How to apply for UK Health and Care Worker visa: A step-by-step guide
Eligibility, benefits, and everything about the application process
If you’re a healthcare professional looking to work in the UK, the Health and Care Worker Visa offers an excellent pathway to build your career in one of the world's most trusted healthcare systems.
This visa provides a range of benefits, including job security, opportunities for permanent residency, and the option to bring your family along.
Here’s everything you need to know to apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa.
Health and Care Worker visa: Benefits
Path to permanent residency: After living in the UK for five years on this visa, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain, which is a step towards permanent residency and eventually citizenship.
Stable employment: The UK faces a high demand for healthcare workers, providing job security and long-term career opportunities.
Access to public services: As a visa holder, you’ll have access to essential public services like the NHS.
Family benefits: You can bring your spouse/partner and children as dependents. They can work, study, and access public services, including healthcare.
Eligibility requirements
To apply for the Health and Care Worker visa, you must meet the following criteria:
Job offer: You need a job offer from a UK employer, such as the NHS or an approved healthcare provider.
Employer sponsorship: Your employer must be a registered sponsor with the UK Home Office.
Eligible role: Your role must be listed in one of the eligible healthcare occupation codes. These roles include doctors, nurses, social care workers, and other healthcare positions.
Salary requirements: Your job must pay at least £20,480 per year or the ‘going rate’ for your occupation, whichever is higher.
English language proficiency: You must demonstrate your ability to communicate in English through an approved test or qualification.
How much it costs?
One of the significant advantages of this visa is its reduced application fees, as well as exemption from the healthcare surcharge. Here’s the breakdown:
Application fee:
- £247 for stays up to three years
- £551 for stays longer than three years
Healthcare Surcharge: You, your spouse/partner, and children are exempt from paying the healthcare surcharge, which is typically £624 per person per year for other visa types.
Processing time typically takes three weeks for applications submitted from outside the UK.
How to apply?
Follow these steps to apply for your Health and Care Worker visa:
Obtain a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS): Your employer will provide you with a unique reference number to confirm your job offer.
Prepare your documents: You’ll need your passport, proof of English proficiency, and details of your job offer and salary.
Submit your application online: Apply through the UK government website, paying the required application fee and uploading your documents.
Biometric appointment: Depending on where you are applying from, you may need to visit a visa application center to provide your fingerprints and a photograph.
Wait for a decision: Most applications are processed in around three weeks if applying from outside the UK.
What you can and cannot do
You can:
- Work in the role specified by your sponsor.
- Switch employers or jobs, provided they are within the healthcare sector and your new employer is a registered sponsor.
- Bring your spouse/partner and children as dependents, who can work and study.
You cannot:
- Work outside your spe'cified healthcare role or in other non-healthcare sectors.
- Access public funds or benefits.
- Change jobs without notifying the Home Office and obtaining a new sponsorship.
How to increase your chances of approval
- Check salary requirements: Ensure that your job offer meets the minimum salary threshold of £20,480 or the going rate for your role.
- Organise your documents: Double-check that all required documents are submitted to avoid delays.
- Tailor your CV: Highlight your relevant healthcare experience and qualifications that match UK standards.