Quick answer: The UK Health and Care Worker visa remains one of the cheapest and fastest ways for qualified nurses, doctors and allied health professionals to work in the UK. Roles on national pay scales, such as NHS nursing jobs, need a salary of at least £25,000, while most other eligible roles need £31,300. The visa fee is £324 for up to 3 years or £628 for longer, and there is no Immigration Health Surcharge. However, overseas recruitment of care workers and senior care workers has closed.
The UK’s National Health Service and private health providers depend heavily on international staff. That is why this visa has lower fees and faster processing than the standard Skilled Worker route. But the rules changed significantly in 2025 and 2026, and many older guides online are now wrong. Below is what applies today, based on NHS Employers guidance.
Health and Care Worker Visa at a Glance
| Type | A sub-category of the Skilled Worker visa |
| Who it is for | Doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and other eligible health roles |
| Points needed | 70 (50 mandatory + 20 tradeable) |
| Salary: national pay scale roles | £25,000 minimum |
| Salary: most other roles | £31,300 minimum |
| Visa fee | £324 (up to 3 years) or £628 (over 3 years) |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | Not payable |
| Funds | £1,270 held for 28 days, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance |
| Length of stay | Up to 5 years, extendable |
Who Still Qualifies in 2026
The visa covers qualified doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, pharmacists, and many other health professional roles, provided the employer is a licensed sponsor.
Care workers: the big change
Care workers (SOC 6135) and senior care workers (SOC 6136) are closed to new overseas applications. People already in the UK on other visas can still switch into these roles until 22 July 2028, subject to review. Switchers must have worked legally for their sponsor for at least three months first. Several other occupation codes were also removed from sponsorship. Any website still selling “UK care worker visa jobs” to applicants abroad is offering something that no longer exists.
Salary Rules Explained
| Situation | Minimum salary |
|---|---|
| Role on a national pay scale (for example NHS Agenda for Change) | £25,000 |
| Role on the Immigration Salary List | Higher of £25,000 or the occupation threshold |
| New entrant (for example recent graduates) | £25,000 |
| Relevant PhD | £26,100 |
| All other eligible roles | £31,300 |
Only guaranteed basic gross pay counts. Overtime, bonuses and one-off payments such as golden hellos do not. A High-Cost Area Supplement can count if it is treated as basic pay for tax and pension and is the same as for UK workers. The Immigration Salary List is due to close on 31 December 2026, so roles relying on it may face higher thresholds after that date.
Fees and Costs
- Visa fee: £324 for up to 3 years, £628 for more than 3 years. Fees rose 6.5% in April 2026.
- Immigration Health Surcharge: not payable on this route, which saves applicants and families a large sum compared with other UK visas.
- Immigration Skills Charge: £1,320 per person per year, payable by the sponsoring employer, not the worker.
- Maintenance funds: £1,270 for 28 days, unless your sponsor certifies maintenance.
- Other costs: English test, NMC or GMC registration, tuberculosis test (for some countries), flights and initial housing.
Registration Comes First
For most clinical roles, professional registration is the longest step:
- Nurses and midwives: NMC registration, including the CBT and OSCE assessments and an English test.
- Doctors: GMC registration, usually through PLAB or an accepted postgraduate qualification.
- Allied health professionals: HCPC registration for roles such as physiotherapist, radiographer and paramedic.
How to Apply: Step by Step
- Start your professional registration (NMC, GMC or HCPC).
- Pass an approved English test at the level your regulator and the visa require.
- Apply to licensed sponsors such as NHS trusts and registered health providers.
- Receive your Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) from the employer.
- Apply online for the Health and Care Worker visa, pay the fee and give biometrics.
- Travel to the UK, collect your eVisa details and start work.
The Fine Print
- Never pay for a job or a CoS. UK sponsors must not charge you for sponsorship. Paying recruitment fees is a major red flag for fraud.
- Repayment clauses: some employers ask you to repay relocation costs if you leave early. Read the contract carefully before signing.
- Your visa is tied to your sponsor. Changing employer means a new CoS and a new application.
- Settlement rules may change. Under current rules, indefinite leave to remain is possible after 5 years, but the UK government has been reviewing settlement, so check the latest position.
Is the UK Health and Care Visa Worth It?
For registered nurses and doctors, it remains one of the most affordable migration routes anywhere in the world: low fees, no health surcharge, and an NHS that actively recruits. NHS pay is structured and transparent, and experience gained in the UK is respected globally. The trade-offs are the cost of living in UK cities, the lengthy registration process, and the end of the care worker route for overseas applicants. If you are a qualified clinician, it is well worth pursuing. If you are a care worker abroad, look at other countries instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can care workers still apply for the UK Health and Care visa from abroad?
No. Overseas recruitment for care workers and senior care workers has closed. Limited in-country switching is allowed until 22 July 2028.
What is the minimum salary for nurses?
For roles on a national pay scale, such as NHS nursing posts, the minimum is £25,000 of guaranteed basic pay.
Do I pay the Immigration Health Surcharge?
No. Health and Care Worker visa holders and their dependants are exempt.
How much is the visa fee?
£324 for a visa of up to 3 years, or £628 for longer than 3 years.
Can I bring my family?
Eligible health professionals can usually bring a partner and children. Care workers who switch in-country have tighter restrictions. Check the rules for your exact role.
Official source: NHS Employers guidance on the Health and Care visa, at nhsemployers.org, and UK Visas and Immigration at gov.uk. Rules change often, so confirm before applying. This site is not affiliated with the UK government or the NHS and never charges any fee for job information.