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 (The National Health Service) and their supplier or in adult social care. Only the workers employed in the eligible roles are eligible to apply for this visa.

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must:

• be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional.
• work in an eligible health or social care job.
• work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the home office.
• 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 - how much depends on the type of work you do.
• you must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• your certificate of sponsorship reference number - your employer will give you this.
• proof of your knowledge of English.
• a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality.
• your job title and annual salary.
• your job’s occupation code.
• the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number - this will be on your certificate of sponsorship.

Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:

• evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)
• proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
• your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country
• a criminal record certificate - if you’re working in certain jobs
• your UK PhD certificate, or your unique Ecctis reference number (formerly unique  UK NARIC reference number) if your qualification is from outside the UK - you’ll need to apply through Ecctis

You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK, unless your job is in one of the following occupation codes:

• biological scientists and biochemists (2112)
• physical scientists (2113)

As part of your application, you’ll need to prove your identity. How you do this depends on where you’re from and what type of passport you have.

You’ll either:

• have your fingerprints and photograph taken at a visa application centre - this is to get a biometric residence permit
• use the ‘UK Immigration: ID Check’ app to scan your identity document - you’ll also create or sign into your UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account
• You’ll be told what you need to do when you apply.

When to Apply

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.

Visa Processing Time

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision within 3 weeks.

Duration

Your visa can last 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.

Fees

When you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:

• pay the application fee
• support yourself when you arrive in the UK - you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)

The standard application fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:

• up to 3 years - £232 per person
• more than 3 years - £464 per person

The fee is the same whether you apply from inside or outside the UK. You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.

You can usually apply to extend your Health and Care Worker visa if all of the following are true:

• you have the same job as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• your job is in the same occupation code as when you were given your previous permission to enter or stay in the UK
• you’re still working for the employer who gave you your current certificate of sponsorship
• you still meet the salary requirements

Your partner or children will need to apply separately to extend their visa. They can either apply at the same time as you, or at any time before their current visa expires.

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

Residence
After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

Work
You can work in an eligible job and take on additional work in certain circumstances.

Study
You can study for certain programs and degrees.

Dependants
You can bring your partner and children with you as your ‘dependants’, if they’re eligible.

Multi-entry
You can travel abroad and return to the UK.