Health and Care Worker Visa

The Health and Care Worker visa is part of the Skilled Worker route. It is for qualified health professionals and some adult social care roles working for the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or an adult social care provider. It has lower visa fees than the standard Skilled Worker visa, and there is no Immigration Health Surcharge.

The rules for care workers and senior care workers have changed significantly since 2024, so it is important to check which rules apply to you before applying or changing employer.

Who may be eligible

New applicants may qualify in eligible occupations such as:

• Doctors and other medical practitioners.
• Nurses and midwives.
• Pharmacists, paramedics, therapists and other allied health professionals.
• Other health occupations listed in the Immigration Rules.

Your employer must hold a sponsor licence and must assign you a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) for an eligible occupation code.

Care workers and senior care workers

Care worker (SOC code 6135) and senior care worker (SOC code 6136) roles are treated differently from other health roles:

• Overseas recruitment closed on 22 July 2025. New applications from outside the UK in these roles are no longer possible.
• In-country switching into these roles remains possible until 22 July 2028, but generally only if you have been legally working for your sponsoring employer in that role for at least 3 months before the CoS was issued.
• If you already hold Skilled Worker or Health and Care Worker permission as a care worker or senior care worker, you can generally extend or change employer in the same role without that deadline.
• For care roles in England, the sponsor must be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and currently carrying on a regulated activity, subject to limited transitional exceptions.

Workers in some other medium-skilled health roles can generally only extend or update their visa if their CoS was issued before 22 July 2025 and they have held permission continuously since.

Key requirements

• A valid CoS from a licensed employer in an eligible health or care occupation.
• Salary: this depends on the occupation. Many roles are assessed against national pay scales with a minimum of £25,000. Care and some other roles have their own thresholds, and transitional rates may apply depending on when you were first sponsored.
• English: from 8 January 2026, new applicants need CEFR level B2. People granted the visa before that date at B1 can generally extend or update at B1. Switching between the Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visas does not require new proof of English.
• Maintenance: £1,270 held for 28 days, unless you have been in the UK for 12 months or more or your A-rated sponsor certifies maintenance.

Fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge

The Home Office fee is currently £324 for a visa of up to 3 years and £628 for more than 3 years. The fee is the same inside and outside the UK. Neither the main applicant nor their dependants pay the Immigration Health Surcharge.

Partners and children

Most health professionals can bring a partner and children. Since 11 March 2024, care workers and senior care workers generally cannot bring dependants unless they have been continuously employed in those roles on the route since before that date. There are limited exceptions, for example for a child born in the UK. See our dependant visa page.

How long you can stay and settlement

The visa can be granted for up to 5 years and extended while you remain eligible. Under the current rules, time on this route can lead to indefinite leave to remain after 5 years, subject to the requirements at that time. From 26 March 2027, settlement applications will need English at B2 in speaking and listening. Proposals to lengthen the qualifying period are still only proposals.

How the application works

1. Your employer confirms your role, occupation code and salary, and assigns a CoS.
2. You apply online, from outside the UK or, where switching is allowed, from inside the UK, and prove your identity.
3. You provide your documents, such as your passport, evidence of English and any professional registration the role requires.
4. The Home Office decides the application. Your partner and children, if eligible, apply as your dependants.

Common problems we help with

• Checking whether an in-country switch into a care role is still possible.
• Changing care employer while keeping protected dependant rights.
• Sponsors whose licence has been suspended or revoked, leaving workers needing a new sponsor.
• CoS errors about occupation codes, hours or pay.

How Stonebridge can help

We check your eligibility against the current rules and any transitional provisions, review your CoS and documents, prepare and submit your application, and deal with the Home Office on your behalf. We also advise care providers on sponsorship and compliance.

To discuss your options, book a consultation with our team.