they have already been living in the UK on a valid visa for a year or more, or if they can provide a letter of support from their employer.

Required Documents for the Application Process

• A valid passport
• Certificate of Sponsorship reference number
• Details of your job position and salary
• The occupation code for your job
• Your employer’s sponsor licence number
• Evidence of personal savings
• Documents proving the relationship with accompanying family members
• A criminal record certificate for specific jobs
• Proof of English language proficiency
• TB test results, if it’s mandatory for your country
• Your UK PhD certificate or Ecctis reference number, if relevant

Applying for a Visa Extension

To extend your Health and Care Worker Visa, you must continue to meet the eligibility criteria, which includes remaining in your job with the same employer and meeting the salary requirements. Family members must apply separately if they wish to extend their visas as well.