The UK Health and Care Worker Visa

The UK Health and Care Worker Visa: A Comprehensive Guide

The UK’s Health and Care Worker visa is a special way for healthcare professionals to live and work in the UK. This visa is designed for people who want to work in the National Health Service (NHS), as a supplier to the NHS or in adult social care. It shows that the UK wants to continue having a great healthcare system by attracting skilled workers from around the world.

Eligibility Criteria for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa

To be considered eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, an applicant must fulfil specific criteria:

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  • They must be qualified doctors, nurses, medical professionals, or adult social care professionals.
  • You must have a confirmed job offer in a health or social care field before you apply for visa.
  • Your employer must be a UK employer that has been approved by the Home Office.
  • You need to obtain a certificate of sponsorship (also known as “COS”) from your employer with the information that you are allowed to work in a specific job role in the employer’s organisation.
  • You must be offered a minimum salary based on the type of work you have been offered. The minimum salary that must match with the requirements prescribed by the UK Home Office.
  • It is necessary to be good at speaking, reading, writing, and understanding English. You can submit SELT (Secure English Language Test) results or proof of an eligible academic qualification that was taught in English.

Benefits of the UK Health and Care Worker Visa

  • Work & live in the UK: The UK Health and Care Worker Visa lasts up to 5 years, requiring extension upon expiry or job change.
  • Indefinite leave to remain: After being in the UK for 5 (five) years, you can apply for indefinite leave to remain which allows you to stay permanently.  
  • No healthcare surcharge: Unlike other visa types, people applying for the UK Health and Care Worker visa and their family members do not have to pay the healthcare surcharge.
  • Other Work Opportunities: You can take on extra work as long as certain conditions are met. You can also volunteer or study while working as a Health and Care Worker.
  • Family Inclusion: You are allowed to bring your partner and children as dependents to accompany you in the UK.
  • Professional & Personal Growth: The UK Health Care System is advanced offering the candidates a great opportunity for their professional growth. Under this visa category, the candidates can also study in the UK, which will help them to grow professionally and personally.
  • Travel Flexibility: After obtaining your residency permit, you are allowed to travel to other countries and come back to the UK easily without any hassles.
UK Passport holders are allowed visa-free access to 154 countries.

Limitations of the UK Health and Care Worker Visa

    • Restrictions on Job Change: If you want to change jobs or work for a different employer, you need to submit a new Certificate of sponsorship from an employer who is approved by the UK Home Office to offer a job offer.
    • Limited Access to Public Benefits: The UK health and Care Worker Visa holders are not eligible to receive certain public financial aid such as the state pension.

Application Process for the Health and Care Worker Visa

    • Job Confirmation: Get a job offer from a UK employer in a health or social care.
    • Approved Employer: Check if the employer is approved by the Home Office.
    • Certificate of Sponsorship: Get a document called a certificate of sponsorship (also known as COS) from your employer.

    • Language Proficiency: Show that you are skilled in English – in talking, reading, writing, and understanding. You can submit SELT (Secure English Language Test) results or proof of an eligible academic qualification that was taught in English.

The Health and Care Worker Visa makes it easier for qualified and skilled health and care worker to join the UK’s world-renowned healthcare system. The Health and Care Worker Visa grants an applicant an opportunity to live in the UK for up to 5 (five) years and to also apply for indefinite leave to remain, subject to satisfying requisite requirements of the Home Office. There are tremendous opportunities available for the Health & Care Worker to come and work in the UK. Health and Care Workers should familiarize themselves with the visa’s eligibility criteria and benefits to determine if this is the right fit for their aspirations and circumstances.