What is the Health and Care Worker visa?

For doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care workers with a UK job offer.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

The Health and Care Worker visa lets qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care professionals work in the UK in an eligible job.

You need a job offer and a certificate of sponsorship from a Home Office approved employer.
Your employer must be the NHS, an organisation providing medical services to the NHS, or an organisation providing adult social care.
The fee is £324 for up to 3 years or £628 for more than 3 years.
You and your family do not pay the healthcare surcharge.
You can usually settle after 5 years.

Key facts

£324 up to 3 years
£628 over 3 years
No healthcare surcharge
Decision usually in 3 weeks

What the visa is

The Health and Care Worker visa is a work visa for qualified doctors, nurses, health professionals and adult social care professionals. It lets you come to, or stay in, the UK to do an eligible job.

Your employer must be one of these:

the NHS
an organisation providing medical services to the NHS
an organisation providing adult social care

The employer must be approved by the Home Office as a sponsor. They give you a "certificate of sponsorship", which is a reference number that proves your job is eligible. You must apply for the visa within 3 months of getting it.

Who it is for

You need:

a confirmed job offer in an eligible health or care role
a certificate of sponsorship from your employer
to show you can speak, read, write and understand English
to be paid at least £25,000 a year, or the "going rate" for your job if that is higher

Eligible jobs are listed by occupation code. Examples include nurses, doctors and physiotherapists.

Care workers and senior care workers. These are codes 6135 and 6136. GOV.UK lists them as "medium skilled" codes that can be used when you are extending, updating or switching your visa. If you switch to this visa as a care worker or senior care worker, you must have worked legally in the job for your sponsor for at least 3 months. In England, the employer must be registered with the Care Quality Commission.

How much it costs

Visa length	Fee per person
Up to 3 years	£324
More than 3 years	£628

The fee is the same inside or outside the UK. You, your partner and your children do not pay the healthcare surcharge on this visa.

You usually also need at least £1,270 in savings, held for 28 days in a row, with day 28 within 31 days of applying. You do not need this if you have been in the UK on a valid visa for at least 12 months, or if your employer will cover your costs for your first month.

Example: a nurse applies for a 5 year visa. The fee is £628. There is no healthcare surcharge. If they have not been in the UK for 12 months and their employer will not cover their first month, they must also show £1,270 in savings.

How to apply

Get your job offer and certificate of sponsorship.
Apply online, up to 3 months before your job starts.
Prove your identity and send your documents.
You will usually get a decision within 3 weeks. You may be able to pay for a faster decision.

Things to know

You can work in your eligible job, take some extra work, study, and travel abroad.
You cannot claim most benefits (public funds) or the State Pension.
If you change job or employer, you must update your visa.
You can extend the visa as many times as you like, as long as you still qualify.
After 5 years you may be able to apply to settle (indefinite leave to remain).
If you switch to this visa as a care worker or senior care worker, your partner and children cannot switch as your dependants.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Check the Health and Care Worker visa

Common questions

How much do I need to be paid?

Usually at least £25,000, or the going rate for your job if that is higher.

Do I need to show savings?

Usually you need £1,270 held for 28 days in a row, unless you have been in the UK on a valid visa for 12 months or your employer covers your first month's costs.

Can I bring my family?

Your partner and children can usually apply. But if you switch to this visa as a care worker or senior care worker, they cannot switch as your dependants.

Official sources

1.Health and Care Worker visa (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa
2.Health and Care Worker visa: your job (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/your-job
3.Health and Care Worker visa: how much it costs (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs
4.Health and Care Worker visa: switch to this visa (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/switch-to-this-visa

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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