The Health and Care Worker visa is a Skilled Worker sub-route with reduced fees, an NHS surcharge exemption and its own eligibility list. It exists to support NHS staffing and approved social-care providers.
Who can sponsor under this route
The sponsor must be the NHS, a supplier of services to the NHS, or an organisation providing adult social care approved by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England, or the equivalent regulators in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Sponsorship by social-care providers has been tightened since 2024 — CQC-registered status and a track record of compliance are now scrutinised.
You can filter for healthcare sponsors in our healthcare sector index.
Eligible occupations
Eligible roles include doctors, nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, senior carers (SOC 6146 under the latest SOC codes), health-service managers and a targeted list of allied health professions. The Skilled Worker general list does not auto-include care workers at the entry level any more; the category has been reshaped.
Salary
The general Skilled Worker salary floor does not apply in the same way. Instead, the relevant NHS pay scale or the occupation-specific going rate takes precedence, with a lower absolute minimum than the general route.
Family
Immediate family — partner and dependent children — can come on the same application, with the Immigration Health Surcharge waived as part of the route’s benefits.
Settlement
Five continuous years with an eligible employer leads to Indefinite Leave to Remain. Time on the pre-2020 Tier 2 route can count towards the qualifying period in some cases.
Where to look next
If you are targeting NHS employment, browse NHS sponsors in the directory. If you are considering social-care roles, filter by sector and check the licence type carefully — a Worker licence is required, not Temporary Worker.
Immigration rules for the care sector change often. Always check gov.uk guidance directly and, if unsure, ask an OISC-regulated adviser.
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If your situation is complex, an OISC-regulated adviser can review your route, timing and employer options.
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