The Health and Care visa is a special visa category designed for overseas workers with specialist skills to come to the UK and work for licensed employers in eligible roles within the healthcare and social care sectors.
This visa aims to address the skills crisis within the UK healthcare sector by offering an attractive route for foreign nationals to work in the UK and potentially settle permanently with their close family members.
Read on for the alpha–omega information on how to get the UK healthcare visa and all that you need to know.
Who is Eligible for the Health and Care visa?
Qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals, and adult social care professionals are eligible to apply for the Health and Care Worker visa.
To qualify, individuals must be applying under the skilled worker route for entry clearance or leave to remain and have a job offer in one of the occupations specified within the prescribed list of Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes.
Health and Care visa or Skilled Worker visa?
While the Skilled Worker visa is open to workers in eligible occupations across various sectors of the economy, the Health and Care Worker Visa is specifically limited to medical professionals and individuals working in eligible health and care roles.
The Health and Care visa offers several advantages over the Skilled Worker visa, including fast-tracked processing, lower application fees, and an exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Health And Care Worker Visa Requirements
To be eligible for the Health and Care Worker visa, applicants must meet all the relevant criteria under the Skilled Worker visa route, which include:
- Having a valid work offer from a UK-licensed sponsor.
- Having an offer for a qualifying job that meets the relevant salary threshold.
- Meeting the English language requirement.
- Providing valid tuberculosis test results if coming from a listed country.
- Having a good working knowledge of the English language.
- Showing the ability to travel and providing travel history over the preceding 5 years.
- Provide a criminal record certificate from any country lived in for 12 months or more within the last 10 years, if working with vulnerable people as a healthcare professional.
Health and Care Worker Visa Minimum Salary
As part of the eligibility criteria, applicants must earn at least £26,200 per year or £10.75 per hour.
If the going rate for the role is greater than both of these, the applicant must be paid at least the going rate.
In some cases, applicants may still be eligible for the Health and Care visa if their salary is lower than the required level, subject to specific conditions.
Maintenance Requirement
Some applicants will also need to demonstrate that they can financially support themselves.
For those applying from overseas, they must prove they have had £1,270 in their bank account for at least 28 consecutive days, with day 28 falling within 31 days of the visa application date.
Certain exemptions apply for those applying from within the UK or whose sponsors can provide financial support.
English Language Requirement
Applicants must demonstrate their knowledge of the English language through an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
Some healthcare professionals, such as doctors, dentists, nurses, or midwives, may rely on their professional body’s assessment of their language ability.
How to apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa
To apply for the Health and Care visa, individuals must first be assigned a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) by their UK sponsor.
They can then apply online on the Home Office website, paying the appropriate fee and providing various supporting documents, including their valid passport, CoS reference number, job details, bank statements, and English language test results.
Health and Care Worker visa supporting documents
Applicants must provide various documents in support of their visa application, including their current and expired passports or travel documents.
Certificate of Sponsorship, job details, bank or building society statements, tuberculosis test results, criminal record certificate (if applicable), and proof of relationship for dependents.
What are the Health and Care Worker visa costs?
The cost of the Health and Care visa depends on various factors, such as where the applicant is applying from and the duration of the visa.
The application fees are reduced compared to other skilled worker visas, and applicants and their dependents are exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge.
What are the Health and Care visa processing times?
Upon receipt, the Health and Care Worker visa applications are prioritized and fast-tracked by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI).
Most healthcare professionals applying on this route can expect a decision within 3 weeks after providing biometric information.
Can you extend your Health and Care Visa?
Health and Care visas are granted for up to five years. To remain in the UK lawfully beyond this period, applicants may apply to extend their visa if they continue to meet the visa requirements, including being employed by the same sponsor and satisfying the salary threshold.
Applying for ILR with a Health and Care visa
After five years of living and working in the UK under the Health and Care visa or a combination of permitted work visas, applicants may become eligible to apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
This allows them to settle permanently in the UK, subject to meeting specific requirements, such as continuous residence and passing the Life in the UK test.
FAQs
How long is the Health and Care Visa valid?
Successful applicants can work in the UK for up to five years and can apply to extend their visa as many times as they remain eligible.
Can my family join me in the UK on the Health and Care Visa?
Yes, immediate family members, including your spouse or partner, and dependent children can accompany or join you in the UK on this visa.
Conclusion
You must earn at least £26,200 per year or £10.75 per hour. The salary requirement may vary depending on the occupation and job offer.
Also, you must demonstrate your list language proficiency through an approved English language test with at least CEFR level B1 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
As of February 2023, Health and Care Visa holders can take on additional work or employment for more than 20 hours per week, provided it qualifies under the Health and Care Worker route.