The Health Care Worker Visa UK is a lifeline for international care professionals such as nurses, therapists, and care assistants wishing to work in UK health or social care roles. This visa covers eligible jobs in the NHS, its suppliers, and adult social care providers, offering reduced application fees and exemption from the usual health surcharge. However, policy changes in mid-2025 have closed the route to new overseas adult social care jobs. (Existing visa-holders can still extend under the old rules until 2028.)

This guide explains exactly what international non-NHS applicants need to know: from eligibility criteria and sponsor duties to the visa steps, practical case studies, and recent rule changes. It is written in a clear, engaging style to keep readers informed without jargon.

Eligibility and Eligible Roles Health care worker visa uk

To qualify for a Health & Care Worker visa, you must meet the basic requirements. In practice this means:

• A job offer in an eligible role, signed by a UK employer who is a licensed sponsor. Eligible roles include medical professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses, pharmacists) and many allied health jobs, as well as related jobs like social workers.
• An approved sponsor: your employer must hold a Home Office licence for health and care workers (for care homes this means CQC registration).
• A minimum salary: you must be offered at least the visa threshold (generally £25,000 per year, or the going rate for the job).
• An English language qualification (typically IELTS at CEFR level B1) and any required professional registration (e.g., NMC registration for nurses).
• Any other supporting documents (such as a TB test certificate if required, or a criminal record check for certain positions).

Important: From July 2025, the government ended overseas recruitment for social care roles. In other words, new applicants from abroad can no longer be sponsored for care home or home care jobs under this visa. That pipeline has closed (current visa-holders can extend until 2028), so now only higher-skilled health jobs such as nurses, doctors, and therapists remain eligible to new overseas applicants.

Sponsor (Employer) Requirements and Support

Your UK employer must be an approved sponsor. Specifically:

• The employer needs a valid sponsor licence for health and care workers. If they don’t have one, they can apply (the process takes about 8 weeks) and pay the licence fee.
• The employer must also hold any required professional registration (for example, a Care Quality Commission licence to employ care workers).
• Once licensed, the employer will issue you a Certificate of Sponsorship (COS). This e-document includes your job title, salary, occupation code, start date, and your sponsor’s licence number. You must apply for the visa within 3 months of that start date.

Sponsors have legal obligations too. They must pay you at least the agreed salary and notify UKVI if your employment ends. If your job ends, your employer will inform the Home Office, and your visa could be curtailed unless you find a new sponsor quickly.

In practice, many employers help new overseas hires through the process. For example, employers often pay for recruits’ first 4 weeks of accommodation, the COS fee, visa charges, and English tests. Employers may also cover NMC exam fees or training costs. Many work with specialist agencies, such as those in the Philippines, India, or Nigeria, that provide support from pre-departure through arrival.

Dependants: As an H&C visa holder, you can normally bring your spouse and children as dependants (meeting the relationship and financial requirements). Each dependant applies under the same category. (Note: the option to bring family was removed for new care-worker visas from 2024; but other H&C applicants such as nurses and doctors can still include dependants.)

Sponsors also pay the Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) for each sponsored worker – a separate annual levy depending on employer size. This does not affect you directly, but it influences employers’ recruitment budgets.

Application Process: Step-by-Step

With your sponsor’s support and COS in hand, you can apply for the visa as follows:

1. Gather documents: You will need your passport, COS reference number, and proof of English (for example, an IELTS certificate). Also collect your professional certificates (degree/diplomas, NMC letter if applicable). Prepare your bank statements to show you have sufficient funds unless your employer certifies support.
2. Apply online: Start a Skilled Worker visa application. When asked, select Health and Care Worker as the visa category.
3. Pay fees: Pay the visa application fee (currently £284 for a 3-year H&C visa). Health and Care visa holders do not pay the £1,035/year NHS surcharge, so your only immigration fee is the visa charge.
4. Book biometrics: Verify your identity through the UKVI app or at a visa application centre.
5. Wait for a decision: After submitting your biometrics, a decision typically takes about 3 weeks.
6. Get your visa: If approved, you will receive a visa vignette or e-visa for entry. You may travel to the UK within the visa validity period. Once in the UK, collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) within 10 days.
7. Handle country-specific requirements: Some countries require a tuberculosis test certificate. If any of your documents are not in English, provide certified translations.

To avoid mistakes during your Health & Care Worker Visa application, many applicants consult reliable immigration resources such as VisaVistaUK.com, where they can find step-by-step guidance and case-specific advice.

Tip: Double-check that all information matches the COS and job offer, and keep copies of every document and email.

Case Study: Philippine Nurse Joins a UK Care Home

To illustrate, consider a hypothetical example. A care home in Birmingham needs a registered nurse and finds a candidate, Maria, in the Philippines. Maria has a nursing degree and 2 years’ experience. The UK employer (a CQC-registered provider) obtains a sponsor licence and issues Maria a COS for a community nurse position. Meanwhile, a UK recruitment agency assists Maria with her application: she passes IELTS and the UK Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) Test of Competence with the employer’s help.

With the COS and documents ready, Maria applies online. Her employer provides a letter confirming her salary (£27,000/year) to meet the threshold, and they pay her £284 visa fee. Maria attends a visa centre in Manila for biometrics, and within two weeks she receives her visa approval.

Maria travels to London, entering the UK a week before her start date. The recruitment agency meets her at the airport and provides temporary housing. Within days, Maria settles into her flat. She then begins work at the care home as a newly registered community nurse.

This case highlights how international recruitment typically works: all qualifications and tests must be secured in advance, and a UK sponsor must issue the COS. UK employers often cover up-front costs (visa fees, exam fees, etc.) to fill vacancies. With the H&C visa, after about 5 years Maria (like other visa holders) could apply for permanent residency (Indefinite Leave to Remain), provided she still meets the requirements.

Recent Immigration Changes (2025/2026)

The UK introduced several key changes in 2024–2025 affecting non-NHS care visa applicants:

• Care-worker visa closure: From July 2025, new Health & Care visas for adult social care workers were ended. In effect, care homes and homecare agencies cannot hire outside workers on this visa any more; only NHS or higher-skilled health roles are open to foreign applicants.
• Higher thresholds: The government raised the skill level for Skilled Worker visas to graduate level (RQF 6) from July 2025. At the same time a salary floor of £25,000 was set for care roles. Lower-paid jobs are now ineligible.
• Dependants: New care-worker visa holders (post-2024) are no longer allowed to bring dependants. Other H&C visa holders, like nurses and doctors, can still sponsor spouses and children.
• Settlement: Currently, H&C visa holders can apply for settlement after 5 years. Proposals have been made to extend most visa routes to 10 years, but this has not yet been implemented for H&C visas – applicants should watch for any updates.

Conclusion

The health care worker visa UK remains a top route for international healthcare talent, but non-NHS applicants must navigate the rules carefully. Remember the essentials: a licensed UK sponsor, an eligible occupation with the correct SOC code, a valid COS, and at least the minimum salary. Gather all your documents and apply through the online system as outlined above. Work closely with your employer or recruitment agency to ensure nothing is overlooked.

Stay informed about new rules through official sources. Double-check every detail: job title, salary, occupation code, and visa dates must all match your COS. If possible, join professional networks or seek qualified immigration advice. With careful preparation and by following each step, non-NHS health and care professionals can still successfully secure a UK Health & Care Worker visa and build their career in the UK.