Health and Care Worker Visa UK 2026: Complete Guide for Overseas Healthcare Professionals
The UK Health and Care Worker Visa is a dedicated immigration route for overseas healthcare professionals. It offers significant financial advantages over the standard Skilled Worker Visa — no Immigration Health Surcharge, reduced visa fees, and a maintained 5-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain. If you are a nurse, doctor, pharmacist, dentist or allied health professional planning to work in the UK, this is almost certainly the visa you will use.
This guide covers everything that has changed in 2026, who qualifies, how much it costs, and how to apply — step by step.
What is the Health and Care Worker Visa?
The Health and Care Worker Visa is a subset of the UK Skilled Worker Visa, created specifically for regulated healthcare professionals employed by NHS bodies, adult social care organisations, and healthcare companies on the Home Office approved list. It was introduced in 2020 to make it easier and cheaper for the NHS to recruit internationally, and it has remained one of the most favourable visa routes available to any overseas worker in the UK.
The three main advantages over the standard Skilled Worker Visa are:
- No Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) — saving £1,035 per person per year for you and each dependant. A family of three saves over £3,000 per year compared to standard Skilled Worker applicants.
- Reduced visa fees — £304 for up to 3 years (versus £827 on the standard route). A family of three on a 3-year visa pays £912 versus £2,481.
- Maintained 5-year ILR path — from April 2026, the standard Skilled Worker route moved to a 10-year continuous residence requirement for ILR. Health and Care Worker visa holders retain the 5-year path.
Who is eligible for the Health and Care Worker Visa in 2026?
To qualify, you must meet all of the following:
- Have a job offer from a licensed UK sponsor (NHS trust, private hospital, large pharmacy chain, approved care provider)
- Work in an eligible occupation code — broadly, regulated health professions at RQF Level 6 and above
- Meet the salary threshold (see below)
- Meet English language requirements (CEFR B2 from January 2026)
- Have professional registration with the relevant UK body, or have a conditional offer pending registration
Important change from July 2025: Care workers (SOC codes 6135 and 6136) are no longer eligible for the Health and Care Worker Visa. If you are a care worker rather than a regulated health professional, you must apply for the standard Skilled Worker route instead.
Eligible professions include:
- Nurses and midwives — registered with the NMC
- Doctors — registered with the GMC
- Pharmacists — registered with the GPhC
- Dentists — registered with the GDC
- Physiotherapists, occupational therapists, paramedics, radiographers — registered with the HCPC
Salary requirements for the Health and Care Worker Visa 2026
Your offered salary must meet the going rate for your occupation code. Two thresholds apply:
- NHS Agenda for Change (AfC) and medical pay scale roles: minimum £25,000 per year, or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher.
- Non-NHS health roles: minimum £31,300 per year, or the going rate, whichever is higher.
Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts. Overtime, on-call payments, bonuses and other allowances are excluded from the salary calculation. A Band 5 NHS nurse (the standard starting band) earns at least £29,969 — well above the minimum threshold.
English language requirements from January 2026
From 8 January 2026, all overseas applicants for the Health and Care Worker Visa must demonstrate English language proficiency at CEFR Level B2. Acceptable tests and scores include:
- IELTS for UKVI: 5.5 overall (B2 minimum per component)
- OET: Grade C+ in all four sub-tests
- Trinity ISE II
- Exemptions apply if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country, or if you completed a degree entirely taught in English in a majority English-speaking country
Note: the English language requirements for your professional registration (NMC, GMC, GPhC etc.) are higher than the visa threshold. For example, NMC registration requires IELTS 7.0 overall with 6.5 writing — you must meet both sets of requirements separately.
How to apply — step by step
- Secure your UK job offer from a licensed sponsor. Your employer must hold a valid sponsor licence.
- Your employer assigns a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) in the UKVI system. You receive a reference number.
- Check your salary meets the going rate for your occupation code on the Home Office online tool.
- Gather your documents: valid passport, CoS reference number, English language certificate, evidence of professional registration (or conditional offer letter).
- Apply online at gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa and pay the visa fee: £304 (up to 3 years) or £590 (over 3 years). Dependants apply separately at the same fee rate. No IHS to pay.
- Book your biometric appointment at your nearest UKVI visa application centre. Standard processing: approximately 3 weeks. Priority service: 5 working days (additional fee).
Health and Care Worker Visa fees — April 2026
| Applicant | Up to 3 years | Over 3 years |
|---|---|---|
| Main applicant | £304 | £590 |
| Each dependant | £304 | £590 |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | £0 | £0 |
| Priority processing (optional) | +£500 | +£500 |
Fees were increased by 6.5% on 8 April 2026 as part of the government's annual review. The IHS exemption for Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants remains fully in place.
Family and dependants
Qualifying dependants — your spouse or civil partner, and children under 18 — can apply to join you or accompany you to the UK. Key points:
- Dependants are fully exempt from the Immigration Health Surcharge
- Dependants can work in any sector — they are not restricted to healthcare roles
- Dependants can study in UK schools and universities
- Dependants can also apply for ILR after 5 years of continuous UK residence (not 10 years)
ILR and settlement after 5 years
Health and Care Worker visa holders retain the 5-year continuous residence route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). This is protected from the April 2026 change that extended the standard Skilled Worker ILR path to 10 years. You must spend at least 5 continuous years in the UK on the Health and Care Worker Visa (or a combination of eligible routes), pass the Life in the UK test, and meet the English language requirement at the time of ILR application.
How to get professional registration first
The Health and Care Worker Visa requires you to be registered with the relevant UK regulatory body — or to have a conditional offer pending registration. The registration process depends on your profession:
- Nurses: NMC registration via the Test of Competence (CBT + OSCE) — total cost ~£1,170, typically takes 12–18 months
- Doctors: PLAB 1, PLAB 2 and GMC registration — total cost ~£2,300–£3,500
- Pharmacists: OSPAP (1 year) + GPhC registration — full route takes approximately 2.5–3 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be registered before applying for the Health and Care Visa?
Not necessarily. Many employers sponsor overseas workers with a conditional offer pending registration. You must obtain full registration within the agreed timeline — your employer will set this out in the CoS.
Is the Health and Care Worker Visa the same as the Skilled Worker Visa?
It is a sub-category of the Skilled Worker Visa, but with significantly better financial terms — no IHS, reduced fees, and a maintained 5-year ILR path. The application process is the same.
What happens if I change employer in the UK?
You must apply to change sponsors before you start your new role. Your new employer must be a licensed sponsor and issue a new CoS. The visa fee to switch sponsors is currently £303.
Can I bring my parents to the UK on a visitor visa?
Your parents and family cannot stay permanently on a visitor visa, but they can visit you in the UK for up to 6 months at a time. See our UK visit visa from Pakistan guide for full details.