Learn how to apply for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa with our comprehensive guide. Discover eligibility criteria, application steps, and options for bringing your family.
The UK Health and Care Worker Visa offers a fast-track route for healthcare professionals to work and live in the UK. Find out how to apply and relocate with your family.
UK Health and Care Worker Visa: A Guide to Applying and Bringing Your Family
The UK Health and Care Worker Visa provides healthcare professionals an opportunity to work and reside in the United Kingdom while allowing them to bring their families. This visa specifically targets roles within the health and social care sectors, such as doctors and nurses.
According to DAAD Scholarships, the application process can be managed independently without hiring an immigration agent, potentially saving applicants a significant amount of money. DAAD notes that “This visa is specifically designed to attract professionals in the health and social care sectors, such as doctors, nurses, and other allied health professionals. One of the key advantages of this visa is its fast-track processing, making it quicker to relocate and begin working in the UK.”
This article explains the steps and criteria required to apply for the Health and Care Worker Visa on your own.
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UK Health and Care Worker Visa Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa, applicants need to meet several requirements:
- Occupation: Candidates must work in a recognized health or social care profession. This includes roles such as doctors, nurses, paramedics, healthcare assistants, and senior care workers.
- Job Offer: A valid job offer from an approved UK employer is required. The employer must provide a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), outlining the job role, salary, and terms of employment.
- English Language Proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate English language skills at the CEFR Level B1. Acceptable tests include IELTS for UKVI, TOEFL iBT, and Pearson PTE Academic, each with specific score requirements.
- Salary Requirements: The position must provide a minimum salary of £20,480 per year or £10.10 per hour, with certain exceptions for specific healthcare roles.
- Financial Requirements: Applicants need to show they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependents upon arrival in the UK, with a minimum of £1,270 required for the main applicant.
- Health and Character Requirements: A tuberculosis test is mandatory for applicants from certain countries, along with a criminal record check from countries where they have lived for over 12 months in the past decade.
UK Health and Care Worker visa Fee: How much does it cost?
When you apply for a Health and Care Worker visa, you’ll need to have enough money to:
- pay the application fee
- support yourself when you arrive in the UK – you’ll usually need to have at least £1,270 available (unless you’re exempt)
You’ll be told how much you need to pay when you apply.
Application fees
The standard application fee depends on whether you’ll be in the UK for:
- up to 3 years – £284 per person
- more than 3 years – £551 per person
The fee is the same whether you apply from inside or outside the UK.
Money to support yourself
You must have at least £1,270 in your bank account to show you can support yourself in the UK.
You will need to have had the money available for at least 28 days in a row. Day 28 must be within 31 days of applying for this visa.
You’ll usually need to show proof of this when you apply, unless either:
- you’ve been in the UK with a valid visa for at least 12 months
- your employer can cover your costs during your first month in the UK
Your partner and children will also need to prove they can support themselves while they’re in the UK. Check how much they’ll need.
Read the guidance on financial evidence for more information about the money you need and how to prove it.
If your employer can support you instead
Your certificate of sponsorship must confirm this. Your employer will need to complete the ‘sponsor certifies maintenance’ section on your certificate. This is under ‘Additional data’.
Documents you’ll need to apply
When you apply, you’ll need to provide:
- your certificate of sponsorship reference number – your employer will give you this
- proof of your knowledge of English
- a valid passport or other document that shows your identity and nationality
- your job title and annual salary
- your job’s occupation code
- the name of your employer and their sponsor licence number – this will be on your certificate of sponsorship
Ask your employer for a copy of your certificate of sponsorship if you do not have one.
Other documents you might need
Depending on your circumstances, you might be asked to provide:
- evidence that you have enough personal savings to support yourself in the UK, for example bank statements (unless your certificate of sponsorship shows your employer can support you)
- proof of your relationship with your partner or children if they’re applying with you
- your tuberculosis test results if you’re from a listed country
- a criminal record certificate – if you’re working in certain jobs
- your UK PhD certificate, or your unique Ecctis reference number (formerly unique UK NARIC reference number) if your qualification is from outside the UK – you’ll need to apply through Ecctis
You’ll need a blank page in your passport for your visa if you’re:
- from outside the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
- from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein but do not have a biometric passport with a chip in it
If your documents are not in English or Welsh, you’ll also need to provide a certified translation.
Criminal record certificate
You’ll need to provide a criminal record certificate if you’re applying from outside the UK, unless your job is in one of the following occupation codes:
- 2113: biochemists and biomedical scientists
- 2114: physical scientists
- 3111: laboratory technicians
- 6132: ambulance staff (excluding paramedics)
If you’ve lived in more than one country
You might need to provide a certificate from each country you’ve lived in, depending on your age and how long you stayed in each country.
If you’re under 28, you’ll need a certificate from any country you’ve stayed in for a total of 12 months or more since you turned 18.
If you’re 28 or over, you’ll need a certificate from any country you’ve stayed in over the last 10 years.
UK Health and Care Worker Visa Application Process
The application for the UK Health and Care Worker Visa can be completed without external assistance by following these steps:
- Gather Required Documents: Applicants should collect necessary documents, including a valid passport, CoS, proof of English proficiency, financial documentation, and health test results.
- Complete the Online Application Form: Applications are submitted via the official UK Visas and Immigration website. Accuracy is crucial, as errors can delay processing.
- Pay the Application Fee: The visa fee is approximately £232 for stays up to three years or £464 for longer periods. Additionally, an Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) of £624 per year applies.
- Book and Attend a Biometric Appointment: A biometric appointment at a Visa Application Centre is required to submit fingerprints and a photograph for identification.
Family Inclusion
The UK Health and Care Worker Visa allows applicants to bring immediate family members. Eligible dependents include spouses or partners, children under 18, and adult children if they are already dependents in the UK. Each dependent must meet the eligibility criteria and provide supporting documents.
- Eligibility for Dependents: Dependents include spouses or partners, children under 18, and adult children if they are already dependents in the UK. Each dependent must meet eligibility criteria and provide supporting documents.
- Including Dependents in the Application: Family members can be included in the visa application by providing their details in the online form. Each dependent is required to pay their own visa fees and IHS, alongside necessary documentation such as passports, birth or marriage certificates, and proof of relationship.
The UK Health and Care Worker Visa presents an attractive pathway for healthcare professionals looking to start fresh in the UK, offering both employment opportunities and the option to bring family members. Meeting the visa’s structured criteria and following the application process step-by-step can help candidates secure a place in the UK’s healthcare system without the need for an immigration agent.
Not only does this visa facilitate immediate employment in the UK, but it also opens the door to permanent residency, making it an appealing choice for professionals aiming to establish a new life with their families.