Skilled Worker Health and Care Visa UK | Application Guidance

As such, the Skilled Worker Health and Care Visa was developed in order to entice skilled medical workers from all over the world to fill shortfalls in the healthcare system in the United Kingdom.

Applicants for the Skilled Worker Health and Care Visa are eligible for a number of benefits, including expedited entry into the United Kingdom, reduced prices for visas, and exemption from the Immigration Health Surcharge. The aid of a specialised team inside UKVI is also offered in order to assist migrants and their families with the applications for visas that they submit.

A Health and Care Worker visa allows medical professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the NHS, an NHS supplier or in adult social care.

Eligibility

Your job

To qualify for a Health and Care Worker visa, you must:

• be a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional
• work in an eligible health or social care job
• work for a UK employer that’s been approved by the Home Office
• have a ‘certificate of sponsorship’ from your employer with information about the role you’ve been offered in the UK
• be paid a minimum salary – how much depends on the type of work you do

Knowledge of English

You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English. You’ll usually need to prove your knowledge of English when you apply.

How long you can stay

Your visa can last for up to 5 years before you need to extend it. You’ll need to apply to extend or update your visa when it expires or if you change jobs or employer.

If you want to stay longer in the UK

You can apply to extend your visa as many times as you like as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements.

After 5 years, you may be able to apply to settle permanently in the UK (also known as ‘indefinite leave to remain’). This gives you the right to live, work and study here for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.

How long it takes

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before the day you are due to start work in the UK.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied online, proved your identity and provided your documents, you’ll usually get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

If you need to go to an appointment, you may be able to pay for a faster decision.