The Health And Care Visa What Is It And Who Can Apply?
The Health and Care Worker Visa is a specialised immigration route tailored for qualified professionals in the healthcare and adult social care sectors. This visa aims to address the staffing shortages in the UK's National Health Service (NHS) and other care institutions. It offers a streamlined application process, reduced fees, and other benefits to make it easier for skilled workers to come to the UK. Successful applicants can work in the UK for up to five years, with options for extension and eventual permanent residence.
How Do I Employ Someone on This Route?
To employ someone under the health and care route, an employer will first need to apply for a sponsor license in the same way as is required for a Skilled Worker visa. We also help with applications for both sponsor licences and the visa application process itself, so if your organisation does not hold one, please do get in touch.
Once the sponsor license has been obtained, the sponsoring organisation will need to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the applicant, who will use this to apply for the visa. If we manage your sponsor licence, then we will do this on your behalf. Details of how the role meets the requirements for the Health and Care route must be included on the Certificate of Sponsorship. Where the organisation provides NHS services, it may also be necessary to provide additional evidence of this with the applications.
Eligibility
The Health and Care Worker Visa is designed for a broad spectrum of professionals in healthcare and adult social care. These range from doctors and nurses to pharmacists and lab technicians.
Occupational Codes: Specific roles are identified through Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) codes.
Job Offer and Sponsorship: A job offer from a licensed sponsor is mandatory. This could be an NHS organisation or an adult social care provider.
Salary Requirements: The salary must meet or exceed £25,600 per year or the 'going rate' for the job, whichever is higher.
English Language Proficiency: A level of proficiency in English is required, usually demonstrated through an approved test. to at least CEFR Level B1 (equivalent to IELTS 4.0).
Key Requirements
Before applying, it is crucial to understand the various requirements that must be met to qualify for this visa.
Financial Requirements: Applicants should have at least £1,270 in their bank account for twenty-eight consecutive days before applying.
Criminal Record: A criminal record certificate may be required for certain jobs.
The exact requirements you will need to satisfy will vary depending on your circumstances. You may want to speak to an immigration lawyer for expert advice.
There are Standard Occupation Classification (SOC) codes which are eligible under this route, and this has recently expanded to include more. They include but are not limited to:
• 1242 – Residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
• 2219 – Health Professionals not elsewhere classified
• 3219 – Health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
• 6141 – Nursing auxiliaries and assistants
• 6146 – Senior care workers
Before you can apply for a Health and Care worker visa you must have a job offer from a Home Office approved sponsor. As legal representatives, we are not able to arrange job offers in the UK or sponsor visa applicants.
Check if your job is eligible.
Benefits Over Skilled Worker Visa
The Health and Care Worker Visa offers several advantages over the general Skilled Worker Visa, making it a more attractive option for healthcare professionals.
- Fast-Track Processing: Applications are usually processed within three weeks, allowing for quicker entry into the UK.
- Reduced Fees: The application fee is significantly lower, ranging from £232 to £464 depending on the length of stay.
- Healthcare Surcharge Exemption: Unlike other visas, applicants are exempt from the annual £624 healthcare surcharge.
If you are not eligible for a Health and Care Worker visa
You may be eligible for another type of visa to work in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I apply?
You must apply online.
How you apply depends on whether you are:
- outside the UK and are coming to the UK
- inside the UK and extending your current visa
- inside the UK and switching from a different visa
If you want to change your job or employer, you must apply to update your visa.
How long does it take to get the visa?
You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK. This date is listed on your certificate of sponsorship.
As part of your application, you will need to prove your identity and provide your documents.
You may need to allow extra time if you need an appointment to do this. You will find out if you need one when you start your application.
Once you have applied online, proved your identity, and provided your documents, you will usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.
You may be able to pay to get a faster decision. How you do this depends on whether you’re outside the UK or inside the UK.
What About Family Members?
Extending your Health and Care Worker Visa or bringing dependents to the UK is possible but comes with its own set of requirements.
Extension: You can apply for an extension before your current visa expires, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria.
Dependents: Family members can apply for a visa to join you in the UK, either at the same time as you or later.
Family members will be granted leave in line with that of the main applicant.
How Long Will the Visa Be For?
The visa can be granted for a maximum of 5 years, with no minimum period, and is indefinitely renewable, the length of the visa is specified when the CoS is issued. If the visa is granted for a shorter period than 5 years, then it will be necessary to renew the visa before it expires for the individual to remain working in the UK.
After 5 years on this route, applicants and their dependants will be eligible for Indefinite Leave to Remain in the UK which will grant them the right to stay in the UK indefinitely (subject to conditions).
The exception to this rule is for roles in SOC code 6145 for more junior care workers who can only apply for a visa for 12 months and who will not be permitted to extend this.
How Much Does It Cost?
The fees differ depending on whether the visa is issued for more or less than 3 years. The cost is also the same for each dependant, regardless of age. There may be a £55 fee reduction for the main applicant’s fee for applicants from certain countries. https://www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/how-much-it-costs
- Application fee: £232 per applicant (3 years and under)/£464 per applicant (over 3 years)
- Biometric enrolment fee: £19.20 per applicant
- Biometric appointment fee: Variable, may be free or up to £199 depending on the location.
- Certificate of Sponsorship: £199
Applicants may also need to demonstrate financial maintenance if their sponsor does not certify this.
Why Choose UK Visas?
UK Visas has extensive experience with the Health and Care visa as well as other work visas. If you require support with a sponsor license, or managing applications for employees, we can help. Get in touch on 01403 582 340 or email at [email protected] to talk to one of our experts about the support we can offer.
