Overview of the UK Health and Care Worker Visa
The UK Health and Care Worker visa is a specialist immigration route for eligible medical, health and adult social care professionals who have a qualifying job with an approved UK employer.
The route is designed for eligible professionals working in qualifying health and social care occupations. Applicants must meet requirements relating to their job, sponsor, salary, English language ability and other immigration conditions.
The rules applying to health and care workers have changed over time, including restrictions affecting certain social care roles and dependant applications. It is therefore important to assess the current requirements based on the specific occupation and circumstances of the applicant.
Who Can Apply?
The Health and Care Worker route may be available to qualifying professionals including:
- Doctors
- Nurses
- Health professionals
- Adult social care professionals
The applicant must have a qualifying role and work for an employer approved by the Home Office.
The job must fall within an eligible occupation code and satisfy the applicable requirements. The employer must also issue a valid Certificate of Sponsorship containing the relevant details of the employment.
Certificate of Sponsorship
A Certificate of Sponsorship is required for a Health and Care Worker visa application.
The sponsoring employer provides information about the job, including the occupation, salary and other relevant employment details.
The information provided must accurately reflect the position offered. Applicants should ensure that the proposed employment satisfies the immigration requirements before relying on the sponsorship for their application.
Salary Requirements
Health and Care Worker applicants must meet the applicable salary requirements.
The required amount can depend on the occupation and the relevant provisions of the Immigration Rules. Different salary rules may apply to particular occupations and circumstances.
Salary requirements should therefore be assessed using the occupation and circumstances of the individual application rather than relying on a general figure.
Employers should also ensure that the salary stated on the Certificate of Sponsorship reflects the actual employment arrangement.
English Language Requirement
Applicants generally need to demonstrate their knowledge of English.
Under the current requirements, applicants must normally demonstrate English at least at B2 level on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) unless an applicable exemption or alternative method of demonstrating the requirement applies.
The appropriate evidence will depend on the applicant’s circumstances and previous qualifications or immigration history.
Supporting Documents
Applicants may need to provide evidence including:
- A valid passport or identity document
- Certificate of Sponsorship
- Evidence of English language ability
- Evidence relating to qualifications where required
- Tuberculosis test results where applicable
- Criminal record certificates where required
- Other evidence relevant to the application
The exact documents required will depend on the applicant, occupation and country of application.
Overseas Health and Care Workers
For applicants applying from outside the UK, the application process includes proving identity and submitting the required supporting evidence.
The applicant should ensure that the sponsoring employer and proposed employment satisfy the relevant requirements before making the application.
This is particularly important for applicants recruited internationally, as sponsorship requirements and immigration rules can change.
Care Workers and Senior Care Workers
Additional restrictions apply to certain care worker and senior care worker applications.
The rules concerning sponsorship, switching and dependants have changed significantly in recent years. For example, specific requirements apply to people seeking to switch into the route as care workers or senior care workers from within the UK.
Anyone considering a care-sector application should therefore obtain advice based on their precise role, sponsor and immigration status.
Dependants
Whether a Health and Care Worker can bring a partner or children as dependants depends on the relevant immigration rules and, in particular circumstances, the occupation in which the main applicant is sponsored.
Restrictions affecting dependants of certain care workers and senior care workers mean that eligibility should be assessed before making plans to bring family members to the UK.
Extending Your Visa
A Health and Care Worker visa can generally be extended if the applicant continues to meet the relevant requirements.
An extension may involve continued sponsorship and compliance with the applicable salary, occupation and other requirements.
Applicants should begin considering an extension before their existing immigration permission expires and ensure that the proposed employment continues to meet the rules.
Settlement
Time spent on the Health and Care Worker route can contribute towards eligibility for indefinite leave to remain where the relevant requirements are met.
The current work-route settlement rules generally require five years of qualifying residence, together with other requirements relating to continuous residence and eligibility.
Settlement should be assessed separately because satisfying the requirements for the visa does not automatically mean that an applicant qualifies for indefinite leave to remain.
Immigration Issues for Healthcare Professionals
Healthcare professionals can face additional considerations depending on their profession, employer and immigration history.
Issues may arise where:
- Sponsorship details are incorrect
- The role does not match the occupation code
- Salary requirements are not met
- The applicant has a previous immigration refusal
- There are gaps or inconsistencies in immigration history
- The applicant changes employer
- The applicant wants to bring family members
- The applicant is approaching settlement
Obtaining advice before making changes to employment or immigration status can help identify potential problems.
How We Can Help
SWM Solicitors can advise health and care professionals and employers on the immigration requirements applicable to the Health and Care Worker route.
We can assist with:
- Assessing eligibility
- Reviewing job offers
- Reviewing Certificates of Sponsorship
- Assessing occupation and salary requirements
- Reviewing supporting evidence
- Advising on English language requirements
- Preparing visa applications
- Advising on dependant applications
- Advising on extensions
- Advising on switching where permitted
- Advising on settlement
- Addressing previous refusals or immigration issues