HEALTH AND CARE
WORKER VISA
The health and care worker visa is available to qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals or adult social care professionals who have been offered a job in the health and social care sector. It permits you to enter or stay in the UK for up to 5 years, after which you may be eligible to settle.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
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Work in the UK for the duration your employer sponsors you
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Study
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Switch to a different visa
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Leave the UK and return without issue
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Apply for indefinite leave to remain after 5 continuous years on this route
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Bring your family (dependants) *
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Change employment without applying to update your visa
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Undertake supplementary employment unless in certain circumstances
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Receive public funds
* Your dependants cannot join you unless you were in the UK with a valid Health and Care Worker visa before 11 March 2024 and at least one of the following applies:
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You are still on the same type of visa
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You are extending your visa with the same employer
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You are changing your employment within the same occupation code
WHAT YOU CAN'T DO
REQUIREMENTS
Valid Passport
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You must have a passport which is valid at the time you apply.
Certificate of Sponsorship
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Your employer must hold a sponsor licence and issue you with the correct type of Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) confirming your details, occupation code, annual salary, working hours, and duration of sponsorship. Your employment must be in an eligible health or social care position.
Minimum Salary
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Unless you are eligible to apply under a reduced rate, your annual salary must be at least £29,000 or the lower 'going rate' of your occupation code, whichever is higher.
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Example - If your salary is £32,000 per year, but the annual lower 'going rate' for you occupation code is £35,000, you would not meet the salary requirements.
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English Language
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You must prove your English language ability in the reading, writing, speaking, and listening categories at a minimum CEFR Level of B1.
Financial Requirements
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You must show sufficient funds to support yourself and any dependants joining you in the UK.
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The current requirement is at least £1,270 in your account for at least 28 consecutive days with the last day being within 31 days of the date of application.
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If your dependants are eligible to join you, you must show an additional £285 for your partner, £315 for your first child, and £200 for each additional child.
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Example - You must show £1,870 if you are applying with your wife and child
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Additional Requirements
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You may be required to take a tuberculosis test, depending on your country of application.
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You may be required to provide a criminal record certificate for certain occupations.
The application fee for a health and care worker visa depends on the length of your employment:
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Up to 3 years: £304
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Over 3 years: £590
TERM AND FEES
PROCESSING
The processing time for Health and Care Worker applications is approximately 3 weeks.
You may be eligible to pay for a faster decision by purchasing the priority or super-priority service.
Successful Application
If your application for a Health and Care Worker visa is successful, your immigration status will be updated on your UKVI account.
Application Refused
If your application for a Health and Care Worker visa is refused, you will receive a refusal letter outlining the reasons. There is no right of appeal, but you may consider applying for an administrative review if you believe an incorrect decision has been made based on a casework error.
An application for administrative review costs £80 and can be made online. It must be made within 28 days of the refusal (if you're outside the UK) or within 14 days (if you're inside the UK).
OUTCOME
NEXT STEP
If you want to remain in the UK beyond your Health and Care Worker visa, you can extend your visa with the same or a different employer. You will need a new Certificate of Sponsorship before applying. You may also switch to another immigration route. Once you have completed 5 consecutive years on the Health and Care Worker route (or other eligible route), you can apply to settle in the UK.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Health and Care Worker visas can be complex, particularly if your employer has issued a CoS containing an error, or you have other complicating factors such as a history of refusals. Mistakes can have a significant impact on future immigration applications to the Home Office, which means it is very important to have experts by your side who can make the process easier and give much needed confidence to make a strong application.
At Lace Law LLP, we offer comprehensive support throughout your Health and Care Worker visa journey. From your initial consultation to the final decision, you will have a dedicated expert who will meticulously prepare your application, maintain regular communication, and promptly respond to any concerns along the way. We pride ourselves on this personal approach, which we feel not only provides a greater experience to you, but also increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.
Don't let the process be more stressful than it needs to be. Contact us today to have a dedicated partner by your side on your immigration journey.
