Our immigration solicitors provide an overview of the eligibility requirements for the health and care worker visa in this detailed guide.
If you've been offered an eligible role with the NHS or an approved healthcare provider, the Health and Care Worker visa could allow you to live and work in the UK.
Introduced in 2020 as part of the Skilled Worker visa route, the Health and Care Worker visa helps UK healthcare employers recruit skilled professionals from overseas. It also offers a number of benefits, including reduced visa fees, faster processing times and a route to permanent settlement.
Important update (July 2025): The Health and Care Worker visa remains available for many eligible healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses and a range of allied health professionals. However, the UK Government closed the overseas recruitment route for care workers and senior care workers from 22 July 2025, subject to limited transitional arrangements. If you're unsure whether your role remains eligible, our immigration solicitors can advise you on the current rules.
What is the Health and Care Worker visa?
The Health and Care Worker visa allows eligible medical and social care professionals to live and work in the UK. To qualify, you must have been offered an eligible role with the NHS, an NHS supplier or, where permitted under the current Immigration Rules, an approved employer in the adult social care sector.
Who can apply?
The visa is available to healthcare professionals who have been offered an eligible role by a Home Office-approved sponsor.
Eligible occupations include:
Qualified doctors
Nurses
Allied health professionals, such as physiotherapists and radiographers
Certain adult social care professionals (subject to the current Immigration Rules and transitional arrangements)
Eligibility requirements
To apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must:
Have an offer of an eligible health or social care role
Be sponsored by a Home Office-approved employer
Hold a valid Certificate of Sponsorship
Be paid at least the minimum salary required for your occupation under the current Immigration Rules.
Meet the English language requirements
Visa duration and settlement
A Health and Care Worker visa can be granted for up to five years.
If you continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you can extend your visa as many times as required. You'll also need to apply to update your visa if you change employer or move into a different role.
After five years, you may be eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), allowing you to live, work and study in the UK permanently, and access public funds if you meet the relevant criteria.
Can family members join you?
Yes. Your spouse or partner and dependent children may be able to accompany you or join you in the UK, provided they meet the relevant immigration requirements.
Is it different from a Skilled Worker visa?
Yes. The Health and Care Worker visa is a specialist route within the wider Skilled Worker visa category. While the Skilled Worker visa covers a broad range of occupations, the Health and Care Worker visa is specifically designed for eligible health and social care professionals.
What are the benefits?
The Health and Care Worker visa offers several advantages, including:
Reduced visa application fees
Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge
Faster application processing
A route to permanent settlement after five years
Applications are normally processed within three weeks of providing your biometric information, making this route considerably quicker than a standard Skilled Worker visa application of three to eight weeks.
Costs and additional requirements
Application fees vary depending on the length of your visa and the current Home Office fee structure.
You'll also normally need to:
Show you have at least £1,270 available to support yourself when you arrive in the UK
Meet the English language requirements (unless an exemption applies)
Provide a criminal record certificate for certain occupations
Submit a tuberculosis test certificate if you're applying from a listed country
How our immigration solicitors can help
Applying for a Health and Care Worker visa can be straightforward, but it's important to ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and provide the correct supporting evidence.
Our specialist immigration solicitors can advise you throughout the application process, helping you secure the right visa and supporting you with any questions along the way.
