UK Health & Care Worker Visa

The UK Health & Care Worker Visa is a specialized immigration route designed to attract and facilitate the entry of skilled healthcare professionals and care workers to address critical staff shortages in the National Health Service (NHS) and the social care sector. This visa category recognizes the vital contributions of healthcare workers and aims to streamline the immigration process for those dedicated to working in the UK's health and care system. To qualify, applicants must have a confirmed job offer in the UK and meet specific eligibility criteria, including English language proficiency and professional qualifications.

The Health and Care Worker Visa offers a fast-track entry route, allowing individuals to contribute their expertise to the UK's healthcare system. It covers a wide range of healthcare roles, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and social workers. This visa demonstrates the UK's commitment to supporting its healthcare system by ensuring a steady influx of skilled professionals to deliver essential services and uphold the nation's well-being. It reflects the government's acknowledgment of the invaluable role played by healthcare workers and their significant contribution to the overall health and care infrastructure in the UK.

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Eligible for Health & Care Visa

The Health and Care Visa is only open to qualified doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals who will be working in eligible roles in the UK health sector. As well as meeting the job requirements there are also several other criteria you must meet to qualify for the visa.

You could be granted a Health and Care Visa if you meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You are a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional, or adult social care professional

• You will be working in one of the eligible occupations in the health or social care sector

• You have a job offer from an employer in the UK who has been approved by the Home Office

• You have a Certificate of Sponsorship from your UK employer that provides information about the role you have been offered

• You meet the salary requirements – this varies depending on the type of role you will be doing

• You can read, write, speak, and understand English to at least level B1 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) scale, you don’t need to meet this requirement if you are from a majority English-speaking country or you have an eligible degree level academic qualification that was taught in English.

Salary Requirements

Usually, you must be paid at least £25,600 per year or £10.10 per hour to meet the minimum salary requirements for the Health and Care Worker route. Your minimum salary will be higher than this if the going rate for your role is higher.

Each occupation code has its own going rate, you must earn at least the going rate for your role. For example, if your salary is £28,000 per year but the going rate for your occupation is £30,000 then you must earn at least £30,000 to meet the minimum salary requirement.

In some circumstances, you can still qualify for this visa if your salary is less than £25,600 per year. You can earn less than this if any of the following apply:

• Your job is in a role on the Shortage Occupation List

• You are either under the age of 26, a students or recent graduate, or are in professional training

• You have a STEM PhD qualification that is relevant to your job

• You have a postdoctoral position in a scientific role

If any of the above apply then you can be paid between 70-90% of the going rate for your job providing your salary is at least t £20,480 per year. If you have a relevant PhD qualification then your salary can be £23,040 per year.

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