Health and Care Worker Visa
Eligibility for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa
Who Can Apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa?
You must:
- Be a qualified doctor, nurse, health or adult social care professional
- Have a job offer in an eligible occupation from an approved UK sponsor
- Have a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from your employer
- Meet salary and English language requirements
Health and Care Worker Visa Requirements: Are You Eligible?
- Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations
- You must be paid at least the minimum salary or the ‘going rate’ for your job
- You must work for a licensed sponsor approved by the Home Office
Required Documents for the Health and Care Worker Visa
Health and Care Worker Visa Document List: What to Prepare?
- CoS reference number
- Proof of knowledge of English
- Valid passport or ID
- Job title, salary, and occupation code
- Employer’s sponsor licence number
- Financial evidence (unless exempt)
- Criminal record certificate (if required)
English Language Requirement for the Health and Care Worker Visa
How to Meet the English Language Requirement
You must demonstrate B1 level proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and understanding English through:
- SELT from an approved provider
- A UK degree or overseas degree taught in English (confirmed by Ecctis)
- GCSE/A level in English from a UK school
- Exemptions apply to nationals from majority English-speaking countries.
Check if You’re Exempt or Need to
- Take a SELT (IELTS, Trinity, etc.)
- Submit Ecctis certification for non-UK degrees
- Provide qualifications obtained in the UK
Health and Care Worker Visa Salary Requirements
Health and Care Worker Visa Salary Thresholds
- Minimum salary: Usually at least £25,000
- If your job’s going rate is higher, you must meet or exceed that
- Discounted salary thresholds apply for:
- Applicants under 26 or recent graduates
- STEM PhD holders
- Jobs on the Immigration Salary List
Financial Requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa
What Are the Financial Requirements?
- At least £1,270 in your bank account for 28 days
- Exemption applies if you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for
- 12+ months or if your employer certifies maintenance
- Additional funds required for dependants
Health and Care Worker Visa Fees and Costs
How Much Does the UK Health and Care Worker Visa Cost?
Application fees
Up to 3 years: £304 per person
More than 3 years: £590 per person
No immigration health surcharge
Example: A family of 3 (main applicant, partner, one child) for 3 years:
Main applicant: £304
Partner: £304
Child: £304
Total: £900 (no IHS required)
How to Apply for a Health and Care Worker Visa
Health and Care Worker Visa Application Process
- Obtain a job offer and CoS
- Gather documents
- Apply online via the UKVI portal
- Pay application fee
- Prove your identity (UK Immigration: ID Check app or UKVCAS appointment)
Application Timeline and Processing
- Apply up to 3 months before your job start date
- Most decisions are issued within 3 weeks (standard service)
- Priority services available for faster processing
Health and Care Worker Visa Processing Time
How Fast Can You Get a Health and Care Worker Visa?
- Standard decision: ~3 weeks
- Priority: 5 working days (if available)
- Super priority: Next working day (if available)
Priority processing depends on your application location and availability. You’ll be informed if you’re eligible for an upgrade.
How to Extend Your Health and Care Worker Visa
Health and Care Worker Visa Extension
You can apply to extend if:
- You remain in the same job and occupation code
- You’re still working for your original sponsor
- You meet salary and eligibility criteria
Extension requirements:
- Apply before your current visa expires
- Dependants must apply separately to extend
- You can extend as many times as needed
Health and Care Worker Visa Refusals and Solutions
Visa Refusals: Why Applications Get Rejected Worker Visa Extension
- Ineligible job or sponsor
- Salary below threshold
- Incomplete or incorrect documents
- Failing to meet English or financial requirements
What to Do If Your UK Health and Care Worker Visa Is Refused
- Consider administrative review if you believe an error was made
- Address the refusal reasons and reapply promptly
- Professional legal assistance can help with refusal strategy and representation
Can Your Spouse and Children Join You?
You can bring:
- Spouse or partner
- Children under 18
- Children over 18 (if already in the UK as your dependant)
Eligibility note: If you are employed before 11 March 2024 as a care worker, you can bring dependants.
Financial requirements must be met
- £285 for partner
- £315 for first child
- £200 for each additional child
Guide for UK Employers: Hiring Health and Care Workers
How Can UK Employers Hire Health and Care Worker Visa Holders?
Employers must:
- Be registered and licensed sponsors
- Offer eligible jobs that meet salary and role criteria
- Issue CoS to overseas hires
UK Sponsorship Licence Requirements for Employers
- Must be a genuine organisation
- Provide accurate records and compliance
- Pay licence fee (£574–£1579)
- Be inspected by UKVI if necessary
How to Get a Sponsorship Licence
- Complete online application form
- Submit supporting documents
- Pay the fee
- Wait for Home Office decision (~8 weeks)
Understanding the Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS)
Certificate of Sponsorship Explained
- Digital document issued by the employer
- Contains reference number and job details
- Must be used within 3 months
- Unique number required for visa application
- Shows applicant’s role, salary, and employer details
- Confirms sponsorship for visa purposes
Professional legal assistance is available to help healthcare professionals and UK employers throughout the visa application and sponsorship process, providing expert advice and support tailored to specific needs.
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