HEALTH AND CARE WORKER VISA

The Health and Care Worker Visa is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker route, designed for qualified doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and individuals working in the adult social care sector who have been offered an eligible health or social care job in the UK. 

The Health and Care Worker Visa provides a pathway to settlement, with applicants eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years of continuous residence.

Most Health and Care Worker Visa applicants can be accompanied or joined by a dependent partner and children. However, special restrictions apply to dependants of care workers and senior care workers in SOC 2020 occupation codes 6135 and 6136. Their partners and children may generally apply as dependants only where the worker has been continuously employed in the UK as a care worker or senior care worker and held Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker permission since before 11 March 2024, subject to specified exceptions for certain children. Similar restrictions apply to dependants of workers in other medium-skilled Health and Care Worker roles by reference to continuous sponsored employment and permission since before 22 July 2025.

1. Benefits of the Health and Care Worker Visa

Applicants for the Health and Care Worker Visa enjoy several advantages compared to applicants under the general Skilled Worker route. These include:

• Reduced Visa Application Fees: Health and Care Worker Visa applicants pay a significantly reduced application fee. This reduction also applies to their dependent partners and children applying under the route.
• Priority Processing: UK Visas and Immigration aims to prioritise Health and Care Worker Visa applications, with most decisions issued within three weeks of the applicant providing their biometric information.
• Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS): Health and Care Worker Visa applicants, along with their dependent partner and children, are exempt from paying the IHS, meaning that they do not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge as part of their immigration application. The exemption from the IHS does not mean that every form of NHS treatment is necessarily free of charge.

2. Requirements for a Health and Care Worker Visa

In order to qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa, you will need to satisfy UK Visas and Immigration that:

• You are aged 18 or over;
• You are a qualified doctor, nurse, allied health professional or person working in the adult social care sector;
• You have a job offer for an eligible role listed in the relevant Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) codes for the Health and Care Worker route;
• You will be employed or engaged by a UK health or care sector employer that is approved by the Home Office as a licensed sponsor;
• You have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship from your employer for the role you intend to undertake;
• You will be paid a salary that meets or exceeds both the applicable salary threshold and the going rate for the SOC code, subject to permitted reductions (e.g. new entrants, ISL roles, PhD qualifications);
• You meet the English language requirement to at least CEFR level B2 in all four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening), unless the transitional B1 requirement applies because your most recent Skilled Worker permission was granted subject to the former B1 requirement;
• Your sponsor has paid any applicable Immigration Skills Charge where the charge is required. There is no general exemption merely because the sponsor is an NHS body; whether an exemption applies depends on the circumstances, including the occupation and immigration history of the worker;
• You have sufficient funds to support yourself in the UK, unless exempt from the financial requirement;
• You have provided a criminal record certificate, if required for your occupation;
• You have provided a valid tuberculosis (TB) certificate, if required due to your country of residence.

As at 10 August 2026, a further restriction applies to Skilled Worker entry clearance applications made by nationals or citizens of Afghanistan. Under the visa brake in force since 26 March 2026, an Afghan national cannot obtain Skilled Worker entry clearance, including under the Health and Care Worker sub-category. This restriction applies to applications made from outside the UK; eligible applications for permission to stay made from within the UK are not subject to this entry-clearance bar.

3. Health and Care Worker Visa Eligible Jobs

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa,  you must have a job offer in an eligible health or social care role, as defined by specific Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) 2020 codes listed in Appendix Skilled Occupations.

The current list of eligible SOC codes for ordinary new Health and Care Worker applications includes:

• 1171 – Health services and public health managers and directors
• 1232 – Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2113 – Biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114 – Physical scientists
• 2211 – Generalist medical practitioners
• 2212 – Specialist medical practitioners
• 2221 – Physiotherapists
• 2222 – Occupational therapists
• 2223 – Speech and language therapists
• 2224 – Psychotherapists and cognitive behaviour therapists
• 2225 – Clinical psychologists
• 2226 – Other psychologists
• 2229 – Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2231 – Midwifery nurses
• 2232 – Registered community nurses
• 2233 – Registered specialist nurses
• 2234 – Registered nurse practitioners
• 2235 – Registered mental health nurses
• 2236 – Registered children’s nurses
• 2237 – Other registered nursing professionals
• 2251 – Pharmacists
• 2252 – Optometrists
• 2253 – Dental practitioners
• 2254 – Medical radiographers
• 2255 – Paramedics
• 2256 – Podiatrists
• 2259 – Other health professionals not elsewhere classified
• 2461 – Social workers
• 3111 – Laboratory technicians
• 3212 – Pharmaceutical technicians
• 6131 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants

For in-country applicants, SOC 2020 occupation codes 6135 (Care workers and home carers) and 6136 (Senior care workers) may also qualify. Where an applicant is switching from another immigration route, they must have been legally working for the sponsor in SOC 6135 or 6136 for at least the three months ending on the date the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned, and the application must be made before 22 July 2028. A separate continuity provision applies where the applicant already has Skilled Worker permission sponsored in SOC 6135 or 6136, or the predecessor SOC 2010 codes 6145 or 6146.

In addition, an applicant extending or updating their permission may qualify in SOC 1231 (Health care practice managers), 3211 (Dispensing opticians), 3213 (Medical and dental technicians), 3219 (Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified), 6132 (Ambulance staff, excluding paramedics) or 6133 (Dental nurses) where they obtained the Certificate of Sponsorship for their first relevant Tier 2 or Skilled Worker permission before 22 July 2025 and have continuously held qualifying Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker permission since then.

The principal list above identifies the occupations currently available for ordinary new Health and Care Worker applications. Additional in-country and transitional occupations may qualify where the relevant conditions described above are satisfied. Certain other healthcare-related roles not listed here may still qualify under the general Skilled Worker visa route, but will not benefit from the Health and Care Worker-specific advantages (such as exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge or reduced visa fees).

4. Professional Registration for the Health and Care Worker Visa

For many health and care occupations, the worker must hold, or be in the process of obtaining, any professional registration or licence that is legally required for the role. Professional registration is not, however, a freestanding documentary requirement for every Health and Care Worker Visa application. For example:

• Nurses and midwives must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC);
• Doctors must be registered with the General Medical Council (GMC);
• Allied health professionals-such as physiotherapists, radiographers, and paramedics-typically require registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC);
• Pharmacists must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC);
• Dentists must be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC).

Where professional registration is required by UK law for the role, the sponsor must provide the worker’s professional registration details when assigning the Certificate of Sponsorship. Sponsors must also ensure that sponsored workers are appropriately qualified, registered or experienced to do their job, or will be by the time they begin the job. Evidence of professional registration is not a universal supporting-document requirement for every Health and Care Worker Visa application.

Special provisions apply to certain pre-registration nurses and midwives who are working towards Nursing and Midwifery Council registration. A qualifying pre-registration nurse or midwife may have up to eight months to complete NMC registration, and separate salary provisions may apply during this period.

Applicants should ensure that they begin the professional registration process as early as possible, as delays in obtaining registration can lead to delays in sponsorship, refusal of a visa application, or the withdrawal of a job offer.

5. Approved UK Employers for the Health and Care Worker Visa

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa, you must be employed or engaged by a UK health or social care sector employer that is approved by the Home Office as a licensed sponsor under the Skilled Worker route.

A wide range of organisations are eligible to hold a sponsor licence for the Health and Care Worker route, including:

• NHS bodies, including NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland;
• Providers of regulated activities under the Health and Social Care Act 2008, registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England;
• Care providers in Scotland, registered with Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Care Inspectorate);
• Care providers in Wales, regulated under the Regulation and Inspection of Social Care (Wales) Act 2016;
• Care providers in Northern Ireland, registered with or regulated by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA);
• GP Federations and organisations delivering primary care services under NHS contracts;
• Medical and dental service providers contracted to supply services to the NHS;
• Regulatory bodies (e.g. the General Medical Council, General Dental Council, General Chiropractic Council), where applicable.

Important Changes to Sponsorship of Care Workers under the Skilled Worker Route

Since 22 July 2025, care workers and senior care workers in SOC 6135 and 6136 can no longer make new Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker entry clearance applications from outside the UK. Sponsorship remains possible for specified applications for permission to stay made from within the UK.

Where a person is switching from another immigration route, they must have been legally working for the sponsor as a care worker or senior care worker for at least the three months ending on the date the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned, and the application must be made before 22 July 2028. Separately, a continuity provision applies to applicants who already hold Skilled Worker permission sponsored in SOC 6135 or 6136, or the predecessor SOC 2010 codes 6145 or 6146. Accordingly, 22 July 2028 should not be described as the date on which the route becomes fully closed under the Immigration Rules currently in force.

Where a care worker or senior care worker will work in England, the sponsor must normally be registered with the Care Quality Commission and currently carrying on a regulated activity. A limited transitional exception applies to certain workers who have been continuously sponsored in the relevant care-worker occupations since before 11 March 2024.

If you are not sure whether your employer is an approved employer for the purpose of the Health and Care Worker Visa route, our immigration barristers can advise you further.

6. Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Requirement for the Health and Care Worker Visa

To apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa, you must have a valid Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for the role you intend to undertake. This is an electronic document generated through the Home Office’s Sponsorship Management System (SMS) and is not a physical certificate.

Your Certificate of Sponsorship must be issued by a licensed sponsor -an organisation that is authorised by the Home Office to sponsor workers under the Skilled Worker route and, where applicable, the Health and Care Worker sub-route. Eligible sponsors include the NHS, organisations delivering services to the NHS, and adult social care providers, among others.

If an organisation is not currently approved as a licensed sponsor, it must first apply for and be granted a Sponsor Licence before it can issue a Certificate of Sponsorship.

The Certificate of Sponsorship must include:

• Your full name, job title, and proposed salary;
• The SOC 2020 occupation code corresponding to the role;
• A start date that is no more than three months after the date of your visa application;
• Confirmation that the CoS has not been withdrawn by your sponsor;
• A statement confirming how the role and applicant meet the eligibility requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa route.

Where the sponsoring employer provides services commissioned by the NHS (but is not itself an NHS body), the Home Office may request evidence of contractual arrangements with the NHS to verify eligibility for the Health and Care Worker route.

Your Certificate of Sponsorship must have been assigned no more than three months before the date of your visa application. Using an expired CoS will result in the application being refused.

7. Health and Care Worker Visa Salary Requirement

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa, you must be paid a salary that meets or exceeds both:

1. The applicable salary threshold, and
2. The ‘going rate’ for the job, based on the relevant SOC 2020 occupation code, as set out in Appendix Skilled Occupations.

National Pay Scale Occupations

For certain health and care occupations that are subject to national NHS pay scales, the minimum salary requirement is:

• £25,000 per year, or
• The going rate listed in Table 3 of Appendix Skilled Occupations for the relevant SOC 2020 code, whichever is higher.

These national pay scale occupations include:

• 2211 – Generalist medical practitioners
• 2212 – Specialist medical practitioners
• 2221–2226, 2229 – Therapy professionals
• 2231–2237 – Registered nurses and midwives
• 2251–2256, 2259 – Pharmacists and allied health professionals
• 2461 – Social workers
• 3213, 3219 – Health associate professionals
• 6131–6133 – Nursing auxiliaries, ambulance staff (excluding paramedics), and dental nurses

The inclusion of an occupation in the national-pay-scale salary tables does not necessarily mean that the occupation is open to a new Health and Care Worker application. SOC 3213, 3219, 6132 and 6133 are currently available under the Health and Care Worker sub-category only in qualifying extension or update cases under the transitional provisions.

Occupations Based on ASHE Salary Data

For other health and care jobs where salary thresholds are based on the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), the general salary threshold is £31,300 per year, unless a reduction applies under the points-based system.

These occupations include:

• 1171 – Health services and public health managers and directors
• 1231 – Health care practice managers
• 1232 – Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2113 – Biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114 – Physical scientists
• 3111 – Laboratory technicians
• 3211 – Dispensing opticians
• 3212 – Pharmaceutical technicians
• 6135 – Care workers and home carers
• 6136 – Senior care workers

Again, inclusion in this ASHE salary list does not itself establish that an occupation is open to a new Health and Care Worker application. SOC 1231 and 3211 are subject to the pre-22 July 2025 transitional provisions, while SOC 6135 and 6136 are restricted to specified in-country applications.

For these roles, the required salary must equal or exceed:

• The applicable salary threshold under the Health and Care ASHE salary options (£31,300, £28,200 or £25,000, depending on the tradeable-points option relied upon); and
• The going rate or a permitted percentage of it based on the applicant’s profile.

Tradable Points and Salary Reductions

Applicants for ASHE-based jobs may benefit from tradable points that reduce the salary threshold if they meet certain criteria:

• An applicant with a PhD qualification which is relevant to the job may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £28,200 per year and 90% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code;
• An applicant with a PhD qualification in a STEM subject which is relevant to the job may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £25,000 per year and 80% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code;
• An applicant with a job offer for a job on the Immigration Salary List may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £25,000 per year and the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code;
• An applicant who is a new entrant to the labour market at the start of their career may be paid a salary which equals or exceeds both £25,000 per year and 70% of the going rate for the SOC 2020 occupation code.

A “new entrant” includes applicants:

• Under 26 on the date of application;
• Who meet the specific Student or Graduate new-entrant provisions in the Immigration Rules; merely holding, or having held, Student or Graduate permission is not by itself sufficient;
• Working towards a UK professional registration or chartered status; or
• Sponsored for certain postdoctoral positions (Provided total time in the Skilled Worker/Graduate/Tier 2 route will not exceed 4 years.)

8. Introduction of the Temporary Shortage List and Changes to the Immigration Salary List

The Temporary Shortage List was introduced to include occupations at RQF Levels 3-5.  It is time-limited. This list is different from the Immigration Salary List. Being on the Temporary Shortage List means that an entry clearance application can be made where the occupation is medium skilled to RQF Level 3-5. However, inclusion on the Temporary Shortage List does not by itself make a job eligible for the Health and Care Worker sub-category. A Health and Care Worker applicant must also meet the occupation and sponsor requirements that apply specifically to that sub-category.

The Immigration Salary List (‘ISL’) has been updated  and a number of occupation codes have removal dates, for example SOC codes ‘6135 Care workers and home carers’ and ‘6136 Senior care workers’ have a removal date of 22 July 2028. As at 10 August 2026, SOC 1232 (Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors) and SOC 6131 (Nursing auxiliaries and assistants) have a removal date of 31 December 2026. These dates should therefore be reviewed before relying on the ISL salary provisions after the relevant removal date.

To be awarded points for a job no longer on the ISL, your last permission must be for a job on the ISL and you must be applying to continue working in the same job for the same sponsor.

9. New Entrants to the Labour Market Under the Health and Care Worker Visa Route

A “new entrant” to the labour market may benefit from reduced salary thresholds under the points-based system. You may qualify as a new entrant if, at the date of application, one of the following applies:

• You are under the age of 26;
• Your most recent permission, disregarding any permission as a Visitor, was as a Student and, if that permission has expired, it expired less than two years before the application; you were sponsored as a Student for a specified UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, PhD or other doctoral qualification, PGCE or Professional Graduate Diploma of Education; and you have completed the relevant course, are applying no more than three months before you are expected to complete it, or are studying for a PhD and have completed at least 12 months of study in the UK;
• Your most recent permission, disregarding any permission as a Visitor, was as a Graduate, and, if that permission has expired, it expired less than two years before the application;
• You are being sponsored for a postdoctoral research position in one of the specified eligible occupation codes;
• You are working towards a recognised UK qualification for a UK Regulated Profession, full registration or chartered status with the relevant professional body.

If you qualify as a new entrant, you may be paid a salary that equals or exceeds:

• £25,000 per year, and
• 70% of the going rate for the applicable SOC 2020 occupation code.

You will not qualify as a new entrant if granting your application would result in your total time with permission under the Skilled Worker, Tier 2 (General), or Graduate route exceeding four years.

10. English Language Requirement for the Health and Care Worker Visa

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa, you must demonstrate your English language ability to at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) in all four components: reading, writing, speaking, and listening, unless the transitional B1 provision applies to you.

You can meet the English language requirement in one of the following ways:

• You are a national of a majority English-speaking country, as defined in Appendix English Language;
• You have passed a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at CEFR level B2 or higher, with an approved provider, where B2 is the level applicable to your application;
• You have been awarded a degree-level academic qualification that was taught in English (you may need to provide confirmation from Ecctis, formerly UK NARIC, if the degree was obtained outside the UK);
• You obtained one of the following UK school qualifications in English while under the age of 18 and attending school in the UK:
  
  • GCSE or A Level in English;
  • Scottish National Qualification at level 4 or 5 in English;
  • Scottish Higher or Advanced Higher in English;
• You are not required to prove your English again under the applicable provisions of Appendix English Language or the Skilled Worker transitional rules.

For applications made on or after 8 January 2026, a person making their first application under the Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker route will normally need to meet the B2 requirement. If you held a Health and Care Worker Visa before 8 January 2026 and are applying to extend or update it, the transitional B1 requirement continues to apply and you do not need to prove your English again. A person switching from Skilled Worker permission also does not normally need to provide English-language evidence again. A person switching from a different immigration route must normally meet B2.

Doctors, dentists, nurses, and midwives do not need to prove their English language ability separately if they have already passed an English language assessment accepted by their relevant professional regulatory body, such as the GMC, GDC, or NMC. In such cases, the Home Office accepts that the language requirement has been met.

11. Immigration Skills Charge for the Health and Care Worker Visa

Employers sponsoring Health and Care Worker Visa applicants may be required to pay the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) when assigning a Certificate of Sponsorship. Whether the ISC is payable depends on the circumstances. Exemptions apply in specified cases, including certain occupations and certain workers who switch from a visa which permits study.

As at 10 August 2026, the ISC is £480 for the first 12 months and £240 for each additional six months for a small or charitable sponsor, and £1,320 for the first 12 months and £660 for each additional six months for a medium or large sponsor.

The ISC is payable by the sponsor only and cannot be passed on to the applicant in any form.

Sponsors should ensure they understand whether the ISC applies to them before assigning a CoS, as failure to pay the correct charge (where applicable) can lead to visa refusals or compliance issues.

12. Financial Maintenance Requirement for the Health and Care Worker Visa

Unless exempt, Health and Care Worker Visa applicants must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves upon arrival in the UK. Specifically, you must show that you have at least £1,270 in available funds, held for a consecutive 28-day period, ending no more than 31 days before the date of your visa application.

You will be exempt from this financial requirement if any of the following apply:

• You are applying from within the UK and have held valid permission for 12 months or more at the time of your application; or
• Your employer certifies on your Certificate of Sponsorship that they will maintain and accommodate you during your first month in the UK, up to a minimum of £1,270, if required.

To rely on this sponsor certification, your employer must complete the ‘Sponsor certifies maintenance’ section of the CoS. If the financial requirement applies and the necessary evidence is not provided, the application may be refused.

13. Criminal Record Certificate Requirement for the Health and Care Worker Visa

If you are applying for a Health and Care Worker Visa from outside the UK, you will generally be required to provide a criminal record certificate. This certificate must be issued by the relevant authority in any country where you have been present for 12 months or more (whether continuously or cumulatively) in the 10 years prior to your application, and during which you were aged 18 or over.

However, this requirement does not apply if you are being sponsored for a role under one of the following occupation codes:

• 2113 – Biochemists and biomedical scientists
• 2114 – Physical scientists
• 3111 – Laboratory technicians
• 6132 – Ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)

Applicants for all other eligible health and care roles under the Skilled Worker route must meet this requirement. Where a certificate is required but not provided, the application may be refused. Applicants should therefore allow sufficient time to obtain certificates from all relevant jurisdictions before submitting their visa application.

14. Suitability Requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, applicants for a Health and Care Worker Visa must not fall for refusal under Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules. Depending on the circumstances, Part Suitability contains mandatory and discretionary grounds relating to matters including criminality, deception or false representations, previous breaches of immigration law, specified debts and other conduct or circumstances identified in the Rules. Applicants should declare all matters required by the application form and seek advice where there is a potential suitability issue.

15. Application Fees and Fee Reductions for the Health and Care Worker Visa

Applicants for the Health and Care Worker Visa benefit from reduced visa application fees, provided their employer confirms on the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) that the role qualifies under the Health and Care Worker route. The reduced fees also apply to dependent partners and children applying under the same route.

The fee reduction is automatically applied during the online application process, based on the information provided in the CoS.

From 8 April 2026, the visa application fees for Health and Care Worker applicants are:

• £324 for a Certificate of Sponsorship valid for 3 years or less;
• £628 for a Certificate of Sponsorship valid for more than 3 years.

These fees apply equally to applications made outside the UK (entry clearance) and within the UK (leave to remain or switching categories).

To benefit from the reduced fee, the CoS must clearly confirm that the job meets the eligibility criteria for the Health and Care Worker route, as specified in the sponsor management system.

16. Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge for Health and Care Workers

Applicants for a Health and Care Worker Visa, along with their dependent partners and children, are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS). This exemption applies where the Certificate of Sponsorship confirms eligibility under the Health and Care Worker route and the applicant is applying for entry clearance or leave to remain under this category.

17. Cooling-Off Period Rules for the Health and Care Worker Visa

Under the previous Tier 2 (General) visa route, applicants were generally subject to a 12-month ‘cooling-off period’, which prevented them from applying for a new Tier 2 visa if they had held Tier 2 leave within the preceding 12 months.

This restriction has been abolished under the Skilled Worker route, which includes the Health and Care Worker Visa. There is no cooling-off period, but an applicant must still satisfy the validity, switching, suitability and eligibility requirements applicable to their particular application.

There is therefore no Tier 2-style mandatory waiting period before a further Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker application, but some immigration categories cannot switch from within the UK and specific restrictions apply in particular cases.

18. Fast-Track Processing Times for the Health and Care Worker Visa

According to Home Office guidance, Health and Care Worker Visa applications are prioritised by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI), with the aim that the majority of applications are processed within three weeks of the date the applicant attends their biometric appointment.

However, actual processing times may vary depending on factors such as local availability of biometric appointments, the accuracy and completeness of the application, and seasonal demand.

19. Duration of Stay on a Health and Care Worker Visa

If your application for a Health and Care Worker Visa is approved, you will be granted entry clearance or permission to stay for a period that ends 14 days after the end date of your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). The maximum duration of the visa granted is five years, based on the employment period stated on your CoS. An exception applies to a person sponsored in SOC 2211 as a General Practitioner in GP specialty training, whose permission is granted until four months after the end date stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship.

The Certificate of Sponsorship will specify the start and end date of your role, which determines the length of leave granted. The additional 14 days are included to allow time for departure or to apply for further leave, subject to the GP specialty-training exception referred to above.

You can usually apply to extend your Health and Care Worker Visa if you continue to meet the relevant requirements, including the salary threshold, and if all of the following are true:

• You are continuing in the same job as when you were last granted permission; and
• Your job remains within the same SOC 2020 occupation code; and
• You are still working for the same sponsor who assigned your current CoS.

If any of these conditions change, for example, if you switch to a different occupation code or change employers, you will need to apply to update your Health and Care Worker permission and obtain a new Certificate of Sponsorship where required before starting the new employment.

20. Maximum Length of Stay on the Health and Care Worker Visa

Under the former Tier 2 (General) route, applicants were generally subject to a maximum stay of six years, after which they were required to leave the UK or switch into another route.

This restriction has been abolished under the Skilled Worker route, including the Health and Care Worker sub-category. There is now no maximum time limit on how long a person can remain in the UK under the Health and Care Worker Visa, provided they continue to meet the relevant requirements.

Applicants may be granted up to five years’ leave at a time, and they may extend their visa or reapply as needed, without a cumulative time cap. Continuous lawful residence under this route can also lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain) after five years.

21. Dependants of Health and Care Worker Visa Holders

Health and Care Workers may be joined or accompanied by a dependent partner aged 18 or over and/or a dependent child under the age of 18 or, where the relevant requirements are met, a child aged 18 or over who already has permission in the UK as the worker’s dependant. Dependent partners are permitted to work and study in the UK subject to the conditions of their permission, including the restriction on working as a professional sportsperson or sports coach, while dependent children may attend state-funded education. Dependants may also access healthcare via the NHS and, if eligible, may apply for settlement after completing the required residence period.

Special rules apply to care workers and senior care workers in SOC 6135 and 6136. Their partner and children may generally qualify as dependants where the main applicant has been continuously employed in the UK as a care worker or senior care worker and held Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker permission since before 11 March 2024. Specified exceptions apply to certain children, including some applications concerning a child born in the UK and certain in-country applications where the main applicant has sole parental responsibility or the child’s other parent is also sponsored as a care worker or senior care worker.

A similar restriction applies where the main applicant is sponsored in another medium-skilled Health and Care Worker occupation. Their partner and children may generally qualify where the worker has been continuously employed in the UK in a medium-skilled job and held Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker permission since before 22 July 2025, subject again to specified exceptions for certain children.

Dependent family members may also later be able to switch into an immigration route in their own right, such as the Skilled Worker route, where the requirements of that route permit an in-country application. The Health and Care Worker Visa fee reduction and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge also apply to dependent partners and children.

22. Switching to the Health and Care Worker Visa from Another UK Visa

Applicants who currently hold leave to remain in the UK under another immigration category may be eligible to switch into the Health and Care Worker Visa route. However, switching is not permitted if the applicant currently has, or was last granted, permission as a Visitor, Short-term Student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, or as a person with leave granted outside the Immigration Rules. An applicant for permission to stay must also not be on immigration bail, subject to the limited exception provided for by Part Suitability.

Those currently holding, or who last held, permission as a Student may only switch into the Health and Care Worker route if they have completed the course of study for which their Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) was assigned; or if they are studying a full-time course at degree level or above with a qualifying higher education provider and the start date on their Certificate of Sponsorship is no earlier than the course completion date; or, in the case of PhD candidates, if the Certificate of Sponsorship has a start date no earlier than 24 months after the start date of their PhD course.

International students who have completed a UK degree in a health or social care-related field such as nursing, physiotherapy, social work, or medicine may be well placed to switch into the route, provided they have a job offer from a licensed sponsor for a role that falls within an eligible Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 2020) code. This also applies to individuals holding a Graduate visa, subject to their ability to meet all other route requirements.

A person seeking to switch from another immigration route into a care worker or senior care worker role in SOC 6135 or 6136 must additionally have been legally working for the sponsor in one of those occupations for at least the three months ending on the date the Certificate of Sponsorship was assigned. Under the Immigration Rules currently in force, an application relying on this provision must be made before 22 July 2028.

All applicants must have a valid CoS issued by an approved sponsor and must meet the relevant salary and English language requirements. It is essential to ensure that the job offered meets the sponsorship criteria under the Health and Care Worker Visa route before submitting an application to switch.

23. Compliance and Conditions of Stay on the Health and Care Worker Visa

General Compliance Obligations

Holders of the Health and Care Worker Visa must comply with a number of conditions attached to their permission to stay in the UK. These include working for the employer named on their Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), performing the specific job for which they were sponsored, and remaining within the same Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code. They must not access public funds and must notify the Home Office of significant changes in their circumstances, including a change of residential address.

Maintaining Sponsorship

A valid sponsor is essential to lawful residence under this route. If a visa holder’s employment ends or their sponsor withdraws their sponsorship, they must act promptly by securing a new job with a licensed sponsor and applying for a new visa before beginning the new role. Failure to do so may result in curtailment of their permission to stay and could negatively affect future immigration applications.

Supplementary and Secondary Employment

Health and Care Worker Visa holders may undertake up to 20 hours per week of additional paid work, including work for their own business, provided that they continue to undertake the job for which they are sponsored. The additional work must be in an eligible higher-skilled occupation, be on the Immigration Salary List, or be in the same sector and at the same level as the worker’s main sponsored job.

Additional work in a medium-skilled occupation is permitted only where the worker obtained the Certificate of Sponsorship for their first Tier 2 or Health and Care Worker permission before 22 July 2025 and has continuously held qualifying Health and Care Worker permission since then.

If a visa holder wishes to take on additional employment for more than 20 hours per week, they must first apply to UK Visas and Immigration to update their permission before starting the new role and will need a Certificate of Sponsorship from the second employer. Separate rules apply to overtime in the sponsored job and NHS bank shifts for the worker’s NHS sponsor.

Impact of Changing Employer or Role

Health and Care Worker Visa holders may change employers or roles during their period of leave, but must apply to update their visa before doing so. A new Certificate of Sponsorship must be obtained from an approved sponsor, and permission must be granted before the new employment begins.

If a visa holder is promoted within the same organisation and the new role remains within the same SOC code, a new visa application is generally not required. However, if the promotion results in a change to a different SOC code, a fresh application must be submitted. It is essential to ensure that lawful status is maintained and that employment remains authorised at all times.

24. Settlement (ILR) as a Health and Care Worker in the UK

Health and Care Worker Visa holders may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), also referred to as settlement, after completing a continuous period of five years in the UK. In order to qualify for settlement, applicants must demonstrate to UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) that:

• They have spent a continuous period of five years in the UK with valid permission, either entirely on the Health and Care Worker route or in combination with time spent on other qualifying routes, including: Skilled Worker, Global Talent, Innovator Founder, Tier 2 Minister of Religion, International Sportsperson, Representative of an Overseas Business, Tier 1 (excluding Graduate Entrepreneur), or Scale-up;
• They have not been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the five-year qualifying period, in accordance with the continuous residence requirement;
• They have passed the Life in the UK test, unless aged 65 or over or otherwise exempt under Appendix KOL UK, including where a qualifying physical or mental condition prevents them from meeting the requirement;
• Their sponsoring employer is still approved by the Home Office and continues to require them to work for the foreseeable future;
• They are being, and will continue to be, paid a salary that meets or exceeds the applicable ILR salary threshold.

For settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the Immigration Rules currently provide for an additional English-language requirement: unless exempt, a Skilled Worker settlement applicant must demonstrate speaking and listening ability at CEFR level B2.

The salary requirement for settlement depends on the type of Health and Care Worker job. For eligible healthcare occupations whose going rates are based on national pay scales, the applicant will generally need to be paid at least £25,000 per year and the applicable national-pay-scale going rate, whichever is higher. For Health and Care Worker occupations subject to the ASHE-based salary provisions, the settlement threshold is generally £31,300 and the applicable lower going rate. A £25,000 threshold may apply where the applicant was sponsored in their most recent permission for a qualifying job on the Immigration Salary List, or where another applicable Health and Care settlement provision applies. Separate transitional salary provisions may also apply to certain applicants with earlier Tier 2 or Skilled Worker immigration histories.

Applicants should ensure that they meet all settlement criteria before applying, particularly in relation to salary, continuous residence, and employer sponsorship.

25. Career Opportunities After Settlement on the Health and Care Worker Visa

Once Health and Care Workers obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), they are no longer subject to immigration restrictions or sponsorship requirements. This immigration status provides the flexibility to pursue a wider range of career opportunities across the health and social care sectors.

With settlement, individuals are free to move between employers, take up senior or specialist roles within the NHS, private healthcare providers, or social care organisations, and undertake agency or locum work without restriction. Many also choose to invest in their professional development by pursuing further study, undertaking additional qualifications, or establishing independent healthcare or care-related businesses.

In addition to offering greater career mobility, settlement provides a pathway to British citizenship, subject to meeting the relevant residence and good character requirements. Over time, ILR holders may become eligible for leadership, management, or advisory roles within public health bodies, regulatory agencies, and the wider care sector.

26. Pathway to British Citizenship After Health and Care Worker Visa Settlement

Health and Care Workers who have obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) may be eligible to apply for British citizenship by naturalisation, subject to meeting the relevant legal requirements. In most cases, applicants must have held ILR for at least 12 months before applying. However, those who are married to or in a civil partnership with a British citizen may be eligible to apply immediately upon being granted ILR, without the 12-month waiting period.

In addition to the residence requirement, applicants must also satisfy the good character requirement, meet the English language requirement, and successfully complete the Life in the UK Test. Health and Care Workers intending to make the UK their permanent home may wish to consider these naturalisation criteria when planning their long-term immigration pathway, particularly following the grant of settlement.

27. UK Health and Care Worker Visa FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa?

To be eligible, you must be a qualified health or social care professional with a confirmed job offer for an eligible role from a UK employer licensed to sponsor workers. You must also meet the English language, salary, and financial maintenance requirements applicable to your particular application.

What jobs qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa?

Only specified Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes qualify for the Health and Care Worker sub-category. The occupations available depend partly on the type of application. Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and specified other health and social care occupations remain eligible for ordinary new applications, while care workers, senior care workers and certain other medium-skilled occupations are available only in qualifying in-country or transitional cases.

Do I need to be registered with a UK professional body?

Where UK law requires professional registration for your role, you will need to satisfy the relevant professional requirements. For example, nurses are regulated by the NMC, doctors by the GMC and many allied health professionals by the HCPC. Your sponsor must provide professional registration details on the Certificate of Sponsorship where there is a legal registration requirement. Special arrangements apply to qualifying pre-registration nurses and midwives.

Can care workers bring dependents to the UK?

Care workers and senior care workers in SOC 6135 and 6136 are subject to special dependant restrictions. Their partner and children may generally qualify where the worker has been continuously employed in the UK as a care worker or senior care worker and held Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker permission since before 11 March 2024, subject to specified exceptions for certain children. Since 22 July 2025, new entry clearance applications for care workers and senior care workers have closed, but specified in-country applications remain possible.

What is the minimum salary requirement for a Health and Care Worker Visa?

The minimum salary depends on the occupation. For national-pay-scale healthcare jobs, the usual requirement is at least £25,000 per year and the applicable national-pay-scale going rate, whichever is higher. For Health and Care ASHE salary jobs, the standard threshold is £31,300 and the relevant going rate, with alternative thresholds of £28,200 or £25,000 available where the applicable tradeable-points requirements are met.

How long is the visa valid and can it be extended?

The visa is usually granted for up to five years, based on the duration stated in your Certificate of Sponsorship. You can apply to extend your visa if you remain in the same job, with the same employer and in the same occupation code, and you continue to meet the applicable salary requirements.

Is the Immigration Health Surcharge payable under this route?

No. Applicants under the Health and Care Worker route, and their dependent family members, are exempt from paying the Immigration Health Surcharge. They therefore do not have to pay the IHS as part of the immigration application, although the exemption does not mean that every form of NHS treatment is necessarily provided free of charge.

How quickly is the Health and Care Worker Visa processed?

UK Visas and Immigration prioritises Health and Care Worker applications. Most are processed within three weeks of the applicant attending their biometric appointment. However, timelines may vary depending on demand, local biometrics availability and application completeness.

Can I switch to a Health and Care Worker Visa from another UK visa?

Yes, switching is permitted from most visa categories, except for Visitors, Short-term Students, and certain other temporary routes. If switching from the Student route, you must have completed your course or meet specific requirements for early switching.  If switching into SOC 6135 or 6136 as a care worker or senior care worker, you must also satisfy the separate three-month employment requirement and the other applicable transitional conditions.

Does the Health and Care Worker Visa lead to settlement?

Yes. After five continuous years in the UK on the Health and Care Worker Visa (or eligible combination of routes), you may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain, subject to meeting continuous residence, salary, sponsorship, and Life in the UK Test requirements. For settlement applications made on or after 26 March 2027, the Rules currently also require B2 English speaking and listening ability unless an exemption applies.