Requirements for a Health and Care Worker Visa
What are the eligible roles to qualify for a Health and Care Visa?
In order to qualify for a Health and Care Worker Visa, you will need to show that you are a qualified doctor, nurse, health professional or adult social care professional who works or will work within one of the following roles (as organised by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes):
- 1181: health services and public health managers and directors
- 1242: residential, day and domiciliary care managers and proprietors
- 2112: biological scientists and biochemists
- 2113: physical scientists
- 2211: medical practitioners
- 2212: psychologists
- 2213: pharmacists
- 2214: ophthalmic opticians
- 2215: dental practitioners
- 2217: medical radiographers
- 2218: podiatrists
- 2219: health professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as audiologists and occupational health advisers
- 2221: physiotherapists
- 2222: occupational therapists
- 2223: speech and language therapists
- 2229: therapy professionals that are ‘not elsewhere classified’, such as osteopaths and psychotherapists
- 2231: nurses
- 2232: midwives
- 2442: social workers
- 3111: laboratory technicians
- 3213: paramedics
- 3216: dispensing opticians
- 3217: pharmaceutical technicians
- 3218: medical and dental technicians
- 3219: health associate professionals not elsewhere classified
- 6141: nursing auxiliaries and assistants
- 6143: dental nurses
- 6146: senior care workers
Duration of a Health and Care Worker Visa
If your application for a Health and Care Worker Visa is approved you will be granted entry clearance or permission to stay for a period ending 14 days after the end date of your Certificate of Sponsorship (which may be up to a maximum of 5 years after the start date of your Certificate of Sponsorship). Your certificate of sponsorship will state for how long your employer is sponsoring you.
You can usually apply to extend your Health and Care Worker visa if you still meet the salary requirements and :
- You have the same job as when you were previously were given permission to enter or stay in the UK; or
- Your job is in the same occupation code as when you were previously were given permission to enter or stay in the UK; or
- You are working for the same employer who issued your current certificate of sponsorship.
There is no restriction on the length of stay and you may be granted up to 5 years leave a time.
Fast track Entry & Expedited Visa Processing Times
The Home Office published guidance states that UK Visas and Immigration will prioritise Health and Care visa applications, with the aim that the vast majority are processed within 3 weeks from the date biometrics are taken
Criminal Record Certificate Requirement
If you are applying from outside the UK you will need to provide a criminal record certificate, unless your job is one of the following occupation codes: biological scientists and biochemists (2112) or physical scientist (2113).
- If you are under 28 years old and you have lived in more than one country you will need to provide a criminal record certificate for any country in which you have stayed for a total of 12 months or more since you turned 18.
- If you are over 28 years old you will need to provide a criminal record certificate for any country you have stayed in over the last 10 years.
Tuberculosis certificate requirement
You will also need to provide a valid TB certificate
Switching into the Health and Care Worker Visa Route
If you currently have leave to remain in another immigration category, you may extend your stay by switching into the Health and Care Worker route unless you have, or were last granted, permission as a Visitor, Short-term student, Parent of a Child Student, Seasonal Worker, Domestic Worker in a Private Household, are on Immigration Bail or have leave to remain in the UK outside of the Immigration Rules.
