//
The Health and Care Worker visa is a UK immigration route designed for medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, who are offered a job in the National Health Service (NHS), social care sector, or adult social care by a UK sponsor. This visa aims to streamline the process for healthcare professionals to work in the UK, acknowledging the critical role they play in the healthcare system. Applicants must have a job offer from an approved employer, meet the English language requirement, and have the appropriate salary offer.
Healthcare
The Health and Care Worker visa is a UK immigration route designed for medical professionals, including but not limited to doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, who are offered a job in the National Health Service (NHS), social care sector, or adult social care by a UK sponsor. This visa aims to streamline the process for healthcare professionals to work in the UK, acknowledging the critical role they play in the healthcare system. Applicants must have a job offer from an approved employer, meet the English language requirement, and have the appropriate salary offer.
Applicants must have a valid job offer from an employer approved by the Home Office, such as the NHS, an organization in the social care sector, or an adult social care employer. The employer must be listed on the Home Office's register of licensed sponsors. The job must be in an eligible health or care occupation, ensuring the applicant will contribute to the UK's health and social care services.
The job offer must meet the minimum salary threshold of £25,000 per year or the 'going rate' for the specific job role, whichever is higher. This ensures that the applicant is compensated fairly according to UK standards for their profession.
Applicants must have a Certificate of Sponsorship from their UK employer. The CoS is an electronic record with a unique reference number that confirms the job offer and details of the role. It must be issued within three months before the visa application.
Applicants must provide a valid passport or other travel document to prove their identity and nationality. This is essential for verifying the applicant's eligibility to enter the UK.
Applicants may need to provide evidence of their qualifications relevant to the job role. This ensures the applicant is suitably qualified to perform the duties of the position offered.
Applicants must demonstrate they have enough personal savings to support themselves upon arrival in the UK, unless their sponsor certifies maintenance. This typically means having at least £1,270 in savings for 28 consecutive days before applying.
Applicants must prove their knowledge of English by passing an approved English language test at CEFR level B1 or higher, or by having an academic qualification taught in English and recognized by UK NARIC as equivalent to a UK bachelor's degree.
Applicants from certain countries are required to undergo a tuberculosis test if they are coming to the UK for more than six months. This is to ensure that they do not have active TB before entering the UK.
Applicants must provide a criminal record certificate from any country they have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. This ensures the applicant does not have a criminal history that would pose a risk to the UK.
Applicants must pay the application fee, which starts from £232, and the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS), which allows access to the UK's National Health Service. The IHS is typically £624 per year of stay.
Disclaimer: We are not immigration advisors. For professional immigration advice, consult a qualified immigration lawyer or OISC-registered advisor.
3 weeks weeks