Healthcare Visas
Health and Care Worker Visa
Successfully submit a new Health and Care Worker Visa
The new Health and Care Worker visa – open to overseas healthcare professionals who wish to work and live in the UK was made live on 4 August 2020.
The application must be submitted under the current Tier 2 Points based system.
Our UK immigration solicitors are experts in visa applications and we have an outstanding record in preparing these applications for submission successfully.
We understand the immigration rules completely and will be able to guide you through the process to ensure all of the correct supporting documentation is filed too at the Home Office.
Why did the UK Government introduce the new Health and Care Worker Visa?
The UK Government has introduced the Health and Care Worker visa in an attempt to deal with the shortage of medical professionals in the UK. The visa is designed to make the visa application process easier and quicker for foreign health professionals such as nurses, doctors, medical and adult social care professionals to come to or stay in the UK to do an eligible job with the National Health Service (NHS), an NHS supplier or in adult social care.
Health and Care Worker Visa UK Eligibility
- Biological scientists and biochemists
- Physical Scientists
- Medical Practitioners
- Nurses
- Midwives
- Social Workers
- Paramedics
- Psychologists
- Pharmacists
- Ophthalmic Opticians
- Dental practitioners
- Medical Radiographers
- Podiatrists
- Health Professionals not elsewhere classified
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Therapy professionals not elsewhere classified
What are the new Health and Care Worker Visa Requirements?
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
Tier 2 Health and Care Visa
You must also meet the Tier 2 application criteria:
- You must be able to speak, read, write and understand English and prove this upon application
- Maintenance
- Travel history/Overseas criminal record check (where applicable). Provide a valid Tuberculosis test certificate
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. 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 in the UK for as long as you like, and apply for benefits if you’re eligible.
How to Apply for a Health and Care Visa
The new Health and Care Worker visa route is a fantastic opportunity for qualified healthcare professionals wishing to come to the UK to work. However, the applications must be carefully prepared with specified documentary evidence, otherwise, they are likely to be refused and you will also lose your application fee. It is therefore crucial that you seek specialist legal advice if you are considering an application for a work permit or visa as a healthcare professional in the UK.
Why Health and Care Worker Visa Applications Fail
Making a work permit/ visa application requires meticulous preparation for which specialist legal advice is recommended. An application that is made without addressing the appropriate points or with insufficient supporting evidence is likely to be refused.
Getting Your Health and Care Worker Visa Application Right First Time with our UK immigration solicitors
We have been assisting individuals seeking work permits and visas in the UK for more than a decade and take pride in the success that we have achieved in this area. We have a combined wealth of knowledge and experience to advise and assist you in making a successful visa application.
Ensuring a successful application under the new Health and care visa
- Identify your specific application requirement for a Health and Care Worker visa
- Assess your eligibility for a work permit application
- Advise on your next steps that you need to take with your Health and Care Worker visa application.
