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Health and Care Worker Visa

Work PR PathwayThis visa can lead to permanent residency, the right to live and work here indefinitely without renewing your visa. Dependents Allowed

At a Glance

Processing Time

15-21 days

Application Fee

952 GBP

Stay Duration

5 years

Renewable

Yes

Job Offer

Required

Dependents

Allowed

PR Pathway

Available

Remote Work

Not Required

Apply Now Official Information

Living in United Kingdom

Cost of Living

2% cheaper than United States

Avg Salary£31,200

Quality of Life

176/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Fast-track skilled worker visa for eligible health and care professionals with reduced fees.

The Health and Care Worker visa is a UK fast-track Skilled Worker sub-route for doctors, nurses, midwives, and eligible health and social care professionals. Applicants need a certificate of sponsorship from an NHS trust or licensed care employer, English at B2 CEFR, and a salary meeting the going rate for their role.

Fees are £324 (up to 3 years) or £628 (over 3 years), and holders and dependants are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The visa lasts up to 5 years, is renewable, and leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 continuous years. Dependants may join and work without occupation restrictions.

This visa is ideal for doctors, nurses, and eligible health or care professionals with a UK job offer seeking a lower-cost route to long-term work and settlement.

Fee Breakdown

Application fee (up to 3 years)	324 GBP
Application fee (more than 3 years)	628 GBP
Immigration Health Surcharge	0 GBP

Processing Tracks

Outside UK (standard)	2 weeks – 3 weeks
Inside UK (extension/switch)	2 weeks – 3 weeks

Stay & Extensions

Initial grant

5 years

Conversion Paths

Visas you can typically switch to from this status.

United Kingdom

Skilled Worker Visa

Validity5 years per grant (renewable indefinitely)

Processing5-56 days

View Visa Details

United Kingdom

Spouse/Partner Visa

Validity33 months

Processing3 months

View Visa Details

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Job offer from a UK licensed sponsor in an eligible health or care occupation

Eligible occupation code (e.g. nurse, doctor, health professional)

Meet salary threshold for the role (or going rate, whichever is higher)

English language requirement (B2 CEFR or equivalent)

Tuberculosis test results if from a designated country

Sufficient personal savings (£1,270 held for 28 consecutive days) unless exempt

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

Education

bachelor or higher

Min. Income

25,000 EUR/yr

Min. Savings

1,270 EUR

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or travel document

Certificate of sponsorship reference number

Proof of English language proficiency

Bank statements showing £1,270 in savings held for 28 days (unless exempt)

TB test certificate (if applicable)

Certified translations of non-English documents

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Significantly reduced application fee compared to standard Skilled Worker visa
Exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge (saves £1,035+/year)
Dependants also exempt from IHS
Pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years
Eligible occupations include a wide range of NHS and social care roles

Worth Knowing

Must work only for your sponsoring employer (can do additional work in same occupation/level up to 20 hrs/week)
Employer must hold a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence
Salary must meet going rate for the occupation code — some roles have specific NHS pay bands
Senior care workers must be employed by a registered care provider and earn at least £23,200/year
New care workers and senior care workers are no longer eligible to apply from overseas (since July 2025)

Application Process

Obtain a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer

Apply online via the UK Visas and Immigration portal

Pay the application fee (IHS is waived)

Provide biometrics at a visa application centre or via UK Immigration ID Check app

Await decision

Verified Claims (25)

Last verified May 31, 2026

Application Steps	Obtain a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer; Apply online via the UK Vis…	gov.uk
Blockers	New care workers and senior care workers are no longer eligible to apply from overseas (since July 2…	gov.uk
Blockers · 1	Care workers and senior care workers (SOC 6135/6136) cannot sponsor dependants or bring partners/chi…	gov.uk
Dependent Visa	Dependents allowed	gov.uk
Fee Breakdown	Application fee (up to 3 years): 324 GBP; Application fee (more than 3 years): 628 GBP; Immigration …	gov.uk
Fees	£324 (up to 3 years) or £628 (more than 3 years); immigration health surcharge exempt	gov.uk
Forms	—	gov.uk
Included Nationalities	—	gov.uk

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Overview

Fast-track skilled worker visa for eligible health and care professionals with reduced fees.

This visa is ideal for doctors, nurses, and eligible health or care professionals with a UK job offer seeking a lower-cost route to long-term work and settlement.

Requirements

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Job offer from a UK licensed sponsor in an eligible health or care occupation

Eligible occupation code (e.g. nurse, doctor, health professional)

Meet salary threshold for the role (or going rate, whichever is higher)

English language requirement (B2 CEFR or equivalent)

Tuberculosis test results if from a designated country

Sufficient personal savings (£1,270 held for 28 consecutive days) unless exempt

KEY CRITERIA

Job Offer

Required

Education

bachelor or higher

Min. Income

25,000 EUR/yr

Min. Savings

1,270 EUR

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport or travel document

Certificate of sponsorship reference number

Proof of English language proficiency

Bank statements showing £1,270 in savings held for 28 days (unless exempt)

TB test certificate (if applicable)

Certified translations of non-English documents

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

Significantly reduced application fee compared to standard Skilled Worker visa
Exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge (saves £1,035+/year)
Dependants also exempt from IHS
Pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain after 5 years
Eligible occupations include a wide range of NHS and social care roles

Worth Knowing

Must work only for your sponsoring employer (can do additional work in same occupation/level up to 20 hrs/week)
Employer must hold a valid Skilled Worker sponsor licence
Salary must meet going rate for the occupation code — some roles have specific NHS pay bands
Senior care workers must be employed by a registered care provider and earn at least £23,200/year
New care workers and senior care workers are no longer eligible to apply from overseas (since July 2025)