UK Health and Care Worker Visa: Eligibility, Fees and Application

The Health and Care Worker Visa is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker Visa designed specifically for eligible NHS and healthcare professionals. It was introduced in August 2020 to support UK health and social care sector recruitment and offers significant advantages over the standard Skilled Worker route: reduced salary thresholds, full exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) for both the main applicant and their dependants, and priority processing. After five years of continuous qualifying residence, Health and Care Worker visa holders may apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain.

The visa applies to qualified healthcare professionals working for the NHS, NHS-contracted organisations, and CQC-registered adult social care providers. From 22 July 2025, the route underwent a significant change with the closure of the care worker occupations to new overseas applicants — a critical development that all NHS HR teams and adult social care organisations need to understand.

Who Is Eligible for the Health and Care Worker Visa?

Eligible professionals include:

• Medical practitioners — including doctors and surgeons.
• Registered nurses and midwives.
• Allied health professionals — including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paramedics, radiographers, and speech and language therapists.
• Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.
• Clinical psychologists and social workers.
• A range of other clinical and specialist roles — the full list is published in the Health and Care Worker eligible occupations on GOV.UK.

The visa is not available for non-clinical administrative or support roles, even if employed by the NHS or a healthcare organisation. Those roles would need to be sponsored under the standard Skilled Worker Visa route if they meet the general eligibility criteria. NHS Employers' international recruitment guidance provides further context for NHS HR teams.

Employer Eligibility

To use the Health and Care Worker Visa route, sponsors must:

• Be the NHS itself, or an organisation directly contracted to provide services to the NHS.
• Be a CQC-registered adult social care provider (for adult social care roles).
• Hold a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence that covers the Health and Care Worker sub-category.

Only CQC-registered providers can sponsor adult social care roles under this route. Private or non-CQC-registered employers in other health sectors may need to use the standard Skilled Worker route instead.

Key Advantages Over the Standard Skilled Worker Route

• IHS exemption: Health and Care Worker visa holders and all their eligible dependants are fully exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge — a significant saving per person per year.
• Lower salary thresholds: The minimum salary starts at £25,000 (or the relevant Agenda for Change band rate for NHS roles) versus £41,700 on the standard Skilled Worker route.
• Priority processing: Applications are typically decided within three weeks at no extra cost.

ISC waiver: The Immigration Skills Charge does not apply to certain in-country transfers within the same employer.

Salary Requirements

The salary requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa are lower than the general Skilled Worker thresholds, reflecting NHS pay scale structures. The minimum salary is:

• For NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) roles: the relevant pay band's going rate. Band 3 healthcare support workers earn a minimum of £25,760 from 1 April 2026. NHS AfC rates satisfy the threshold requirement automatically where they exceed the minimum.
• For roles not on national pay scales: the higher of £25,000 per year and the going rate for the specific occupation code.
• For clinical management roles: the higher of £31,300 and the going rate.

These thresholds are significantly lower than the general Skilled Worker minimum of £41,700.

English Language Requirements

From 8 January 2026, applicants must meet the English language requirement at CEFR Level B2 for new applications. This can be demonstrated through an approved Secure English Language Test, a degree taught in English, or on the basis of nationality. Many NHS roles have their own professional registration requirements — for example, nurses applying for NMC registration must pass the OSCE and competency-based test, which also demonstrates English language proficiency.

Dependants

Health and Care Worker Visa holders in eligible clinical roles may bring a partner and dependent children under 18 to the UK. Both the main applicant and their dependants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. Care workers (SOC 6135/6136) transitioning under the 2025 to 2028 arrangements may not bring new dependants. Dependants already in the UK before the relevant date may remain under existing leave.

Check eligibility on GOV.UK.