Health and Care Worker visa

A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

The Health and Care Worker visa along with the Skilled Worker visa have replaced the old Tier 2 (General) work visa.

Some health workers and their families may be exempted from paying the visa extension fee to the UKVI because of Coronavirus (COVID-19).

You must apply for your Health and Care Worker visa within 3 months of getting your Certificate of Sponsorship.

Your Health and Care Worker visa can be granted for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’).

To apply, you need to meet the following requirements:

• Be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional;
• Work in an eligible health or social care job. Your job must be listed under the Health and Care Worker occupation list;
• Work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office (such as the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or an organisation providing adult social care). If your employer is not currently approved, they can apply for a sponsor licence if they’re eligible;
• Have a ‘Certificate of Sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK;
• Be paid a minimum salary or the ‘going rate’ for the occupation code – whichever is higher, unless you meet one of the exceptions. The exceptions include: a job in a shortage occupation, you’re under 26, you’re studying, you’re a recent graduate, you’re in professional training, you have a PhD in a subject relevant to your job, you have a PhD in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) subject relevant to your job, you have a postdoctoral position in a scientific role. Each of the exceptions has its own minimum salary and ‘going rate’ requirements which must be met;
• You must have a confirmed job offer before you apply for your visa;
• Meet minimum financial requirements to support yourself and your dependants during your stay in the UK;
• Meet the English language requirement if applicable;
• Provide tuberculosis test results if applicable;
• Provide a criminal record certificate if you’re working in certain jobs;
• Where applicable, your UK PhD certificate or your unique UK NARIC reference number if your qualification is from outside the UK.

You may need to provide additional documents depending on your circumstances.

Our team of immigration lawyers has vast experience in assisting with all types of work visas. For assistance, please contact our experienced immigration lawyers today on 07429429892, 02038563516 or info@dmlawpractice.com

With a Health and Care Worker visa you can:

• work in an eligible job;
• take on additional work in certain circumstances;
• do voluntary work;
• study;
• bring your partner and children with you as your dependants, if they’re eligible;
• travel abroad and return to the UK;
• apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’) if you’ve lived in the UK for 5 years and meet the other eligibility requirements.

With a Health and Care Worker visa you cannot:

• apply for most benefits (public funds), or the State Pension;
• change jobs or employer unless you update your visa.