We provide specialist legal support for UK employers and overseas health and social care professionals to navigate this visa route with speed and clarity.
The Health and Care Worker visa allows health professionals such as doctors, dentists, nurses and care workers to move to or stay in the UK to work in an eligible role. This will usually be with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.
We support both UK employers and skilled health and social care workers on these visas, making your visa journey as streamlined as possible.
Visa benefits and requirements
The Health and Care Worker visa, introduced in August 2020, is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa, intended to attract key health professionals to work in the UK’s health and social care sectors.
It offers reduced visa fees – including an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) – and faster processing times, with eligible applications determined in approximately three weeks compared to eight weeks for a Skilled Worker.
Similarly to the Skilled Worker visa, you must meet several eligibility criteria to apply successfully. Key requirements include:
- Sponsorship – you must have a valid job offer from an approved UK health or care sector employer that holds a Sponsor Licence. They must also have provided you with a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) confirming the details of your role and how you meet the Health and Care Worker visa eligibility requirements.
- Eligible occupation – you must be sponsored for a job listed as an eligible health and care worker role.
- Salary requirements – these will depend on the type of work and role you are sponsored for. Generally, new applicants have to meet a minimum salary threshold of £25,000 per annum or the going rate for the role, whichever is higher.
- English-language proficiency and evidence of financial support, if applicable.
It is possible to extend your initial visa under this route, provided you continue to meet the eligibility requirements. After five continuous years, you may be able to settle permanently in the UK (also known as having Indefinite Leave to Remain or ILR).
At Lindsays, we provide comprehensive legal support for both individuals and employers navigating the Health and Care Worker visa process.
- For employers, we can assess your eligibility to become an approved sponsoring organisation in the health or care sector, and support you with Sponsor Licence applications and compliance.
- For individuals, we can guide you through every stage – from confirming whether your role qualifies, to preparing your documents, meeting the requirements, and applying for extensions and/or settlement.
Our expert immigration team will provide tailored advice ensuring your application is accurate, complete and submitted timeously, reducing the risk of rejection or refusal.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What jobs qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa?
To be eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa, your job must fall under one of the approved Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes published by the Home Office. There are currently 39 qualifying occupations, including but not limited to biochemists and biomedical scientists, doctors, physiotherapists, clinical psychologists, nurses and care workers. The full list of roles, and their SOC codes, can be found in paragraph 3 of the Health and Care visa guidance.
If you are uncertain as whether your specific job title and duties fall under one of the 39 approved SOC codes, our immigration experts can help you confirm your eligibility and advise on your next steps.
Q. What happens if I change jobs while on a Health and Care Worker visa?
If you change your job to a different occupation code or intend to start work for a new employer (sponsor), you must apply for permission to change your employment. This is known as a change of employer application.
Whether you are changing employers or switching jobs to a different occupation within the same organisation, your employer must assign you a new Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS). You must then submit a fresh Skilled Worker visa application before starting your new role.
Important: You must not begin working in your new role until your new application has been approved by the Home Office.
We can support you if you are changing your job role or employer.
Q: Can I switch to this visa from inside the UK?
Yes, in many cases you can switch to the Health and Care Worker from within the UK, provided you meet the requirements.
In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements, as detailed above, you will need a valid visa that allows you to switch into this category - for example, a Graduate visa or Skilled Workers visa. Students are also permitted to switch into this category but must meet certain conditions in order to be eligible.
You cannot switch to a Health and Care Worker from inside the UK if you are on certain short-term visa categories such as a visitor, short-term student or a seasonal worker. In these circumstances, you will need to leave the UK and apply from abroad.
Our team of immigration specialists can assess your current immigration status and confirm whether switching is possible. They can also advise on the best time to apply to avoid overstaying in the UK and potentially risk an application rejection from the Home Office.
Q. Can I bring my partner and children with me on this visa?
This will depend on your job role. Most applicants under the Health and Care Worker visa can bring their partner and dependent children to the UK, but there is a significant exception for care workers and senior care workers. If you were sponsored in the UK as a care worker or senior care worker or are applying for one of these roles, and your Certificate of Sponsorship was issued on or after 11 March 2024, you cannot bring dependants under this visa route.
All other eligible health and social care roles permit you to bring your partner and children under the age of 18 to join you or stay in the UK as your dependants.
Our immigration team at Lindsays can assess your job code and visa conditions and advise on whether your family members are eligible to join you and how to plan your application(s) accordingly.
Fixed-fee initial consultation for immigration and visa advice
Whether you are a health or social care professional seeking to work in the UK, or an employer looking to recruit overseas staff, it is essential to understand how the Health and Care Worker visa rules apply to your situation – particularly given the recent changes affecting care workers and the salary thresholds applicable for the different roles.
At Lindsays, we offer a fixed-fee initial consultation to provide UK healthcare providers and individuals with expert, tailored advice, and a clear route forward.
Find out more here.
