UK Health & Care Worker Visa: Complete Guide

The Health & Care Worker Visa is reserved for qualified people coming to do an eligible job for:

• The NHS
• An NHS supplier (CQC-registered private provider)
• The adult social care sector (since Feb 2022, but recruiting rules tightened in 2024 — care providers must hold a CQC registration; "care workers" and "senior care workers" cannot bring dependants on visas issued after 11 March 2024).

Eligible occupation codes include doctors, nurses, paramedics, social workers, care workers, occupational therapists, radiographers and many more on the Health and Care Worker SOC list.

• ✓ Lower application fees (£304–£590 vs £719–£1,636)
• ✓ Exempt from the £1,035/year Immigration Health Surcharge — saves up to £5,175 for a 5-year visa
• ✓ Faster decision times (3 weeks typical, often quicker)
• ✓ Eligible salary floor lowered to £29,000 (or £23,200 per Home Office's national pay scales)
• ✓ Counts toward ILR identically to the Skilled Worker route

You need:

• A confirmed offer in an eligible health or care occupation
• A sponsor licence held by your employer (NHS Trust / CQC-regulated provider / NHS supplier on the published register)
• A Certificate of Sponsorship issued within the last 3 months
• Salary at least the higher of £29,000 or the going rate for your occupation
• B1 English (waived for nationals of majority-English countries, OET pass, or a UK NMC/GMC-recognised degree taught in English)
• Proof of professional registration where applicable (NMC, GMC, HCPC)
• £1,270 maintenance funds — usually certified by the employer

1. Job offer + CoS. NHS Jobs and Trac are the most common UK platforms; the employer enters your CoS on the sponsor management system.

2. Professional registration (where required) — start NMC/GMC/HCPC registration in parallel. NHS Trusts will often advance you to OSCE/PLAB stage.

3. Documents: passport, CoS, English evidence, payslips/contract, professional registration, criminal record certificate from every country lived in for 12+ months in the last 10 years.

4. Online application on gov.uk → choose "Health and Care Worker" route.

5. Biometrics — VFS centre or app-based.

6. Decision — usually 2–3 weeks.

UK government:

• 3-year visa: £304 (out-of-country) / £490 (in-country)
• 5-year visa: £590 / £900
• IHS: £0
• Priority +£500 / Super-Priority +£1,000

Workium service: £2,400 — includes NMC/GMC application support, English test prep referrals, and on-arrival package (NI number, bank account, GP registration).