Health and Care Worker visa
🇬🇧 United Kingdom visas · Work
What it is
A reduced-fee sub-route of the Skilled Worker visa for qualified doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and adult social care workers sponsored by the NHS, an NHS supplier or a care provider.
Key facts
- Category
- Work
- Duration
- Up to 5 years per grant, extendable; settlement after 5 years
- Processing time
- 3 weeks
- Maximum validity
- 5 years
- Extendable
- Yes
- Path to permanent residence
- Direct route
- Dependants
- Conditional
- English requirement
- B2
- How to apply
- Online
- Health insurance
- Not required
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all, so confirm your own case on the official page.
Fees
- Application fee (standard, up to 3 years)
- GBP 324
- Health surcharge (IHS exempt (Health and Care Worker visa))
- GBP 0 per year
- Proof of funds (main applicant; held at least 28 days in a row, day 28…)
- GBP 1,270
- Application fee (standard, more than 3 years)
- GBP 628
Key requirements
- Qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care worker
- Eligible job on the Health and Care occupations list
- Job offer from a Home Office-approved UK employer
- Certificate of sponsorship from your employer
- Meet minimum salary requirement for the role
- Prove English language ability
Working on this visa
sponsored eligible health/care job; additional work up to 20 hours/week; unlimited overtime; 4 months additional paid work after completing GP training; NHS bank shifts for sponsor allowed without update
Bringing family
Care worker / senior care worker dependants heavily restricted (generally only if continually employed since before 11 March 2024, or child born in UK, sole living parent, or other parent also sponsored); 'If you’re switching to this visa…
Money you must show
main applicant; held at least 28 days in a row, day 28…
Facts checked against the official source. Last updated 19 July 2026.