How to Apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa In 2026

The UK Health and Care Worker visa is a specialized work visa under the UK’s points-based immigration system, tailored for qualified health and social care professionals. This visa offers fast-track processing, reduced fees, and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), making it an attractive route for doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and adult social care workers. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore:

What Is the Health and Care Worker Visa?

• The Health and Care Worker visa is part of the Skilled Worker route, specifically designed for medical or care-sector professionals.

Key benefits include:

• Lower visa application fees compared to some other work visas.
• Exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, meaning visa holders can access the NHS without paying the surcharge.
• The ability to bring dependants (partners and children) under certain conditions.
• A path to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) after a certain period, provided you meet the standard residency requirements (e.g., 5 years).
• This visa is not a temporary or short-term route — it supports longer-term work and settlement in the UK for health and care professionals.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the Health and Care Worker visa, you must meet a number of eligibility criteria:

a) Job and Employer Requirements

• Eligible Profession: You must be a “qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional.”
• Eligible Employer: Your UK employer must be approved by the Home Office (i.e., have a sponsor licence) and operate in the health or social care sector.
• Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your employer must issue a CoS that includes your job title, occupation code (SOC), salary, and employer sponsor licence number.

Salary Requirement:

• The base threshold is usually £25,000 per year, or the “going rate” for your job, whichever is higher.
• However, for certain occupation codes, different rules apply.
• For some roles, you may need at least £31,300 or the lower “going rate” depending on job code.
• Under specific conditions, you may be eligible with a salary between 70% and 90% of the lower going rate if, for example, you are under 26, a recent graduate, in professional training, or have a relevant PhD.
• English Language: You usually need to prove competency in English (reading, writing, speaking, understanding).
• Accepted proofs include a UK qualification, a degree taught in English, or passing an approved English test.
• For certain health professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses), proof of English may be waived if they have already passed an acceptable assessment from a UK-regulated professional body.
• Maintenance Funds: You must demonstrate that you can support yourself financially unless your employer certifies maintenance on your CoS.
• Typically, this means having £1,270 in savings for 28 consecutive days before application.

b) Additional Requirements

• Biometrics/Identity Check: You’ll need to prove your identity and provide biometric data (fingerprints, photo) or use the UK Immigration: ID Check app.
• Dependants: If you’re bringing your partner and/or children, they need to meet financial requirements and provide documentation.
• Criminal Record /TB Test: Depending on your job and country of origin, you may need a criminal record certificate and/or a tuberculosis test.
• Translation: If your documents are not in English/Welsh, certified translations must accompany them.

Documents Needed to Apply

When applying for the Health and Care visa, you will generally need the following:

Mandatory Documents

• Certificate of Sponsorship Reference
• Provided by your employer.
• Proof of English Proficiency
• Valid test certificate, degree evidence, or other accepted proof.
• Valid Passport/Travel Document
• To show identity and nationality.

Details of the Job

Job title, occupation code (SOC), annual salary, sponsor licence number.

Additional/Conditional Documents

• Bank Statements: To show maintenance funds, unless sponsor certifies maintenance on the CoS.
• Dependants Proof (if applicable): Evidence of relationship (birth/marriage), financial support for partner/children.
• Criminal Record Certificate: For certain roles / nationalities.
• Tuberculosis (TB) Test Results: Required for applicants from certain countries.
• Qualification Certificates: If your qualification is from outside the UK, you may need a UK-recognised equivalence (e.g., via Ecctis).
• Translation: Certified translation of any non-English documents.

Application Timing and Deadlines

Understanding the timing is important for making a smooth application.

When to Apply

• You can apply up to 3 months before your employment start date as stated on your CoS.
• This allows you to align your visa start with your job start, avoiding gaps.

Biometrics/Identity Check

During the application, you may be required to submit biometrics via a UKVCAS center or use the ID Check app.

Decision Time

• Typically, the decision is made within 3 weeks for applications made from outside the UK.
• You can pay for priority or super-priority processing to speed up the decision, depending on your location (UK or abroad).

Costs and Fees

One of the major advantages of the Health and Care Worker visa is reduced costs. Here’s a breakdown.

Application Fees

• Up to 3 years: £304 per person
• More than 3 years: £590 per person
• These rates apply whether you apply from inside the UK or outside.

Maintenance/Financial Requirement

• Typically £1,270 in your bank account for 28 consecutive days, unless exempt.
• Your sponsor (employer) may “certify maintenance” on your CoS, which reduces or removes your need to show personal savings.

For dependants:

• Partner needs to show £285
• One child £315
• Each additional child £200
• Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS)
• Exempt: Health and Care visa holders do not pay the IHS. This is a significant financial benefit compared to many other visa categories.

Other Possible Costs

• Translation of documents (if needed).
• Criminal record check costs (if required).
• Tuberculosis test (if applicable).
• Priority processing fee (if you opt for faster decision).
• Sponsor-licence-related cost for your employer (if they do not yet have a licence).

How to Get Visa Sponsorship (Health & Care)

Getting visa sponsorship means finding a UK employer in the health or social care sector who can sponsor you under this visa route.

Step-by-Step Sponsorship Process

• Find a Suitable Employer
• Target NHS trusts, NHS suppliers, or adult social care organizations.
• Ensure that the employer is a licensed sponsor (has Home Office sponsor licence).

Secure a Job Offer

• You need a formal job offer, with your role, pay, hours, and employer details.
• Ask for the SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code for your role — this will be used in your CoS.

Employer Issues Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)

• Your sponsor (employer) assigns you a CoS via their sponsorship system, recording your job title, SOC code, salary, and employment details.
• The CoS is electronic and includes a reference number you will need for your visa application.
• You must apply for your visa within 3 months of being assigned the CoS.

Employer Certifies Maintenance (Optional)

• During CoS assignment, your employer can certify that they will cover your first month’s maintenance (up to £1,270).
• This reduces or removes your burden of showing personal savings.

Prepare Your Application

• With the CoS and job offer, you prepare the rest of your documents and apply for the visa (see next section).
• Make sure all required proofs (English, identity, financial, dependent) are in order.

Switching or Extending

• If you’re already in the UK under another visa, you may switch to a Health and Care Worker visa before your current visa expires.
• For switching, you again need a CoS from a qualifying sponsor.
• If you change employer later, your new employer must issue a new CoS, and you’ll need to update your visa accordingly.

How and Where to Apply

Here’s a clear, step-by-step guide on how and where to submit your application.

Step 1: Prepare

• Collect all necessary documents (see section 3).
• Confirm your CoS reference, sponsor details, and salary.
• If needed, take an approved English test or gather degree credentials.
• Ensure financial proof (bank statements or certified maintenance).
• Translate any documents not in English/Welsh.

Step 2: Start the Online Application

• Visit the official UK Government website (GOV.UK) to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa.
• Complete the online application form, entering personal information, CoS reference, employer details, job code, salary, dependants (if any), etc.

Step 3: Identity Verification

After completing the form, you will be asked to verify identity: either

• Use the UK Immigration: ID Check app on your smartphone, or
• Attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide biometric data (fingerprint + photo).

Step 4: Submit Documents

• Upload or provide scanned copies of all required documents (passport, English proof, CoS, financial proof, etc.).
• Provide any conditional documents (e.g., criminal record certificate, TB test) as needed.
• Include certified translations where necessary.

Step 5: Pay the Fees

• Pay the visa application fee (either £304 or £590, depending on visa duration).
• Since this visa exempts the IHS, you do not pay the health surcharge.

Step 6: Wait for Decision

• Standard processing time is around 3 weeks for applications from outside the UK.
• After submission, you will receive notification via email or through your UKVI account.
• If approved, your decision letter/email will explain next steps (visa vignette/biometric residence permit).

Step 7: Travel to the UK & Begin Work

• Enter the UK (if applying from abroad) once your visa is valid.
• Start working in the role stipulated in your CoS.
• Understand your visa conditions — work in your sponsored job, permitted additional work (see below), ability to travel, etc.

Rights, Restrictions & Additional Work Options

What You Can Do on a Health and Care Worker Visa

• Primary Work: Work in the job for which you were sponsored.

Additional Work:

• You may be allowed to take a second paid job up to 20 hours per week, as long as it meets certain criteria: the job must be in the same sector or a higher-skilled occupation, or on the immigration salary list.
• If your additional job exceeds 20 hours/week, you must update your visa.
• Overtime in your main job is allowed without needing visa update.
• Volunteering: You can do unpaid voluntary work for recognized charities, statutory bodies, or voluntary organizations.
• Study: You are typically allowed to study while on a Health and Care visa, so long as it doesn’t interfere with the primary job.

Travel: You can travel abroad and return to the UK, according to standard visa travel rules.

What You Cannot Do

• Public Funds: You cannot access most public funds or welfare benefits.
• Job Change: If you want to change employer, you must have a new CoS from the new employer and update your visa accordingly.

Path to Settlement (ILR)

• One of the major benefits of the Health and Care Worker visa is that it provides a potential route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) — i.e., permanent residency in the UK — assuming you meet the required conditions:
• Generally, after 5 years of continuous residence on a qualifying visa (including Health and Care Worker visa), you may apply for ILR.
• Continuous employment in your sponsored health or care job, maintaining valid status, and meeting any other ILR requirements (e.g., English, settlement test) are essential.

What you must do to avoid mistakes:

• Choose the Right Employer: Prioritize NHS trusts or care organizations with a valid sponsor licence.
• Confirm SOC Code and Salary Early: Make sure your job offer includes the correct Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code and that your pay meets or exceeds the required rate.
• Sponsor Certifies Maintenance if Possible: Ask your employer to certify maintenance — this can save you the stress of showing large bank balances.
• Prepare Your English Evidence Carefully: Use acceptable English test providers, or rely on university degrees / professional body assessments if eligible.
• Get Documents Ready in Advance: Collect and translate all required paperwork (passport, bank statements, criminal record checks, etc.).
• Use ID Check App: If eligible, using the UK Immigration: ID Check app can streamline your identity verification.
• Explore Switching or Extending: If you’re already in the UK, check whether switching to this visa makes sense or if you can renew later.
• Plan for ILR: Keep track of your visa start dates and continuous residence to plan for permanent settlement.

Note: The Health and Care Worker visa is a powerful and highly beneficial UK immigration route for qualified health professionals and care workers. It provides a clear pathway to working in the NHS or adult social care, with favorable visa fees, exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge, and potential for permanent settlement. However, the process requires careful preparation: securing a sponsor, obtaining a valid CoS, meeting salary and English requirements, and assembling the right documents.

For health professionals considering this visa, it’s wise to work closely with the sponsoring employer, verify all visa conditions, and plan both for the application and for long-term residence. With the right approach, the Health and Care Worker visa can be both a launchpad for a fulfilling UK healthcare career and a stepping stone to permanent immigration status.